Evening star., 1909-05-23
PRESENT SLUMPS
WILL NOT LAST
Chicago Critic Still Likes
Chances of Former
FavoriteS.

CHICAGO, May 22.-With a month OF
the major league season gone. the teams
are gradually settling into their strides
and giving their various bands OF fol-
lowers hints as to what may be eX-
pected of them when the campaigns
reach their height in August and Sep
tember.
And what a wise prophet he would be
who could foretell the winners. Indeed,
there is more delicious uncertainty about
the chances of picking winner than
last season when it was thought the
extreme limit had been reached in close
base ball struggles.
Just at present the National League
race looks like a better battle, Win
several teams demanding an even chance
for the honors The fine start that the
Tigers got in the American League race,
added to the fact that all the world
loves a champion, causes many 10 think
even now that Detroit is gong 10 run
away with another flag in hollow style.
But of course, the Tigers, grand team
though they are, still are long way
from being out of the woods. Ineir
slump will come some time during the
season, or perhaps several times, ana ~
will be extraordinary if they are to hold
the lead all the way.
Tigers Will Hit Snag.
Jennings team. being both fast and
young-two mighty important factors
in the spripg-naturally got the jump
on the others. and SO far has refused
TO relinqHish it's lead. That the Tigers
are a vastly improved team over their
last seasons form there can be no doubt
They are better in every way. But the
way is long and full of pitfalls, ana
many hurdle will be slipped In front
of the Tigers before they are through.
The National League strife Is highly
Interesting and hard to guess, because
of the important changes In so many
of the teams. The champion CUBS,
champs founded in 1876, and all that
kind of thing, are not as good as they
were last year, when they won out only
by the skin of their teeth and because
McGraw forgot to hang a red lantern on
second base. But the team that gave the
Cubs their hardest fight-the Giants
are not as strong as they were last year
either.
The Pirates and the Phillies have i'm
proved, so that gives the old league race
a taste OF spice. Pittsburg has started
out splendidly and if Abstein continues
10 first sack up to his early standard
Fred Clarke's team will have q lot to
say about which team will represent the
National. League in the next worlds Sc
rieS.
The poor start made by the New York
Giants brought loud outlaws In some
quarters and woe to others. A comDina-
tion of circumstances hindered the Giants
at the start. McGraw was under the
weather for many days. his pitchers
notably his stake horse, Mathewson-
were slow in rounding to; Doyle, one OF
his best hitters. was laid up ana tnere
was no Mike Donlin to belt in the runs.
But "Muggsy'' has an abundance or gooo
material from which to build up his team.
and there Is no use counting the Giants
out. They are pretty sure TO come strong
within few weeks, and 1t is a safe bet
that Donlin will be back in the fold by
July 1.
Donlin Soon Back in Game.
Mike" is not going to cross the brlny
this summer. His recent statement from
Seattle that he would play If the fans
demanded it is just as positive deciara-
ton that he will play as If he had SAID:
Il will be in uniform July L.
Without Killing the Cubs will not be
as strong as they were year ago, ana
with that handicap against them tneir
advantage over the other National League
contenders is just about nuil1neo. -
It is quite possible that McGraW VIII
have another star in his net before ions.
Jimmy Callahan. the former manager
of the White SoX, is likely to break Dack
into big league base ball and McGraW is
after him. Callahan until very recentIy
had been an OUTLAW since ne laiieu 10
rerort to the Sox In 1906 His semi-Pro
activities here gave the national commits
sion so much trouble that II was easie,
TO reinstate him than be fighting MN ali
the time So ComiSkey released Cauahaii
from his Sox obligations entirely ana ne
became free agent.
Frou, the eaeerness several big league
managers have shown to. sign Callahan
after his three years OF retirement IToH
the fast company 1t may be seen what
dearth of good outfield talent Inere ~.
Since Callahan quit the Sox Comiskey
has tried over twenty outfielders and not
one of them has shown one-half the talent
that Cal possessed. Here he Is al
the age of thirty-fve and a hal1. dozen
managers are ready and anxious to pay
him a fancy salary. That shows how few
of the young players come throush Win
the goods.
Maps Will Soon Climb.
The difficulty that the Sox and Cleve-
lands have had in keeping up around the
800 mark SO far hasn't discouraged their
armies of admirers, who really didn't
expect those veteran players to do much
pacemakng at this stage OF the race.
II the Sox are i'm fourth place by the end
of their first trip east which ends the
last of June their rooters Will be more
Than pleased Comiskey has a staff of
great pitchers but it is doubtful II the
rest of the team gets into champion
ship form within thirty days. The ex-
celent twirling will probably keep the
team within hailing distance of the lead
ers until the regulars get to hitting better
and acquire more team work in the field.
All kinds of combinations have been
tried in the outfield to fill the gap left
ny Fielder Jones resignation. There
have been twenty hits to center so far
this season that Jones would have con-
verted into outs. That's an awful per-
centage to he missing and may prove
fatal To the teams chances.
The Cievelands aren't likely to worry
their fans by staying in the ruck long.
The invalids are getting back into the
game. and when they all get right there
Is going to be some hard work cut out
for the other battlers for pennant honors.
The Washingtons showed excellent
form here last week in tine field. but
were not strong at the bat. The Senators
had a losing streak of six straight games
and blew every one Of them by one tally.
That was due solely to the light sticking
Cantilion had his team going great guns
In the field. and his pitchers. especially
Johnson looked good. but the team
wasn't in a swatting mood.
WASHINGTON Rov Hitter