El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-18
Already the Baseball Germ
Is Working in the Minds
of Men.

New York N Y Feb. 1S--Although
the first engagement of the diamond
warriors is still two months away. the
baseball germ is unusually active. and
the bugs have already begun a talk
fest, which will last from now until
the middle of next October. Dope on
the next pennant winners is being ped
died out with green trading stamps TO
anyone who will take the time TO
listen
The verbose tonsorial artist has Ia
booed politics and the Canadian reel
procfty agreement, to discuss the quail
ifications Of the minor league recruits,
and will assure you that his selections
already have the elusive pennant nailed
to the flag staff in the home park.
Bankers, brokers' doctors and men Of
all trades and professions are mingling
the names of Chase. ''Matty." Bender
and other celebrities in business dis
cussions and the youth of the country
Is staying up nights figuring out the
number of "grandmothers" and sother
near relatives that can be sacrificed
during the coming season before the
boss gets wise
No Fight To Divide Interest.
One Of several reasons for this chat
ter is the fact that most oftthe teams
in the two big leagues have started
for their training quarters or are al
ready there, and, it will only be a Few
weeks before we begin to get in line
on the condition Of the veterans and
the ability of the new recruits Then
again there is no Jeffries- johnson fight
thise year, for which let US be truly
thankful About the time the cam
started for camp last year, everybody
was busy studying the dope Of the big
fellows. and such a regular event as the
80 he a
most overlooked. But this year there
is nothing to distract the bugs" at
tention. and in the absence of dope
from the sport page he buries himself
between the covers Of an ancient guide
book and compares the present stars
with the old timers.
While the future is too uncertain TO
select any pennant winners, q looking
over the records gives US a line on the
teams that will cut a big figure in the
race.
No Walk Away This Year.
It is certainty that the Chicago
Cubs 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 aggrega-
ton was decidedly weak. and If he
hopes to capture the pennant in 1871
he VIII have to strengthen CONSIDER
ably. Three Fingered" Brown, who
was a marvel for many seasons. was
overworked last year and lost IA out
of SO games which he pitched. while
Reulbach. another great pitcher. twirl-
ed but 20 games, and lost eight OF
these. King Cole IS the only pitcher on
the team that looks good for next year.
although it is possible that the light
training of the winter may have helped
the others considerably.
Pftfsburg In Bad Rut.
Pittsburg is also in a bad rut in re-
gard to pitchers. Babe" Adams. who
created a sensation in 1909. fell far be-
low 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
Fielding, however. is not the biggest
year Brooklyn had the highest aver
age though she finished near the bot
tom 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
pernant winners. The Giants finished
in second place last year, but captured
first honors in the batting average
Manager McGraw has signed up all his
old men, and has besides a good squad
of youngsters, from which he hopes to
pick a team of winners. His chances
look good. From present indications
his pitching staff is not equa1ed by
any other in the league. Mathewson,
Ames. Wiltse, Drucke, Marquard. Gran
doll opd RAYMOND are among the vet