The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-05
By W. $. FARNsWoRTH

After having seen all eight clubs in the American league perform, believe I am able to give good line on their respec- tive abilities. Although the Detroit Tig- CTS have gained a big lead they will not canter home with the pennant by a long shot. They may win, and are strong fayorites just now, but it won't be a rum away race by any means.
 The lead they have gained over their seven rivals has about put them in po- sition where they will have only to break even in the remaining battles to be played They should do this But they have been luclly-extremely lucky. This break from Dame Fortune cannot last all the time. Hughey Jennings has a wonderful bunch of clouters. Their attack is the strongest of any team in either of the big leagues. While they do not play the inside ball that characterizes the work of the New York or the Chicago clubs, they have to date seldom fallen down with the old Fashioned attack of hit and run from first base, or any old sack, for that matter.
 Even in close games the Tigers do not attempt to sacrifice the runner from first
 
 hopes that a long sacrifice fly will count just as much as a hit They simply go in and slug. Now, this method of offense is immense long as a team is hitting and luck favors their hoists, but just wait until they start hitting the ball right into opponents hands. Then Jennings will be forced to change his style.
 Cobb and Crawford are keeping the team up in the race, although Delehanty has been hitting with regularity of late, and especially in the pinches. Take Cobb and Crawford out of the lineup and the Tigers wouldn't be in the first division It is a two-man club as far as the offense goes At the same time Oscar Stanage should come in for little of the calcium He, too, has been very much on the jop with his stick at the opportune time.
 And it is Stanage and his battery partner, George Afullin, that comprise the defense of the team. Stanage has won derful whip and is catching grand ball Let him suffer an injury that would keep him out of the game for a month and De- troit would take a mighty tumble. Veteran Mullin is still the class of the Detroit twrlers. Summers and Willet have been saved for the hot weather, and Jennings is especially fortunate in hav- ing had a bunch of untried youngsters make good in the early season. At that, the new boxmen don't look any too fast, and they are not likely to keep up their winning streak while the Tigers are on the road.
 l Detroit was favored by playing a month right of the reel on their home grounds. If they can stand the gaff on the road as well, then they will walk home. But doubt If they do.
 Which team will be the one to give the foh all I ha1i hat adelphia New York and possibly Chicago will give them a rub before the gates close next October. Inasmuch as the Athletics are the worlds champions they must be considered the contender right now.
 The crew of Connie Mack are hitting the ball unmercifully. They outhit the Tigers 19 to and yet lost their game in Detroit a fortnight ago. That shows that either the Tigers were awfully lucky or else the Athletics must have been exceedingly dumb on the paths.
 Macks pitchers have not displayed the form expectd of them. That tells the story of why they are not up with the Tigers. Coombs Bender and Plank were expected to do all kinds of things to the opposing batsmen, but they failed And then the Aathetics' catchers have been very much off color at times and allowed
 men to run wild on the bases.
 It looks as though young McInnes has developed into a wonderful batter Harry Davis has been schooling this boy to play first base Harry realizes that his days as a diamond star are about over. So, for the past year, McInnes has been talk ing lessons in the fine art of handling the small nit.
 Jack Barry was forced to lay off one day in New York and McInnes went to short He hit about $50 that day and since has been pounding the bah around : Ithe 5oD mark. Mcfnnes is also a cork : ing good fielder. He and Collins make the fastest team around the keystone cushion in the league.
 If the Yankees had not suffered as never , team did before with sickness and In juries, I believe they would be at the Iigers' h-ealS right noW. But eeyeyy -Inar