The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-04-01
OF TEAMS
IN COMING SEASON.
New England Division Hopes for
Better Things This
Year.

onsartain' pastime, but it has its
charm. The speculative feature of
sport is one Of its most gratifying at
tributes
II Any analysis of club strength prior
to a season is based on the presum ption
that the clubs will be able to play to
their capacity turnout the year. Neces-s
sarily it does not provide for contingent
cies, since an accident to one or more
important players may upset the best
calculations of owners and managers.
No better instance Of that fact may be
cited than the i'll fortune which befell
the Cleveland club in 1905, when it was
deprived of the services of Lajoie, it's
manager and captain, at the very mo-
.ment when it needed them most.
Looking over the personnel Of the
players Of the American league for 1906
it. is but fair to say that the race for
the pennant in that organization this
year bids fair to prove as uncertain
as it did last season. .s3
Naturally, first thought is given to
the club which won the championship
in 1905, the Athletics Of Philadelphia.
The most notable change has been the
release Of "Lave' Cross, the veteran
captain and third baseman, to Washing
ton. Knowing the shrewdness and
baseball acumen Of Connie Mack,
manager Of the team, it cannot be
granted that he would have permitted
such an alteration to be made in the
playing strength of his team without
g personal belief that he will be able
to give Philadelphia just as good base
ball in 1906 as he gave it in 1905.
His pitching staff is Of the highest
merit, and his own faculty in bringing
team work of grade better than the
average from his players will assist
him nightly in his efforts. this year
again to capture the pennant. In ad-
dition to that the Athletics will play
with determination from the start in
order to be in the thick of the world g
series at the end Of the playing year.
Hope for New England.
The indications are that Boston will
play better ball this year than last.
Thruout the season of 1905 it was ap-
parent that Collins was not obtaining
the same results from his players that
he did in 1904. It is now in evidence
| that there was reason for it. The
difference Of a managing owner, who
could not lose games with equanimity
told upon the players, who resented
criticism from other than the manager
| and who played with an apathy which
was very marked after the dash an6
brilliancy Of their style in other years
This season Collins is to have abso
lutte charge of the club and better
games may be looked for in that sec
ton.
! The changes which have been made
in the Chicagoes by Comiskey make
that organization an uncertain quantity
This, too, is another club which may
safely be counted upon for fine team
1 work. Altho Comiskey is not on thu
/ cages to play for him, there is in evi
dence thruout all their games the Graf
and skill which marked SO characters
i tically the work Of the old st. Loui
browns when Comiskey was their leade
and they were in their prime. Wit
4 their capable pitchers to assist then
4 the .Chicagoes should be in the fgh
/ from the start.
I Without doubt Cleveland will max
the most determined effort to win tn
championship this year that the player
4 have ever made since they representa-
4 that city in the American league. The
i did SO well last season until the acc
dent to Lajoie threw the team out Q
/ its stride that it will take heart thi
year when he is once more in the gam
L IL Exh% Nf
ground against their anniversaries.
4 Laioie is successful in imbuing his pla,
Iers with the quick wit to play the fin
a points of the game up to the imi
Cleveland will be dangerous fact(
against all the opposition which may (
& brought in the American league.
The dangerous club in the organic
tion appears to be Detroit. Should thu
rather peculiarly constituted tear
e with it's strong pitching staff and j
one or two hard hitters, fair feldel
Land somewhat apt baserunners, stril
the same gait at the beginning Of tt
year that it held toward the close
the season of 1905, it may upset mo-
pennant aspirations than any nine 4
the league, even if it fails at the la
s. moment to land the flag for.its own di
mond. The Detroits seem plain
enough to be the s dark horses Of Il
&. circuit.
& Griffth's Hard Task.
New York is a very uncertain qua
"a tity. The combination of some sterlil
q old players, with some new materi;
which appeared to be the best tn
81 could be selected from the minor leagu
after their 1905 season was over, m,
work with such perfection that Griffi
will forge we'll to the front, where
will become an adversary to be feare
b On the other hand, if the team is sic
in getting into its stride, if the tea