Evening journal., 1911-04-12

Chicago. or the three who picked
Chicago. two were Chicago scribes.
Three also. touted Pittsburg for the
flag. In the American League 20
Of these writer's selected the Phila-
delphia Athletics TO repeat, while one
lone dopester looked to Detroit for the
winner
II is easy enought TO see why the
Athletics should be such a unanimous
choice. for the team showed last sea-
son that It is still coming, but Il is
difficult to see why the Cubs should
run such a bad second TO New York.
II is probably because the Giants
made such a strong finish and the
Cubs went down to such inglorious
defeat before the Athletics IN the
worlds title games
The failure of the Cubs to repeat.
however, may be predicted on only
one basis-a fall-down on the part of
several OF the old stars The Chicago
team that takes the field today is
practically the same team that has
won four of the last five National
League flags. Manager Chances
combination has proved unbeatable in
the National League, so that the only
way II is likely TO lose this year will
be for the hitherto alright machine
to blow" or for other teams to ex-
hibit unexpected strength.
Cubs May Get Creaky.
Those who are pessimistic regard
ing Chicago. put the proposition this
way: There is more likelihood OF
Chances veteran team becoming
creaky than that the Giants, the
Pirates or the Cincinnati Reds will
not strike a swift and deadly gait and
maintain It to the end
II is a difference OF opinion that
make horse races, and the same holds
true I'm baseball National League
followers generally would not regret
TO see some other team than the Cubs
cop the bunting, for otherwise the
prospect of the National League re-
gaining the worlds title is about as
bright as the Alberta orange crop.
The team that Connie Mack turned
out last year would, in the opinion Of
niue experts out of ten, trim the Cubs
nearly as often as they could get to-
gether. And this is the team that
Connie Mack, II fortune goes well,
VIII hurl against the National League
winners again.
When Mack was asked for the line
up for his opening game this year. he
replied: Take your score card OF
the first worlds series game last year,
put Oldring in the place Of Strunk
and you will have it," This means
that the crafty Mr. McGillicuddy is
standing pat with a vengeance. Il is
true that he has added a couple of
pitchers In Russell and Collamore, |
but is doubtful II they will do more
than trail along this year and learn |
from watching such stars as Bender |
and Coombs
Practically tho same situation OBJ
tains In the camp OF the Cubs. Man
ager Chance has added Pitchers
Toney and Griffen and Outfelders
Doyle and Shean, but they will prob
ably be for emergencies and fail OF
regular berths. Toney looks to he
the real goods. and Chance r. certain
he has uncovered another wonder "lra
King Cole. n Toney and Griffen
make good. the oft-repeated cry that
Chances pitching staff was cracking
may be found unfounded. One thing |
In the Cubs favor Is the improved !
form thls year or Big Ed Reulbach. |
who was out of the game the first holf
of last year from an attack OF diph- I
iberia. Reulbach is now hurting in
his oldtime form, and Chance SAYS he
expects to use him In az least fifty
games. counting the pieces this year.
The Giants are still another team
that take the field Just as they left II |
last wear, with the bare possibility |
that Becker may find a place In the
Dutfeld at the last moment, I'm place
'f Snodgrass. The Giants got a
start last year. to which
act Manager McGraw attributes the
oss of the pennant This year he