The Washington herald., 1911-02-19

Although the first engagement of the
diamond warriors is still two months
away. the baseball germ is unusually
active, and the bugs have already be-
gun a talkfest which will last from
now until the middle of next October.
Dope on the next pennant winners is
being peddled out with green trading
stamps to any one who will take the
time to listen.
The verbose tonsorial artist has ta-
booed politics and the Canadian reci-
procity agreement to discuss the quail
fications of the minor league recruits,
and will assure you that his selections
already have the elusive pennant nailed
to the flagstaff in the home park. Bank
ers, brokers, doctors and men of all
trades and professions are minglfng the
names of Johnson, McAleer, Chase,
''Matty,' Bender, and other celebrities in
business discussions. and the youth Of
the country is staying up nights figuring
out the number of ''grandmothers'' and
other near relatives that can be sacri-
feed during the coming season before
the boss gets wise.
One of several reasons for this chat
ter is the fact that most of the teams
their training quarters or are already
there. and it will only be few weeks
before we begin to get in line on the
of the new recruits. .---.-.-..-.'
While the future is too uncertain to
select any pennant winners, looking over
| the records gives US line on the teams
: that will cut big figure in the race
I iS hnf bn Cub
| will not walk away with the flag in
the National League race as they did
| last year. The poSt-Season series with
/ the Athletics disclosed the fact that the
| pitching .staff of Chances aggregation
was decidedly weak, and If he hopes to
capture the pennant in 1911 he will have
to strengthen considerably.
Pittsburg is also in a bad rut in regard
to pitchers. Babe Adams, who created
a sensation in 1909, fell far below his
\ record in 1910; Camnitz lost more games
| than he won, and the rest did not make
any exceptional records. As to fielding
the Pirates finished right under Chicago
I in third place. Fielding. however, Is not
the biggest factor in capturing a pen
| nant, for last year Brooklyn had the
| highest average, though she finished near
| the bottom OF the ladder.
It is the team that can hit that counts,
and this fact brings the New York Giants
to the front as possible pennant winners
The Giants finished in second place last
year. but captured first honors in the
batting average. Manager McGrav has
signed up all his old men, and has be-
sides a good squad of youngsters, from
which he hopes 10 pick team Of win
ners. His chances look good.
In the American League the Athletics
look the best. They not only captured
the pennant and worlds championship
last year, but also walked off with both
batting and fielding honors Their pitch
ing staff is the best in the country in
cluding such stars as Coombs, Bender,
Plank. Morgan, Krause, and Russell. to-
gether with a large bunch Of likely
youngsters.
But the Philadelphia team by no means
has the pennant stored away. Manager
Hugh Jennings is putting his Tigers
through a course of sprouts, and en-
phatically declares that his team will
come back" Hal Chase, the new man
ager of the Yankees, is also very optim-
istic. The Yankees made a great show
ing last year, and developed a number
of individual stars, including Russell
Ford, the young pitcher. Chase has not
lost any of his good men, and his team,
according to New York baseball writers,
will play a prominent part in the PEN
Eant race.