The Washington times., 1909-10-03

Having bemoancd for many weeks the
parlous state of our American League
foam for 1903, let MS look into the future
and see what signs there are for 1910.
There is mighty little hope. Put that
in your pipe and smoke IL. The great
chance for Washington to bulge TO the
front was offered in 1908. Another OPP
DOrtunity appeared on the board last
spring, but the uncertainties of baseball
dope were never better Illustrated than
in the upsetting Of the stove league
predictions for the season now ending.
According 10 all the figures and makins
due allowances for the development OF
phenoms, the Western teams should
have~-fillcd the first division this year
Boston. New York, and Philadelphia
that the st. Louis team was playing
away above its proper form in IhS ana
might stumble into the second division.
Many. including CantiliOn. were con-
hdcnt that the Chicago White SoX would
drop into the ranks IF the lowly. But,
the consensus was that the West would
get the FIRST four bertbs and that Wash
ingtOn'S chances for leading the East
were excellent. What happened The
Athletics nearly beat out Detroit for
the pennant. Boston finished third and
was a pennant factor I'D to a month
ago Two OF the despised Eastern
teams fighting Detroit tooth and tOenai
for the bunting Chicago fourth. Cleve-
land sixth, st. Louis seventh. and WASH
form reversal. The wise men OF the
East who conceded everything to the
West are now wondering what they will
write for the next campaign.
Losing two games to the Athletics in
Philadelphia YESTERDAY to wind up the
year made u exactly ll0 games lost by
Washington. one Disguised Washing
ton sport made bet last spring that
the team would make a showing OF
minus 10 and he cashes b. an eyelash.
With all hands conceding that the
Eastern teams were weak, and the pos
sibility that St. Louis and Chicago
might collapse entirely. the Washing
ton fans had a right to hope last
spring. For 1910 the conditions Will
not be the same way Washington
may have better players, or the ma
terial now on the roll may develop
into something worth while but TIE
trouble is. the other teams have been
strengthened more than Washington
The Only soft spot In the dope is St
Louis. There's a club that must 20
building. and before Il finds itself
Washington may sneak into seventh
place That's a. far up the ladder
as an ordinary rooter can see with the
naked lamp. n there is anybody else
We are going TO beat next year, trOt
him out.
King Solomon informs US that the
way Of man with maid passcth
all understanding. and he says It in a.
way 10 Indicate that IL is the limit of
human problems. but the royal Nfspn-
hcimcr mad never been a baseball fan
and figured out the Dennant POSSIBLE
itics in the winter time. II he had,
he would have Classcd his own bet
problem with a words-of-One-syllab
explanation TO the drawing OF a horse.
The instance we have Just cited OF
the unexpected rise Of the Athletics
and Boston AND the dull-thud fall OF
Washington. would have sent Solomon
back 10 the foot OF the class Still,
this fussinE with me future is the life
Of baseball. and none of us who fol-
low the game can help doing II. Where
fore. we inquire OF the stars what the
prospects are for Washington next year,
and each answers Seventh place, II
you are lucky
Boston has team that IS a serious