The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-06
SPORTING news.
IL. iii. Murnane's Idea of Playing
Strength of the Teams.
That Are to Represent the Var
iOus Baseball Cities.
IN BOTH THE LEAGUES.
Cleveland Strongest, Perhaps,
in the West.
Cincinnati Well Up in the First
Division.


Cincinnati, March CT. H. Murnane
writes to the Enquirer as follows from
Boston:
Now that the time is near at hand
when the great ball clubs must clear
the decks for real action. it might be
interesting to size UP in an off-hand
way the chances of the different clubs
of both major leagues.
THE chance for any great results
from new timber is never enough in
baseball to give any alarm. for the
youngsters seldom make good the first
year out, but are sure to show their
best speed the second season if given
the proper encouragement
Counting the new talent even up all
round, one can figure the future with
the work of last season, or when the
different com binatfOnS were pIaying
their best ball. After this it is always
well to figure on the staying qualities
OF the members.
Take the American league Both
Cleveland and Chicago are in the race,
while ST. Louis and Detroit are bound
to have a three-cornered race with
Washington for the last three places.
The other five clubs of the American
league can be counted on to be a big
factor next season, and each of the five
clubs will more than likely lead the
race for q while, or until the real test
comes after July has passed. On gen
eral form Cleveland is very strong and
will continue to tear up the ground with
the strongest clubs, and yet no expert
will name this club as probable winner.
Brilliant one day, they have a lot of
players who will take things easy at
times. Fighting hard to down the cham
pions, they will lose their strength when
stacked UP against a second division
club and will not pull together.
Il would rather pick Chicago than
Cleveland, for the reason they have a
superior leader in Comiskey, who will
not quit when the race is close and
every move counts Cleveland will play
her best game when not leading, and
it's question just what Larry's boys
would do under a hot fire from a hard
ened enemy. Cleveland has a chance,
but slight one. Chicago has a fine lot
of ball players, and with pitching
staff who could stand the gaf to the
close would make trouble. This team
will put up a marvellous fielding game
and play the fine points, but have no
field leader vigorous enough to force
the landing of a pennant.
I'm the east Connie Mack must be
counted on to make trouble for all, with
very little chance OF winning from such
crackerjack clubs as New York and
Boston. The Quakers have some grand,
out of the game. and the young blood
picked up by Mack outside the pitchers
is not of an extra quality.
Now we come to the dangerous club,
much stronger than last season and be
in better shape to go on without worry
ing, a fault they labored under last
season when they met Boston They
only lack the full amount of nerve in |
a pinch as a whole, for this team has
some of the pluckiest players in the |
profession. In fact, this is the finest |
ball team today in the land when all |
depends on the skill of the players. for
they lead all as hitters, base runners
and fielders combined, with a superb !
knowledge of the fine points of the
game.
Next season they should play more
strenuous game on the home grounds, |
as the crowds are sure to be increased |
double over last season, and there is |
to the encouragement a |
for it not only helps to cheer up the |
local player but it has a depressing eff /
feet on the opponent.
1.-The Yankees have a fine leader in
Griffiths and liberal owner in Frank !
Farrell. The New York owner would |
improve the work of his team, however,
by keeping away from too close connec-
ton with the boys during the playing
season. Farrell broods over defeat and
shows a disposition to find fault with
the umpires. This sort of business is a
handicap for the club to carry, as
championships are seldom won by clubs
whose owners interfere with the UNI
pires.
''The players often overrate the in
huence of the owner of a club to get a
shade the best of the umpiring.
Champions are made OF men VINO can
win their games with an even break on
the field. and next season let the New
York Highlanders play ball clean and
good naturedly and their chances are
Al for the pennant, although they must
fight a band of never-say-di players
from Boston under the leadership OF
Jimmie Collins, who never asks a player
for more conscientious work imam ne
will perform himself.
''The champion Bostons will try and
make it three straight. No better road
club ever existed, and gamer bunch
never stepped over a turnpike road
Here is an ideal ball club with one man
as great as the other pulling like
well-trained pair Of steers, and d,i always sgd
yet with a big job before them this sea
son, for they win be marked r. d. for oa all;
STRONGER than last season. and if the old
players keep up their best work an acct
dent to any one of six players would
put this great team out OF the race
I