The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-03
5AN sLUMPs As A
BASEBALL
ISAIAH
His "NoRunaway Race For the
Tigers" Prediction Seems Far
From q Fulfllment At
Present.
Weather Conditions All Alike For
Jennings, Mighty Men Who Win
At Home and in Chicago.

Well, It's up to Ban Johnson. presi-
dent OF the American league, as well
az a bunch OF others. including few
right here in Detroit. to go far toward
the rear and take seats.
Ban opined. over his own signature
just before the start of the season.
that. whatever the result OF the battle
might be, Il would develop into no
runaway romp for the Tigers. or
course 1t is still quite early In the race
to predict that the Tigers will gallop
home on the bit, so to speak. Never
theless they have acquired lead In
the first three weeks OF play which,
according to past performance dope.
will make 1t necessary for them only
to break little better than even In
the rest OF their season to win the
American league pennant.
Just think that over. It's a bit
surprising when one recalls that only
Is games have been played by the
Champs, but it's true. nevertheless.
Some Joyous Dope.
There are l54 games on the Ameri-
can league schedule, as everybody
knows. The tigers have played Is.
leaving 1879 still on the program. As
n rule a team Is compelled To leave
one scheduled contest unplayed, ac-
cording to statistics on past races. II
Is just to estimate the Tigers as hav-
ing 1873 combats ahead OF them.
To win the pennant In any former
American league season but 1904 1t
has been necessary To cop but 81
games. The Tiges have already grab
bed an even dozen. That leaves 70
the Tiges can lose So and still win
out. One good swing round the east
ern circuit In the Tiges old.time style
will turn the trick, provided the team
can merely break even in the remand
er OF its games.
And the Champs have not played a
single game yet with the teams that
the league considers weak, their activ-
tiles up to date being confined entire
lyet TO the three opponents who last
year chased them out. To the finish
the occupants OF the first division
Weather, footing. gales and more
favorable conditions are all the same
to-those doughty Tiges. Here on Sat
urday they licked St. Louis with a
colt pitcher in the box, pitted against
a~man who has In former years been
one Of the Tigers most feared oppon-
ents. Their. eyes were full OF snow
most of the time. but they employed
their f1eeting glimpses OF the ball TO
such effect that the game was really
in doubt only once.
Few Left on Base.
On Sunday at Chicago in atmos-
phere even colder and facing Frank
Smith, star OF the windy towns pitch
ing brigade. they batted their way TO
apsther victory.
Steadfastly they have endeavored to
reduce the left on base department 10
3 the lowest possible dimensions. They
are taking chances when chances
should be taken and playing safe when
occasion demands II. Little Hughie
has his baseball machine working
grandly.
Lucky? OF course they are, Who
ever saw a team that was playing a
mile the best ball that didn't get rs
per cent of the favorable breaks in the
fortunes OF war?
Such baseball as the Tiges have
been playing is the only possible mag
net which could draw to the playing
field over 1000 persons on an after.
noon like that OF Saturday. Beyond
question 1t was the most uncomfort-
able baseball weather that Detroit has
ever seen. Twice the game had to be
stopped because the players couldn't
see the ball and the crowd couldn't
see the field. Most OF the time II
showed and part of the time II came
down in great big flakes, which a
northwest gale drove into the stands
A grand day for a colt pitcher to
make his debut was Hughie jennings
enthusiastic dictum and Ralph Works
stepped to the firing line.
RaIphie Delivered.
Ralph did fastoundingly well I'm the
conditions. He was hit often but
braced In the pinches. His control
was excellent and he had fine speed.
He placed his curve ball wherevor
Stanage called for IL and folded +
position perfectly with one except
this being a fly ball which he lost
an aerial snowdrift. But for two
extra-base hits the Browns would have
been shut out. AS II was with Craw-
ford home-running for the cigars and
lingerie, Mcintyre driving 1t out
almost at will, Moriarty doubling, trip
ling and INDUCING In his pet pastime
~ stealing home. there was nothing
IT
Sunday. wlllett faced Smith at Chi
cago and mixed a walk with two hits
IN the second inning after the Tigers
had secured three runs in their first
inning.
on the slab Hughie yanked the Kan
sas twirler and Mullln reigned in his
stead. George had some trouble warm
ing ND and the Sox tied the score.
Thereafter 1t was nip and tuck but
the Tiges never lost n smuggling match |
of that kind in their lives. II was FIVE
runs apiece in the seventh and then
the Tiges got the necessary run
around.
Schaefer Breaks Fast.
Cobb was stealing second on Sulli- |
van all day and Crawford was batting |
like q demon. Germany Schaefer |
broke o long batting fast by larruping
out the hit necessary TO win, after two |
strikes had been called on him and |
there were two out at the time. Mana |
Mr. Sullivan Of the Sox is showing the !
meet Of his added responsibilities. |
4wo Wild heaves were his portion yes
n)rday.
None Of the other American. league
Gyubs played Saturday. At st. Lonis |
muuday Joss was In fine form for the |
MT time this year. letting the Browns.
~ RqgplA Plsq pitchiaa eood- bali !