New-York tribune., 1908-05-11
COMMENT on SPORTS
TEST NOW IN BASEBALL.
.Ne7cs and Tic7cs on Current Topics.
.fmoteRr and Professional.

Rain played havoc with the baseball schedule
i'm the American and National leagues last week
So there is little no change in the standings
The Giants won two games from Philadelphia
and one from Boston 10 the complete sat1siaS-
fion OF the fans. hut missed a chance TO get en-
tireIv even with the latter team for the two
games they lost the week before when unfortu-
nate errors played such important part For
about the only day this season. barring rain
there Will be league game in the metropolitan
district to-day. The Yankees have one more
game in Boston but viii be back at American
League Park tomorrow to entertain the West
teams The Giants started West yesterday
for the first long trip away from home, and VIII
open at Pittsbure TO-DAY. where four games
must he played before the team makes jump
TO Cincinnati. The games this week mark the
first clash between TIE Eastern and Western
clubs in both leagues, and they important as
furnishing an opportunity 10 judge where the
chief strength lies. On paper il looks if the
Yankees should more than hold their OWN with
Cleveland this week. in which case they should
continue 10 lead the league. a position which
they earned Friday when Washington de
feated Philadelphia Cleveland has been playing
good ball however. and is right on the heels of
the Yankees, the fans count on some
good sport the hilltop.
Chicago and Pittsburg are first and sec
ond in the National League race, but in spite
OF the fact that they will be playing at home
6or the next three weeks 1T is more than likely
that they viii find trouble in holding their
positions. The Giants are stronger than they
year ago and the fans counting on
xheir scoring better than even break. while
Philadelphia, Boston and Brooklyn are sure
10 be stronger opponents 10 the Western teams
than they were last season. which should aid
The Giants materially 1t is just possible that
the Eastern critics may be overestmatng the
strength Of the Eastern teams and if so, there
lis trouble in store for the Giants and the
chances for the pennant may not look So bright
when the team gets back the Polo Grounds.
This Western trip will go d long way toward
settling how close the fight in the National
League viii be this year, and while the race
Is always the swift. particularly in such
q long distance affair baseball rennant
fight. It would be encouraging to see the Giants
well UP in the running, and not trailing too far
behind the Chicago Cubs. who seem to be play
ing quite as well and going strong pace
IS year ago. when they made a runaway race
OF IL.
II the Yankees can hold their place at the
top in the American League without the ser
vices Of Kid Elberfeld who is out Of the game
for three weeks. in all probs bity, with
spiked leg and Clark Griffith. their manager.
who is under an indefinite suspension for what
some are pleased to call an aggravated case OF
umpire batting in Washington the followers
Of the team will have every reason to rejoice
1t seems unfortunate that managers and base
hall players cannot learn from long experience
that nothing is gained and much is lost by
constant kicking and objecting 10 decisions OF
an umpire who is law unto himself on d
baseball field and whose word is final. 1t is
well enough 10 be aggressive and TO look after
the hest interests Of team. but it is utter
folly 10 make useless objections. which delay
a game and bring discredit on a team. Ban
Johnson president of the American League
did we'll to make example of Griffith. as
much as il hurts. lie. with Harry Pulliam-
rTesfdent Of the National League has been
working hard and earnestly TO impress on the
mana gers OF the various teams the necessity
for abiding by the rulings Of the umpires- 1t
* absolutely essential to the proper conduct OF
games and it is hard understand whT 50
MANY PLAYERS and managers persist in making
enemies instead Of friends Of the rulers OF the
diamond
Calvin nernarest the young billiard prodigy
from Chicago has no more fields 10 conquer
and stands out to-day the hest and strongest
l,laver in the amateur billiard world HIS cleah
t5t and decisive victory over Lucian Rer"ie. the
French expert. the final game Of the interha-
,ional championship billiard tournament at the
lzfrf
ing and left no question about his right to the
title RerolIe has the amateur championship
Of France Eve times. and WAS beaten this year
only after the play-off of tie. 50 il Is reason
ahle to rank him as one of the strongest eX-
14anente Of the game abroad Further than that.
ne had the advantage of playing with q slightly
larger ball than has been used in this country
and al 49, balkline. which was new 10 the
amateurs here SO far a tournament play is con-
cerned Denarest has an easy. graceful style.
snd needs only a little more experience and
practice to make him the equal of Willie Hoppe
or any other professional player lie has mas
tered the game in all its intricacies. and seems
10 have fallen heir to the name Of the Napoleon
of the cue, 10y which the late Frank Ives was
known.
The victory Of August Bclmont-s Norman III
sn the TWO Thousand oiuineas Stakes in England
on Wednesday proved q source Of much salts
faction 10 thoroughbred breeders in this coun-
Try iuasmuch as the colt strictly American
bred was q BILE to defeat some of the best three
1ear-olds in England. including King Edward 5
pcrrier one of the faVorites for the Derby
Norman III was bred 10y August Belmont at his
Nursery Stud. being by Octagon-Nineveh
Nineveh is q daughter OF The III Used and was
bred by Mr. Belmont's father, while Octagon. L
good sprinter in mis- day. was bred by MI Bel
mont and was the sire of the great race mare
I5eldame which the Suburban Handicap IN
1865. In view Of Norman IIl's good race there
IS reasonable chance, if he trains on, of MS
winning the Derby. the blue ribbon fixture of
the English turf which VIII be at Epson "n
June : No fewer than twenty winners of the
Two Thousand Ciuineas Stakes have trained on
10 win greater honors in the Derby, and Mr..
Belmont will have the best wishes Of all Ameri-
can racegoers that lightning may again strike in