New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-08
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Giants Picked to Win the Ma
tionaI League Pennant.
PHILLIES LOOK DANGEROUS
Yankees Should Not Be Worse
than Second in American
League Struggle.

League Struggle.
Shooting peanuts with a popgun AT
buzzing June bug is fascinating sport
and almost as easy. so far as results go as
picking the baseball pennant winners OF
October in the shivery days Of April. AS
somebody has said "The magic Of great
influence iInpendS." for on Thursday the
national game will come into its own once
more with all the glamour and excitement
which goes with the opening Of each new
season. In view of this the critics, VINO
are numbered I'm the hundreds. are glrdlnS
themselves FOR their annual frQlic of pick
ing winners. Judging by my mail there
appears 10 be a demand for il, but in any
case il is almost a. fascinating as the
aforesaid hunt for June bugs. so that J
will raise my voice with the rest. even
though the prediction may be thrown I'm
my teeth some time next fall, as is usually
the case when one makes mistake False
prophesies are disposed TO come back TO
roost with surprising PERSISTENCE
To hsgin with. the Giants should win the
National League pennant for the second
wear in succession, and on paper 1t certain
" looks as II the Phllies, II Herr Horace
Pitts burgh Pirates would be the ones to
furnish the chief contention. The Chicago
cubs are puzzle at present. They may
prove wonderfully strong or they may drop
back for a wear or two. but II is hard to
see how they can lose a place in the hrst
division. so that fourth place Is accorded
20 them ! feel disposed TO put the Brook
lvn Superbas at the head Of the second
f1Y6i0 "a q
Cincinnati Reds ard the Boston Braves
following IN order. II IS rather hard on
Hank O'Dav. the onetime umpire who will
guide the destinies OF the Reds this year,
and on Johnny King the once famous
catcher Of the Chicago Cubs, who Will
lead the Braves into action, TO think SO
lightly Of their ability to put winning teams
in the field. but some clubs must he the
trailers. and both teams need lot OF
building. Baseball IS uncertain, however,
and it would not he surprising If one or
the other fought'its way to more com
msnding position.
Everything points to the Giants being
quite as strong, If not stronger. than
year ago. when they led the league in hit
ting and captured the flag. The left side or
the in1eld had 10 be reconstructed last sea
son. when the battle was growing hottest
On early September Further than that me
team was handicapped more or less right
az the start by being forced to play away
from its own diamond on account OF the
fire which destroyed the grandstand. Nc
Graw has a team Of young players which
,s hound 10 improve with experience. Her
zog at third and Fletcher at short dld
amazingly well through the closing DAYS or
the struggle last year. but It stands TO rea-
son that they will be better and stronger
with that experience. Larry Doyle at sec
ond and Fred Merkle at first round out the
inner breastworks in a way that makes II
look strong 10 the point or oeins roCh-
ribbed At least two able substitutes stand
ready TO fill in at moments nouce III
Arthur Devlin and Shafer. The latter "t
will be remembered. did not report last
year. McGraw has been working nara 10
discover some hard hitting outheloer' out
q looks now as II he would begin the sea
son with last years trio-DeVore' ohou-
grass and Murray. holding Becker NC
Cornick and possibly Burns In reserve
In the box the team Is well 1ortlheu WIN
such pitchers as Matthewson. MarquaTo
Crandall. Ames, Wiltse, Drucke ana les
reau. II the two last named come up 10
cancellations the pitching STAFF VIII De
much stronger and better balanced than
wear ago. Big Chief Meyers who has de-
welcomed into one Of the best catchers III
the country and Wilson can be counted
N hold I'D their ends behind the bat sure
IL there is every reason for fans IN TINS
city 10 be optimistic. with such team
and with A man like John ]. McGraW at
the helm.
rho Pb,llies are picked to finish second
evan with Mazee out Of the game for SIX or
eight weeks and Chalmers nursing lanlo
,boulder. for the reason that Ike the Gdants'
Z, is hard to find a weak link In the chalil'
charley Doom is an able manager ana one
Of the best catchers in the league. ne
has a strong pitching staff, with Alexander
chalmers and Moore as the backbone ono
of the hest and hardest hitting outields IN
. either league in Magee. Titus and PasKer'
and an inheld that is pretty close 10 oells
q stone wall The team set the pace LOT
the greater part of the season last year.
hut was sadly handicapped by accideh's
and finally dropped back. Inc fl'te
hurTh Pirates compare favorably with the
Giants and the Phillies, with one exception
First base has been a weak point TOT TWO
or three years, and may be so again even
with Miller on the bag, but otherwise FREQ
C1arkes team looks as formidable on paper
m either one Of the others. II Marty
O'TooIe. the 81. 500 pitcher. lives mp to eA-
pectations, the team may be enough strong
or than a year ago TO keep things humming.
Charles Webb Murphy is already promls-
ing the fans OF Chicago another Ma
tlonal League pennant but the wonderful
machine that Frank Chance built up sew
eraI years ago showed signs Of wearing
. ont last season. and while big improve
ment can be expected If Johnny Evers and
chance himself are able to play In their
old-time form, doubt exists that makes
Il impossible TO place them better than at
the bottom of the first division. Chance
. also needs a strong left-handed pitcher. and
needs one badly-otherwtse the team Will
be handicapped to a marked degree.
NV faith in the Superbas OF year ago
has been shaken somewhat, but am firmly
convinced that Bill Dahlen IL slowly but
surely building up a team that before long
will take a lot OF beating Weakness IN
batting was the chief fault last season. and
q II certainly looks as though the nine had