Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-02-08
PICKS ATHLETICS
TO LEAD THEIR .
LEAGUE


| robable close contenders throughout
the year. writes Jack Ryder, local
exert The younger league put up I
sOcdly battle last year. but 1t was
| really settled in favor or the Rostons
| long before the season was over. AS
early as August the Red Sox were m
81 On a position that nothing but a
frightful streak of ill-luCk could beat
them out Of the flag, and ConseQu ntly
interest was not maintained at a white
heat up to the very finish. While pre-
dictions must always be taken at dis
count, especially at this time of the
year, when the playing season is still
scme months away, still ii is possible
TO dept out an opinion on the subject
If next years battle, which may nave
To be revised later on as changes de-
Velop in the situation, but which can
be taken at its face value at the pres
ent time.
II looks now as II the East will fur
Fish two first division clubs and the
Vest the other two. The Eastern con-
teLders will undoubtedly be the pres
ent worlds champions and the Athle-
tics, while the Western brigade viii
col sist of the Detroit Tigers and the
Chicago White Sox.
Red Sox Will Be In Fight.
The Bostons will surely be in the
fight. They are hitting and run
getting team which cSnrfot be kept
back for long at time, always pro-
V:ding they don OF meet with serious
injuries to some of t;Ieir star players
They have first-class pitchers, with
Joe Wood as headisner, and he is one
of the best in the countryside is ably
backed by such men as Bedient,
Charley Hall, Buck O'Brien and Ray
Collins, making staff of five men
which is we'll above the average. The
Boston infield showed during the
Norld's series why u must be counted
en- as factor in any race. Though
the Giants evidently were a more ag-
SIessive club and smarter in inside
play at most stages, the steadiness OF
the Boston inner quartet and the abil-
ity of these four men to rise to every
OCCASION and to do their best work in
the pinches stamps them as a crowd
went through the American League
Geason without faltering, always out
there putting up q grand defense and
helping out their pitchers day after
tiay with speed and skill of the highest
caliher. They continued this brand of
playing in the big series and beat the
Giants through their superior nerve
and steadiness in tight places. They
should not go back much next year
and so. must be con- fdered promin-
mt factor in the race.
Speaker IS a Bear.
Jake Stahl has a rafting good every
day sort of outfield. Speaker is bear
IN center, playing wonderful game
every day, and always hard to fool at
the bat. Iris plays the shortest center
field of any man in either le1gue on
account of his great ability in going
back after long flies. His success in
this line enables him to play pretty
close for most batters and he cuts of
many Texas Lacquer, while missing
practically none of the long drives. By
playing close he is always in good
position to throw and he cuts of many
ambitious runners. He is a wonder on
fiy balls ana a grand hitter Speaker
is the class OF tne Boston outtield, Tut
Lewis and Hooper are also good men,
and all three can throw Ike shots.
All in all, it is an outfield that is hard
to beat.
The Boston backstop is well taken
care of by Carrigan, wise old head,
and Cady,> a youngster with a MAJ
re'ious physique for a catcher, who will
learn a good deal as time goes on.
This team may not be fortunate
enough to go through another season
without a slump. as it did last year,
tut it will always be up and around
there. is too strong club to figure
as anything but real contend y.
Athletics Hit Slump.
The real choice for the. flag next
year, however. must fall on the Attn
leticr. After the season OF 1911, with
its successful windup, in which lie
Mackmen played rings around the
Giants, there was scarcely a critic or
player in the country who did not con
Cede another flag to the grand ball
cit b: but the team went to the bad in
1+12-not very far. but just enough 10
lose out against a team which jour
ncycd through the en'ire season 1T
toy speed. as the BostOns did. Bender
tell iadly by the wayside. and he was
j ined be Rule Ordling, thus weaken
ing the pitching stan an at he same
time hurting the outfeld play Of the
club and diminishing the morale. Con
Eie Mack, failing to adopt harsh meas
u-ts as soon as he saw how things
were going, allowed these two players
e. cost him the championship. not en-
fCrcing discipline until the FernAn'
vas out of reach. Thcre is not much
GCubt that with Bender and Oldring in
perfect condition for the entire year
the Athletics would have worn down
and beaten the Red SoX, for they are
a more brilliant team at their best
tven as it WIS, they led the cham
Cions in hitting. and it was solely
though the breakdown Of their d.
tense that they were out Of the race
IT a comparatively early stage.
Tho tom, hos fOun1 itself again It's