Evening star., 1909-05-23
PRESENT SlUMPS
WILL NOT LAST
Chicago Critic Still Likes
Chances of Former
Fav0riteS.

CHICAGO May 23.-With a month o!
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, with
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 thlnh
even now that Detroit is going TO run
away with another flag in hollow style.
But. Of course, the Tigers. grand team
though they are, still are lohg way
from being out of the woods. Their
slump will come some time during the
season. or perhaps several times, and IT
will be extraordinary if they are to hold
the lead all the way
Tigers Will Hit Snag.s
Jennings team, being both fast and
young-two mighty important factors
in the spring-naturally got the jump
on the others, and so far has refused
TO relinqHish its 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, and
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,
three-time pennant winners. twice world
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 red lantern on
second base. But the team that gave the
Cubs their hardest tight-the Giants
are not as strong as they were last year
either.
The Pirates and the Phillies have inn
proved, SO that gives the old league race
"A taste OF spice. Pittsburg has started
out splendidly, and if Abstein continues
Fred Clarke's team will have a 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 comblna-
ton 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 i'm rounding to; Doyle. one OF
his best hitters. was laid up, and there
was no mike Donln to belt in the runs.
But "Muggsy'' has an abundance of GOOD
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 a few weeks, and 1t is safe bet
that Donlin will be back in the fold by
July I.
Donlin Soon Back in Game.
Mike is not going to cross the briny
this summer. His recent statement from
Seattle that he would play if the fans
demanded it is just as positive declara-
ton that he will play as If he had SAID:
Il will be in uniform July j.
Without King the Cubs Will not oe
as strong as they were year ago. ana
with that handicap against them thelr
advantage over the other National League
contenders is just about nullined. :,
II is quite possible that McGraW Will
have another star In his net before long.
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 la1led 10
report to the Sox in 1905 his seml-Pro
activities here gave the national commis-
sion SO much trouble that 1t was easier
to reinstate him than be fighting him all
the time So Comiskey released Cauanan
from his Sox obligations entirety anu ne
became a free agent.
league
managers have shown to sign Callahan
after his three years of retirement from
the fast company 1t may pc seen WHAT
dearth of good outfield talent there ls
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 at
the age of thirty-fve and hall dozen
managers are ready and anxious to pay
him fancy salary. That shows how Few
of the young players come through with
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
pacemaking at this stage OF the race.
If the Sox are in fourth place by the end
or tneIF tfSL tIIp CoSt, VIM S-AoN' sasS
last of June. their rooters will be more
than pleased. Comiskey has stan OF
great pitchers. but it is doubtful If the
rest of the team gets into champion
ship form within thirty days. The ex-
cellent twirling will probably keep the
team within haiing 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 i'm the outfield TO fill the gap left
nv 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-
.entage to be 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 the field, but
were not strong at the bat. The Senators
had losing streak of six straight games
and blew every one of them by one tally.
That was due solely to the light sticking.
Cantillon 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 Boy a Hitter.
Right Fielder Beall of the Los Angeles
Coast League team made batting rec