The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1913-07-07
IT'S up TO The PITCHING STAFF
TO KEEP THE GIANTS IN FRONT
There Are Still Nearly Ninety Games to Play,
Says Manager McGra,p, and Success of the
Club Depends on Effectiveness of the Box.
men-Cubs and Pirates Expected to Offer
Strong Opposition When They Come East
,osEvers Has an Improved Team.

the raw days Of April and early May ~
they are in June and July, but the
Pittsburgh pitchers. for instance. have
Deen working the warm weather abb
this year until Il Ii frassled.
WESTERN TEAMS WILL OFFER
STRONG OPPOSITION.
II Is my notion that the Western clubs
are going to supply q lot more compete
ton in the National League when they
come East this time than they did on
the occasion OF their last invasion. Be-
cause the Giants have leaped out In
front every team will be playing Its
head off against the champions now and
working It's best pitchers. But this dif.
ference will not be so appreciabie to
the average fan, because that IL true OF
every stage OF the race; they all want
to beat the Big Town boys all the time.
Therefore. they all save Up their star
pitchers to work against the Giants.
Evers has an Improved team and will
make trouble. He has players with the
pluck and sagacity OF pennant winners
outside OF the pitching box. He has
been bending every effort to strengthen
that stan and has succeeded to an ex.
tent. Pierce and HUMPHREYS have
worked some pretty good games lately,
while Cheney In an excellent pitcher II
they will give him a chance TO rest once
in while. Overall will soon be entirely
recovered from his strain. and both Law.
ender and Richie should improve. They
are capable OF better work than they
have shown to date.
Followers Of baseball may think am
foolish to consider the Cubs and Pirates
stili to be contenders. but my reason for
this belief Is that they are both fighting
ball clubs and better fnishers than
starters. Look back over their records
for the last several years and you will
observe that this finishing feature Il
true. Both these teams will find easier
going In tho East this time than they
encountered on their last trip. Philadel.
phia cleaned up on the West the last
time. The Phillies. l believe. won't dc
Shat when they're entertain the clubs
from the other half Of the circuit.
Brooklyn should put up a good fgh,
against the invaders. but not so sturdy
a one as the Dodgers displayed on the
occasion OF the las. visit OF the West
erners. At that time the Brooklyn clut
was trembling up near the league lead
and was fired with pennant aspirations
and confidence. A hard campaign
through the West has melted away some
OF this confidence. and the club Is mo-
nearly 30 steady as 1t was.
There are also evidences Of a Sigh
decline on the part OF the pitching stan
The twirlers have done wonderful WORT
for Dahlen. and 1t was the sudden bios
soming OF the pitching STAN into form
that has showed the Superbas up neal
the top. Just as the unexpected play O
pitching talent all at once In Washing
ton last summer put the Senators In thu
fight when they were counted on as
second division team. It Just goes 4
show what manager can do with three
or four reliable twirlers all In form a
once.
tCopyrsiht. 1918. John J. Ac0sav)