The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-09
Sensational Finish Promised
in Both Major
Leagues.
CHICAGO THREATENS
PJTTSBURG LEAD
Cubs Are Picked to Once More
Win the National League
Flag.

Close races have been characteristic
OF the American League since its incep-
ton. and this season promises no devia-
ton from the rule.
Where In every year one club appears
70 have the pennant won in mid-season.
and It looks as though nothing could
stop It, toward the close there has been
marked shift in positions, and It has
always been a close struggle In the last
few weeks. sometimes only game or
two separating the first two clubs when
the final curtain has been rung down.
One month ago appearances indicated
that seemingly nothing could stop De-
troit: yet, look at the situation today!
Where only a few weeks ago the Tigers
appeared to have an unbeatable lead,
now there are two clubs pressing them
for championship honors. The Athletics
: are but twenty points behind the lead
ers, and in turn Boston IS twenty-seven
points away from second place.
Those who reckon that Detroit's lead
| is a margin sufficient 70 aga. land the
flag lose sight Of the ract lhat, unlike
last year. the Tigers must lght the
closing battles on foreign diamonds,
which is q vastly different proposition
from playing at home. That familiar
surroundings make 1t much easier thar
playing away has only within a short
time been foroibly demontrated Take
/ the Athletics as an example. On their
last Western trip they were badly beat
en- at Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago.
IN the latter city alone losing all four
games; yet when they returned to Shibe
Park they cleaned up the serbs from
both the Maps and White Sox. There
fore, the odds are going to favor the
Eastern contestants.
Surprise for Critics.
No team has more COMPOUNDED the
critics than siIe Athletics. In fhe early
part of the season it was freely pre-
dicted that when the race began to get
warm Mack's bunch of youngsters
would be unable to stand the strain.
and that the old hands would show the
new ones Up and the club would drop
as fast as it had progressed. Yet moth
ing is further from the fact. 1t has
been the youngsters on the team Vho
have kept it where It is today. and in
most, If not all. Of the victories 1t has
been Baker, Collins, and Barry who
have figured prominently. These men
hare improved with each game. while
! the older Cnes, like Murphy. Davis. and
Hartsel. have refrigerated.
( Where a week ago Detroit had lead
of a points, this has been cut down to
90 But it is Boston that needs most
watching. The Red Stockings have been
/ going at q fast gait, and are BY no
| means out of the race, and with their
long stand at home in September the
team is going TO be factor IN deter
mining the championship. New York Is
another team that has apparently found
new lease on life. and the Yankees
VIII yet make things uncomfortable for
] some Of the pennant aspirants. Cleve-
land has dropped off, as has Chicago,
while, both St. Louis and Washington
show material gains
Cubs Are Coming.
] yor perhaps the first time since the
season opened Pittsburg's lead is seri-
ouslv threatened, and II would not be
surprising If Chicago was TO again land
the National League pennant The alb
sence Of Wagner seems TO have taken
all the fighting spirit out of the Pirates.
and their playing has been streaky-
| A fatal weakness for q team with the
flag almost within its grasp. To the
contrary, the Cubs have been working
! steadily. and, while some Of their vic
tories have doubtless been lucky, il
has been class that has finally told and
brought the champions Up TO within
striking distance Of the leaders. And Il.
the crucial test past experience has
demonstrated that Chicago is a better
club than Plttsburg. Both clubs have
been playing the weaklings OF the sec
ond division Of late, but the Cubs nave
made by far the better showing.
1t may be that Chicago and Pittsb lrg
will go down the home stretch in much
the same way that the Giants and Cubs
lid last year, but the Pirates viii have
| ia show better form than they have OF
| late 10 give the Cubs even q decent
| fight II took a long time for Chance tc
| whip Chicago into something like its
past form, but apparently he has finally
| cot the team going right, and history
/ shows what a nerVy and heady aggre-
/ cation the Cubs are when It comes down
| to a real fight
| First division appears TO be getting
| farther and farther away from the Phil
| lies and Il Is eOing to take heroic WORK
! to. even land al the head of the second
| division Results have far from justified
| Manager Murray's stand-pat policy, and
; il would now seem the part of wisdom
! 10 get ready for another year, as there
is nothing TO hope for this season.
]
ANOTHER ATLANTA TEAM.