Evening journal., 1913-07-02
BIG LEAGUE
RACE GETTING
WARMER
Crucial Week Faces PhlllieS
and M'GraW'S Men in
Mt nal Circuit
ATHLETICS STILL
RGMPING IN LEAD

Interest in the pennant race in
either Of the two major baseball
leagues deepens with almost every
game. and though both are at the
present time two-club affairs the pos
sibility Of a change soon IL tne post
tion Of one Of the leaders has wrought
the followers Of the clubs immedi-
ately concerned to a high pitch. Ma
turally all interest focuses on the
leaders. for though there may be all
kinds of shakeups in The standing of
the other clubs, after all Il is first
place that really counts in the end. It
is, therefore. the doings of the leaders
and the club Immediately following
that claim attention to the exclusion
of all else unless some club by a con-
tinued winning streak draws to the
front and threatens the position of
either of the teams battling for first
place. Baseball fans as a rule do not
like a race that is a procession and
thought naturally desiring to see their
club either at the top or in the thick
of the fray, nevertheless want a strug-
gle, and II cannot be too keen for
them. This is reasonably sure TO
come as the season advances, and
while one Of the leaders at present
has a commanding advantage the vicis-
situdes Of the game warrant the pre-
diction that its present lead will yet
be materially reduced and the race
be as hard a struggle as has in a little
over a week marked its rival II
must not be forgotten that the sea-
son is not yet half over, and there
Is still ample time for many and radi-
cal changes even though the clubs ap-
pear now tol be going more closely
to form than earlier in the race.
There are so many contingencies
hedging about a championship strug-
gle that it is not always the strongest
club that wins the flag, and doping
out winners even in midseason is al
most as hazardous as ricking them
in the winter. If the teams play
ed to their expected form there might
be some chance. but under the stress
Of a pennant race. clubs of champion
ship calbre often wither before the
fire of a second-rater.
One of the prettiest struggles in
recent years has developed within a
fortnight in the National League--a
hight in which one game may upset the
leading club that has held the posi-
I tion almost since the beginning of the
season and that at one time was
Thought TO have sufficient margin 20
guard against any unexpected set
back That the Phillies lead has
| been Whitfield down to such narrow
proportions has not been entirely due
TO any falling off in their former
speed but as much TO the sudden and
unexpected brace shown by Brooklyn
combined with the steady and deter
mined plugging of the Giants in the
series with Boston. This has brought
the first two clubs 10 a position where
only a few points separate them, and
before the present four-game series
between them is over It is quite pos
sible that the lead may change hands.
though with a following series with
Boston that includes three postponed
games. there is no reason why the
lPhillies should not again forge ahead,
provided Brooklyn shows the same
/ form it did in Philadelphia in the
games It plays with New York. Any
way. it will a crucial test OF the
stamina Of the Philles. and If they
lcan capture the series with the Giants
lor at worst get an even break, it will
show more than all else their calibr'
as pennant possibilities. None of the
lother clubs appear to have much i
lany chance except for position
Brooklyn is too erratic. and Chicago
and Pittsburgh. while occasipnall,
ltroubleeome, are apparently out o
it as factors in the race.
In spite Of all the efforts OF tn
other clubs the Athletics continue q
set the pace in the American League
and their advantage has not been les
sened by the weeks results. The on
welcome and noticeable improvement
1 has been in the work of their pitchers
I and II would seem rs though Manage
e Mack had succeeded at last in whir
b ping his stan into something lik
= workable shape This accomplishe,
. there Is little 10 fear for the future
. as the team is too strong IN every
! thing else to be apprehonsive. of an
of the others. Occasionally the All