The Washington herald., 1912-04-11

the worlds champions exhibition games
al Savannah last spring. Westervelt did
excellent work in these games. and under
careful handling he should develop into
stan:
The Athletics win bat as follows:
Strunk, left field; oIdrlng. center field;
Collins, second base; Baker or Derrick,
third base; Murphy. right field; McInnis,
first base: Barry, shortstop, Lapp, catch
er; Coombs pitcher.
In case Oldring does not play Strunk
will 60 in at center and Maggert to left.
Jack Coombs. the iron man, viii in
all probability start in the box.
Three Parks Idle.
just three big league cities will be
without baIl game to-day. Washington
and Detroit in the American League. and
Pittsburg in the National
Cleveland. Chicago. New York. and
Philadelphia are the cities that stage an
American League contest to-day. while
Boston. 81, Louis. Brooklyn. and Gin
cinnad will see their National League
clubs in action.
In the game between the Nationals and
Connie Mack's Athletics it is almost n
certainty that Walter johnson will be in
the box for the local team. and with
johnson going right, the Nationals are
a good match for any team.
The Detroit invasion of Cleveland
means one OF the toughest series that
could be arranged. There is intense riy-
airy between these clubs owing to CleSe-
lands remarkable spurt last year under,
the leadership OF George Stovall, and
Cleveland Is conceded this year to be
one of the hardest contenders for De-
troit's runner-up position. Harry Davis
viii probably send Vean Gregg. his star
southpaw, 10 the mound. while Hughey
Jennings will work his veteran, George
AISllin. The latter has always twirled
Detroit's opening game.
Browns Look Dangerous.
The ST. Louis Browns showed such re-
markable form against the Cardinals in
the preseason series that they are ex-
pected to prove the dark horse" of the
American League race this year, al
though they finished a poor last in 1911.
Manager Bobby Wallace will probably
use one of his young phenoms on the
slab against the White Sox at Chicago
to-day, while Jimmy Callahan is expect
I'd to offer the great Ed Walsh. Chi
cago figures even with Detroit, Cleve-
land, and New York in the battle for the
second place in the league.
Jake Stahl, leading the Boston Red
Sox. and Harry Wolverton. leading the
New York Yankees, are rival mentors In
the game in Gotham Both men are
newcomers to managerial berths and
boast that the addition OF recruits has
strengthened their teams so much as TO
make them pennant contenders and
fierce contest is expected TO ensue on the
New York Hilltop.
The National League situation.
The New York Giants. champions OF
the National League, will play Brooklyn
to-day Both of these teams have lined
up groups of youths as recruits to the
veteran nucleus. As a general thing
Brooklyn is no match for New York,
but it may be a genuine tussel to-day
as Manager Bill Dahlen intends to send
Nap Rucker to the fore against the
McGraw clan. Mathewson and MarQuard
are expected to work for New York,
with Meyers catching.
Umpire Hank O'Day, the new manager
Of the Cincinnati Reds, Will be put to
the test officially for the first time
against the Chicago Cubs in Cincinnati.
In this game Chicago will exhibit its new
first baseman, young Joe Angler, sue
cessor to Frank Chance, who is expected
to prove a scream in the big league.
Mordecai Brown Is looked upon as the
logical choice of Chance for slab duty
to-day, and O'Day. it is figured, will
employ the consistent Gaspar.
The Phillies, who were beset by an un-
precedented run Of hard luck last year
in the injuries to Outfielder Titus and
Manager Doom, and the suspension of
Sherwood Magee. are to play on the
home lot of the Boston Nationals, where
Johnny Killing is assuming command. The
pitching proposition there is likely to
be a matter OF youth versus old age,
with old Cy Young working for the
Beantown band, and either Alexander or
Chalmers for Philadelphia.
While the opening days games-or any
other one single days games for that
mattcr-cannot cut a great figure in the
ultimate results of the pennant races,
they will AFFORD the fans their first op-
portunity to speculate sensibly upon the
possible success of this or that recruit.
Anyway. they are a beginning, the sea-
son Is on. and everybody's happy.
When Manager Davis appointed Olsen
captain Of the Clevelsnds Lajoie's friends
were disagreeably shocked.