Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-13
PREDICTIONS ARE
INVARIABLY UPSET
Base Ball Teams Final Posi-
tons in Pennant Races
Are Hard to Pick.

NEW YORK. June 13.-Base ball has a
way of invariably upsetting all prognos-
tications. The only sure thing about the
game is that it will always be different
from what is expected. After the hair
line finish in the National League last
season it was generally believed that the
1912 race in the older organization would
be. thrilling affair, while the American
League campaign was figured as simply
an uninteresting parade. with the Ath-
letics In the band wagon showing the
way.
Many fans believed that the Giants
were lucky in winning the pennant in the
National, and that the Phillies. the
Pirates and the Cubs would give them
a terrible battle this season. They
also believed that the Athletic band
would run its opponents off their feet
early in the game and have the PEN
nant cinched early In the season.
In other words. it seemed certain that
the National League would again afford
all the excitement while the American
League race would be tame and uninter-
esting. Conditions are just reversed.
While most people are engaged in figuring
out just how far the Giants will win, the
Johnsonian organization has settled down
clubs in the melee and seventh hang
ing around the outskirts Of the scrap-the
seventh being our own Yanks.
John J. McGraw's club is now believed
to have better than 2 to / chance OF re-
peating in the National League, while 1t
was hardly even money at the close of
the 1911 season. Connie Mack's delega-
cation was considered a cinch at any
odds to win another pennant in the Amer
lean League this year. particularly after
the worlds series. but now in this merry
month of June 1t Is believed that he will
have the fight of his life to overhaul the
White and Red Sox. He may do it-prob-
ably most fans believe he will-but a
strong element of uncertainty has en-
tered into the matter.
dope The Phillies-supposedly the
Giants most dangerous foe after last sea-
son-are nowhere. The McCraw machine
is far out in front. and the only new SEN
sation of the National League-the Gin
cinnati Reds-faded early. Pittsburgh
and Chicago are coming very. very 81 W.
ly. probably too slowly to do them any
good. while the other clubs are running
TO form.
In the American League there have
Sox and Washington. The Red Sox are
living up to the winter books, as they
were always figured in the fight for the
job of runner-up, at least. Cleveland did
not do as we'll as expected, and Detroit
has only recently commenced to justify
the winter prophets. Meantime the cham
pions of the world are tagging along and
showing but little of their 1911 form. 1t
may be argued that they Jagged last sea-
son, too. but with such delegations as the
vari-colored Sox out in front it behooves
the champs to be up and doing. for this
is the merry month of June.
Meantime John ]. McGraw does not
worry. He is not claiming the pennant
by any means. He believes he will have a
fight on his hands yet, as his old enemy
Chance-is commencing to run. Probably
in his heart McGraw would rather see
Mack win in the American II the Giants
repeat in the National. in order to get the
opportunity of another try at Gothams
conQuerors of last fall.