The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-08-15
HARD TO PICK WINNER
National League Race Now an
Interesting Affair.
PlTTSBURG LOOKS STRONG.
Pirates Have Good In and Out Fielders,
With Many First Glass Substitutes.
New Yorks Playing Pennant Win
nina Ball--Cubs' Hard Road

1 WNNu 'SN S'&sS SeSsNthahSS
New Yorks Playing Pennant Win
ming 5all--cubs' Hard Road.
The race for honors In the nationa
league continues unabated and seems
likely to last throughout the campaign
lust how the teams will stand at the
| finish It would be difficult to find O
man with hardihood enough to pre-
dict, but the opinion is general that
| the fight viii narrow down to a three
cornered affair, with the Chicago, New
York and Plttsburg teams as the con
tenders. Both Cincinnati and Phila.
delphla still have chance, and Bos.
ton, too, is not out Of II, but there are
few fans outside OF the home ones
who think the Reds have chance for
the pennant, many claiming that their
early good showing was but dash In
the pan.
The Phillies were picked as contend
ers some time ago, but that was when
they were batting well. Since then
they have fallen of woefully In their
hitting. and. while they may be stil
considered as a two-three-four posi-
bility, they are not likely to win the
banner.
The Chicagos, New Yorks and Pitts
burgs are best equipped for grueling
fight, and it seems certain that they
viii all figure in the going right up to
the finish. Which team will win out
cannot be safely predicted at this
time The Pittsburgs sometimes look
like the best bet, and at other times
II appears as If the Chicagos would
win out Yet, again. the New Yorks
look strong enough to forge to the
front and claim the banner. The pen.
nant will likely go to the aggregation
which shows the best staying quail.
ties.
The Chicagos do not have their full
strength at present, owing to numer
Gus injuries and accidents, but that is
nothing more than was to be expected.
and the howls Of hard luck In the
Windy City recently have ELECTED few
expressions of sympathy from outside
fans. Things have been breaking
mighty lucky for Chances team for
three long years, and 1t is nothing
more than what might be expected
that the tide would finally turn.
The Pittsburgs and the New Yorks
have been through the mill. They know
what 1t is to fight against odds. with
their ranks shot to pieces. Therefore
it is just likely that they are better
prepared for the battle than the Chi
Cages. They have both been tempered
by misfortune. Take team that has
been riding on the high wave of pros
perity as long as the Chicagos and
they are likely to lose heart when the
hard times come more quickly than
their rivals who have become accus-
toned to adversely and misfortune
Casting all prejudices and partisan
feeling aside, the Pirates seem better
prepared for the battle than either the
Cubs or the Giants. Neither Chicago
nor New York can boast Of better ar
ray of infeld and outfield talent than |
the Pirates. The Pittsburg team has |
several combinations that it can use In
the infeld without weakening either |
the offensive or defensive power Of the |
team, whereas the loss of one regular
from either Of the other teams is Sc
verely felt The Pirates have Alan |
StOrke and Jim Kane for first base
Storke can play any infield position.
Then there is Starr for short or third |
If he Is needed. Kane can play the
outfield If he Is called upon Dan
MOeller is also available for the outer
garden, and Leach can be shifted there
and Storke placed at third if neces-
sary. Taking the pitching STATS as
whole, the Pittsburg team need not
take off its hat to the others, although
it may not be able to boast Of a single
individual Of the prowess Of either
Brown or Mathewson. Behind the bat
Gibson has been doing just as good
work as either Killing or Bresnahan,
and Phelps and OConnor look as good
as Moran and Marshall or the Giants
Perhaps the teams are SO closely
that the result will depend
upon the exhibition Of spirit the team
work and gameness of the various con-
tenders. Manager Clarke of the Pitts
burgs has ever sought to incucate into
his men that indomitable will power
which characterizes his own work and
which refuses to give up or acknowl
edge defeat so long as the battle is on
Clarke, Chance and McGraw are all
fighters. and the race for the 1908 pen.
naat in the fall should be a good one.
No Release For Tom Jones Now.
Manager McAleer of the st. Louis