New-York tribune., 1909-04-11
TEAMS RE4DY FOR THE
CALL OF PLAY.
keeR Race IN Prospect fer the Ma
tional and American League
PeRHdnfS.

leagues f2E car De 1L0ESl, Atte
players are Ia excellent condition. and, as most
Of the owners and managers believe that they
have strengthened their teams over winter. there
Is every reason believe that the fight VIII be as
closely and bitterly Waged vas the case last
season. when Detroit the American League
Championship foI the second time by p narrow
margin over Cleveland. Chicago snd st Louis
which finished In thar order. and the Chicago Cubs
Won the National League pennant fer the third
time in succession. beating the New York Giants
and FittsbarE Is si1Eie game
The American League season viii be formally
opened in Washington and Philadelphia to-mcT-
row. when the New York Americans face Wash
inEton and Boston takes issue with the Philadei-
mia Athletics The Western Cluus in this league
VII not begin The struggle until Wednesday, when
The opening games Of the National League also
Nin be played A clos2 study of the makeup OF
the various teams in tbs American League Wouid
indicate that Detroit. Cleveland, St Louis, Chi
cage and York We'll matched so far
as playing strength goes while in the Ma
1ionaI League the New York Giants. Chicago.
Pi1fs5u=g and Philadelphia look stronger on
paper than brooklyn. St Louis, Boston or Cin-
cinnau Much depends. - course upon the start
fe various teams get the condition Of the pltcnerS
ana how the new men develop. and for that reason
any suggestion that migfl5 be construed as a pre-
dietion IL futile. one thing. however. is sure-the
greatest struggle the history of baseball IS
plainly foreshadowed fer the coming season.
INTEREST CENTRES IN GIANTS.
Ia view Of The fact that the Yankees finished so
fsr back last year and that they viii not open
the season In this city unlu April q. chief inter
est. far the Local fans are concerned. cen
Tres ii Tie opening Of The National League season
al the Polo Grounds Wednesday. II Is hoped
one might also say expected, that the Giants Viii
uin me peIuaur IhaJ they lost 10y sUcil 2 narrow
margin last wear and that is another reason why
the men under the leadership Of John ! McGraw
hold The centre % the stage IN this city. The New
York fans love a winner and stick 10 winner as
perhaps IN no other city and Il is safe 10 say that
5he crowd d z whole VIII be with The Giants ar
gHs expense q the Yankees unless, perchance, the
latter nght their way 10 the front fom the start
II NAV he said il, passing baseball season
In the history CT the sport has begun WIKI brighter
prospects ana the owners Of tht various CLUBS real
1zing this have spared neither money pains 10
provide for their patrons The seating capacity at the
Polo Grounds mas been doubled The Philadelphla
Americans viii start the season in new home
which IS almost a monument 10 baseball by reason
II It's magnitude; the Pttsburg club has purcaseu
ground for 4 new and capacioUs field; the chicago
and Detroit teams OF The American League have
invested large sums in real estate for the purpose
eF auildinE new parks; the St Louis club Of the
National League j. looking 10 the future aiso
Ahile practically every club has made improve
r7sents Of one sort OF another i has been esu-
77afad that nc less than S2eG 40 has been devoted
f5 the last year in one way OF another 10 improve
raents in the two major leagues alone.
>-F,y 01-TFIELD FOR THE GIANTS.
The Giants will begin the season aita high hopes.
Like nonjln the hard hitting righthelder and cap
rsin Of she team last year. Will be missing Iuleu
away for the time being by the desire 70 sinhe oh
the stage ~ seymour who played in centrefltid'
se in disgrace because OF breach Of discipline
Al the training camp McCorulich. Wh" cauSi4t
4es in left hel5. has been reegated TO the second
s-rirlg fCr the present. so the team VIII btsIH
The season wLch an entirely new oulheldi ha@ue
un OF Murray, Who came from st LoulS
when Roger Breznahan vas traded, o'hara' "ho
has been hitting the hsT hard and sate4y II ll.e
,7aiir,rsrv practice and IerzOG, who hlled Doyle
Mace SO acceDJabIy al second base oaIihR lle
closing days Of last season after the last hal-ee
hsa been injured. DoEIln viii surely oe missed
,r1f Otherwise The outield Is stronger ana peltei
sd ia All proI,sniitv will be faster the bases
The iufieid-made Up Of Tenney al nrst Do3 Il
- Second E}alGWeT al short and DeFln al ullio
,orf5 hardly he improved on / Is q veteran coil
hination. ana the fans are not worrying about any
balls that may go their way MctsraW mas salo
thai Scliei VIII develop 4 second BreshdAal
behnd the bat and the little manager has t"c
other good men in Jack Myers. the Indian anu
srr5graes both Of whom can be depended upoT
# necessary In the box there are rrolcaliohs O.
great strength with Mathewson the Mighty,
Leon Ames, George Wiltse and the TWO new mel
-Afarouard. for whom New York paid Si'V" las
ra3I. and Raymond, who also came from 81 LOUIS
and who. while having the name OF being ever
more errtit than Rube Waddell, IS 4 strong pitch
e. who never shirks and loves TO work The team
Is strong in utility men also. and altogether there
i reason 10 believe that The fans viii not wish
for penllant ja yain; ..-,,,.s ,...,r,,.s ma,
have = harcer row 10 hoe ms year u KING. Wh(
has declared his intention of quitting the game
doe pot Charge his mind. Frank Chance is good
alaiager. bus king. from his place behind IN,
xeep the Cuts together than Chance himself and
lis place wiH he hard 10 flL otheTRlse The team
Is quite as strong as . year ago. ait5opgn II II !;
sald tllat ETers TIE g-tNeT ttIe Steod t.aztlft @
esE7 is TenlariSabz st:oig ssith Three FingeIeo
70 cab on. among others
PIRATES WOULD MISS WAGNER
TIE Piusuurc Pirates without Wagner would be
far weaker than last season Is the great short
stor. who headed tie batting list las; year, is
host himself lie injured his hand q day:
ago. just when De had decided 70 sign contract
for another wear. and may not be able pl2,
for several weeks. - far as can he Judged. an,
team has mo- been defaitelv settled. but IL Veg
ner plays there j. ro reason 10 believe that tas
Pirates VIII rot make - strong a bid for the
penaant they did q year ago.
Philadelphia promises 10 be strong IN the pi,chin.
box. with covaIes4li, Who did much 10 hold IN,
Giants ln CHECK is-s fan. McQUH.in. Sparks LIore.
ard Fc~eg to d-aN Doom. behind the bat is
generally loos on as one Or the best catChers II
lie countTs while the iufe6 is strong with Brans
field FIRST hHate a. second Doolin at short aRl
Grant a ri-sr3. Il VIII he q hard team beat. &C
cording 20 the critics If 81 does not fan too fai
hack in the early part of the season.
Charley Ebbers mas made every cnort Il
strengthen The Sgperbas. aud 10 All agpeara nee.
has succeeded Harry LuIniey. the new manager
wlH play in rigi1 field. usual. with Sebring,
hard hitter recently re-aslated in centre. and
Catterson. WHO tried out for time last seasoF
zad gives great premise. in LEFT Home Run
Jordan can be counted on al first base. while ii
looks as z fiHmEneI would be ~ short Pat1ee a
secord and AcElveen at third base The conbina
-fen looks strong enough 20 give a good account O
Itself Joe Dunn, VINO VAS considered The bes
1s=s
1ftalp 10 share the catching honors with Bergen
sr5 II IS gust possible that he vln give strength