Evening star., 1911-06-03
BY J. ED GRILLo.

SO far as the American League pennant
race is concerned 1t seems to have set
tied itself down to two teams. Detroit and
Philadelphia. None Of the others appears
to have q chance to be real contender
from this out, and the chances are that
the fight for the flag between the two
teams mentioned will be much closer than
1t has been as the season advances.
Detroit now has but q six-game lead
over the champions. and is on the road,
while the Athletics will be at home to
meet the weak western teams. from which
they need not expect any very difficult
opposition.
Mack's pitchers gradually have rounded
into form. and are beginning to show
that ability which made the team an
easy winner last year. while the same
weakness which prevented the Tigers
from winning last year, pitching. though
they scored by far the most runs. ap-
pears again to be the teams one handi
cap.
Much depends on the showing Detroit
makes on IT'S present trip. Should it lose
ground. as 1t is apt to. the Athletics will
be right on top of it before the eastern
invasion is over, and once winning the
Athletics will be hard to stop.
On the other hand. II Jennings veteran
twirlers show good form the Tigers may
have q splendid trip, but the veterans
have shown in but one game. and there is
no good line on them.
An ordinary lead no longer assures VIC
tory. This lively ball makes all sorts OF
rallies possible. and no pitcher can feel
what ordinarily would be a safe lead.
The prowess of the pitcher cannot be
gauged. for in nearly every game that is
played even the crack twirlers have a
and effectiveness. And the new ball has
affected the fielding, too. Infielders as
well as outfielders are not judging ground
ers or flies with the accuracy they for
mely did, SO that the error columns show
many more figures than formerly. On the
whole. the standard of base ball has been
reduced for the sake of giving the pa
irons OF the game an opportunity to see
more and longer hitting. Artistically the
game has gone back considerably. So
long as the home team does the hitting
the game is pleasing enough. but when
the other fellows begin to slam the sphere
about II becomes a very disgusting spec
tacle.
series which is apt to do much to de-
eide the pennant race this year will be-
gin in Philadelphia Tuesday. when De-
troit opens there for four games. These
games are the most important played this
year. for they may bring the leaders
nearer to each other or push the Tigers
farther ahead.
Mike Kahoe's report to Manager Nc
Aleer on Clarence Walker, the youngster
just purchased from the Spartenburg. S.
c.. team, is to the effect that Walker is
the best looking yungster Kahoe. has
seen. He admits that Walker is still
green hand, but that he is sure to develop
because he has all the earmarks pf
great hitter. is fast, can field and throw.
OF course. his knowledge of the game is
slight. because he has just started his
career as a player. but according TO
Kahoe he is sure to develop il he gets the
chance. Kahoe thought so well of Walk
er that he paid fancy figure for the
youngster, undoubtedly more than any
player from that league has ever brought
before. Kahoe has been watching Walk
er since early in the spring. There were
several other major league clubs after
Walker, but Kahoe succeeded in landing
him. He is expected to report here June
15. and IL conditions are right he will be
placed In the field at once.
Buying youngsters Is a gamble pure
and simple. There is never any telling