The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-07

were strung out too much to make
the season a good one either in the
artistic or the gate senses. Clubs low
in the standing in 1912 have strength
ened. and will furnish tougher opposi-
ton to those higher up. Fewer such
cleanings as the Nationals made with
Cleveland, to instance a Ease familiar
to Washington fans, may be looked
for. Boston. the champion club. has
added fewer, recruits, and prepared
less for STRENGTHENING weak spots than
any club in the league. McAleer pre-
sumably figures that a team that
could win as far off as his did. is
good enough for one more season.
Besides. he has Henriksen for the out
field. Bradley and Janvrin for first
base. and Engle and Ball for general
utility work. And he has n strong
pitching staff.
Griffith has the right idea in adj
ding to his roster a lot Of youngsters.
1t does not cost much to look them
over. and he may pick IN a prize. as
he did in the case of Shanks. who
was: not expected I o stick when the
players reported. and who finished
the season acknowledged in all cities
to be the best fielder playing his posi-
ton on the entire circuit. Only fall
ure to hit prevented his gaining a
rating as one of the all-round stars of
the league. The Washington club is
still in the formative stage, which
causes any conservative critic to halt
before pronouncing it a pennant prob
ability. Most of its veteran talent is
young enough to be able to last a
year or two while the additions are
going through their seasons of devel-
opment. 1t will be one Of the big
cards Of the circuit next season. il it
merely runs one. two. three. because
its youth and dash and style of play
is liked by fans of road cities.
One thing that cannot he figured
on in doing a pennant race is the con-
ditions under which the teams will
leak from the starting point. Early
season form of the clubs in 1912 had
a great deal to do with the outcome
of the rae Washington came up
from Charlottesville in pretty good
form physically. and was ready to go
as soon as Griffith could make the
necessary changes that would give his
team balance and needed strength in
certain weak spots. Most of the 9TH
er teams were in bad shape. . This.
1t may be said in passing. was true
Of the Red -Sox. but they. had the
requisite genaral strength to over
come this handicap, with washington
getting away badly and the Athletics
never making a start. Next spring
cannot possibly be as bad as that of
1912, which was one of the worst in
history. The breakaway probably will
be different. The clubs that prove
weakest in the long run frequently
make the greatest display of spring
speed. And this ma affect any race.
no club ever having a chance to win
it may go by the club it has lost those
games to.
Griffith sticks to his intention to re-
turn to Charlottesville. though Allan
ia still has hopes that it may coax
him back. Most of the players who
were with the team all year seem
to hope that the manager will change
his mind and decide on a new camp.
They We're all used in the university
town. and have no complaint either
on that score or on the facilities for
getting into shape. But they claim
hat a town with such limited posi-
bilitics of entertainment-for persons
not regularly resident. and therefore
having no circle of friends-palls aft
or one %springtide. Mr.. Griffith. how
ever has a theory that he is not TAX
ing his team away on a pleasure tour.
and that results alone are what he
seeks. Hence he will not switch I'M
less forced to do so THROUGH failure
to get the accommodations he had
last spring. These. incidentally, al
ready are promised him.
Down in the Central league they
have discovered AS was predicted last
spring, that a twelve-club league will
not do. The majors learned this long
ago. Last spring. however. the Cen
trail and o. and p. operating In neigh
boring territories. amalganated. and
rid themselves of some OF the weaker
sisters. Then they started their sea
SON. and asked the world I watch
the fans fall for a novelty. This the
fans refused to do. A club in the Sec
ond division was o far down. and
ha dtoo much ground to gain to be-
come a contender. Now the league
has been split into two six-club cir
cults, and DIR. Carson. who has been
president of the Central for years. and
Is a member Of the national board OF
arbitration. by reason Of this position.
has resigned and quit active interest
in baseball. There will be no more
circuits for some time to come of
more than ciEht members.
Anything in baseball can be over
done. The world series showed that.
For several eason there has been
agitation for nine games. and. at
times, even for fifteen games. set for
the championship. Experience has
proved that the only big fight is for
tickets to the first game In each city.
After that. as a usual thing. with oc-
casional exceptions. Of curse. one a
get accommodations without grea.
trouble. After the sixth game this
wear. thoueh the series was n 90
the most exciting. as 1t was the moe
e~rratic. since the commission too'
char~e Interest waned. and ~eve~vhod'.
copca~ned w.ns nn','n" fnr +he VIM
,,u. THO ,on~-d~awr-ont would ee-'~
cou,d nv h" avoided 4 twe'va-c'"'
Ton ~ye ~ 81 1"een-oor,e world ec~'o~
ran cofe ond sane Mnea IN haseha"
es elsewhere. are cood ia follow.
Dan McGmgtn. the VANDERBILT
coach. believes that his football war
riors have a splendid chance to dc
feat Harvard when the two teams
meet in Cambridge November ..
The Carlisle Indians are winning