The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-12
SPORTING NEWS.
Tim Murnane Sizes Up the
Eastern Teams.
Figures Boston VIII Lead the
National League.
GOOD FOR LONG RACE.
New York Team Is Playing
Ahead of It's Speed.
Likes Philadelphia Best in
American League.
Washington Nine Looks Well at
First Glance.
GOOD FOR LONG RACE.

Cincinnati, May 12.-In a special to
the Enquirer from Boston, Tim Murn-
ane says:
1 have seen the four eastern teams of
the National League in several games,
and can see nothing stronger than Bos-
ton. The team looks weak on paper,
but when sized up for a long race the
boys look pretty good. Buckenberger is
a first-class manager, and can keep his
men in good form with the best of
them. The team has four good pitchers,
and youngster to pitch the outside
games. THIS same player, Stanley, is
clever outfelder, while Aubrey is a
handy man for the infeld The team
is not touted as a pennant possibility,
and has all to gain by good showing
look for this team to be in the first
division in September.
New York is now playing the dashy
game characteristic of them in the
springtime. They look good, but by a
close study YOU will find many different
style of players in the makeup, and as
whole a combination that Will go bad
when the cards break against them, as
they are sure to do, especially on the
road. The team is after the umpire
and whoOping her UP as if they had
been given new life. If this spirit could
be held it would mean much for the big
city. Lauder has regained his old form,
which means third base viii be well ia
ken care of. First base is well played
by Mccain, and short and second are
covered in a sort of way. The outfield
is only fair, while the catching is not OF
the best In the box the Giants are
strong. McGinnity and MatheWsOn must
hold the club in the race. Should either
go bad it would be all off. but the same
might be said of other teams. Brooklyn
has a light team, full of brains, and
sure to grow strong with time under
HanlOn. Schmidt is already one OF the
greatest pitchers in the business, and
winner Tor Brooklyn. Aanion is trying
to trade catcher for a good hitting
outfielder The offer was made to Col
Inns, who has five outfielders and one
catcher. and the Boston man failed to
make a move
Before September Hanlon will have
very smooth team but too late to get
the money this season.
Philadelphia will need at least three
new players to place the team in the
running, and they must be as strong as
the best players now on that team. As
whole it looks as if the west had a
shade the best of the east this season
and would win out in the series.
Cincinnati, with a poor start, will Ger
tainy be heard from. There is no de-
nying the fact that Joe Kelley has the
material to land second place, and it
looks as if Joe was taking more inter
est in his work than ever. Chicago IS
making a fine showing. and no club bet
ter deserves success. as Jim Hart has
shown the proper spirit in going out for
the best in the minor leagues and pay
ing for them.
Larry Iajoie is a sick man, and of little
use TO the Cleveland. club, which puts that
club out Of the running from the start
and affects its draw wing powers Big I'd
ators and of no more value than an ordi-
nary fielder, and George Davis is loahng
while Chicago and New York are both
winning. All going TO show that its not
few ball players that make the great
game or the success OF any league.
It VIII be some time yet peIofe one can
get a proper line on the different clubs of
the American league
OF the teams 1 have seen work up to
date I like the champion Athletics best.
They are filed with confidence, and, While
missing the fine. all-round work of Dave
F'ultz. have a much stronger pitching
corps than last year, and after all it's the
pitcher that actually makes ball team
picked up two rangy box men with a flne
variety of balls. thus giving him two
Plank and three fine right-handerS IN the
two above-named. with Coakley, the Holy
Cross pitcher, who will join the team
about June J. think this the strongest
corps Of pitchers connected with any one
club, and. under the crafty handling of
Mack. likely to keep the Quakers right in
the hunt to the last The Quaker inheld
/ is very fast-DaVis. Cross and Cross have
Lnofhing to ask of the best, while Dan
I Murphy has improved until there is no
more valuable player in the country for
the place. with perhaps three or four ex-
ceptions. He is a batsman and everyday
I player
Chicago has surprised the baseball fans
down this way But can the team keep
ZIP the same gait against the eastern
cltibs2 I have my doubts in fact. it
would be the surprise of the baseball year.
With the proper strength behind the stick
Boston has a fine ball team. but not a
I pennant winner. as there is no disposition
4 to keep on the lookout for talent, and Col
Inns is ever satisfied to make the best Of
what he has on hand to work with.
The New York Americans can play bril-
liant ball. but are somewhat of an expert
ment, with rather a light hitting record
They will have to depend on their fielding
1 and box work to pull them through, and
this is the hardest kind of a long summer s
job
J The Washington club will be danger