Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-15

In the early part of the race only TO
retreat, after a snort sprint. before
the battling Red Sox, Athletics ana
Senator's? Many a pennant is won in
the spring that is never hoist.
Therefore 1t is useless Cor me to
risk any forecast on this meager sup
ply of dope at hand. | expect some
team that has not been reckoned as
having much chance for the cham
pionship will jump away in the lead
for time That is usually the case.
II is hard to say what club win as
sumo the position Of early pacemaker
now because such thing is generally
due to the breaks in the luck and the
condition of the team. Luck. of
course, plays more or less Of part
In baseball. and one team, as a rule,
dips away i'm the lead because II is
getting the breaks. But in the long
run class shows. and il is the club
which can hold up through one hum
dred and fifty-fo four games. hold up
through the strain of July and
August, when the heat seeps into
your system and your muscles begin
to drag. that finally wins. Then is
the time you will find the early sea
son starter tagging.
While McGraw desires to get away
in good shape this spring, he has no
desire 10 go out in front and set the
pace for a week or two. He merely
wants to stay there or Whereabouts
until the clubs acquire something like
their normal positions in the stand
ing
"The jump is the great thing" Mac
told some of the boys the other dav,
"and we want il again this year. but
there Is no need in getting right out
The club must hammer into its
stride first. II was far advanced in
condition when the season opened, too
far advanced for the time Of year, II
anything McGraW declared, just a
few days before the first game, that
he must apply the brakes now. He
hopes to shoot out ahead by the first
of May, however, and open up such
a gap by July that he can afford to
slump slightly
THE postal revenues last week must
have been great: judging from the
number Of spOndents who de-
sired TO know what ! thought of Wal
ter Johnson as pitcher after seeing
him work against the Giants in
Washington a week ago Monday
Walter Johnson is one of the best
pitchers I have ever seen. | nave
not had a look at Walsh since he
put on big league "spangles." John
son was little short OF wonderful for
the spring. He stacked up against
the Giants, a club which had thun-
dered through the South, smearing
the pitching we had encountered on
our trip ali over the parks. a club
highly rated for its batting strength,
and he held the Giants to two hits
In five innings. II is like looking at
a wonderful picture or admiring some
other work of art 10 watch him work
that is, If he is not working against
you.
The Washington players cross
themselves every time they mention
Johnson's name. and Griffith treats
his great pitcher as stepfsther does
a daughter who has just inherited
three or four millions. II Johnson
was with either the Giants or the
Pirates in the National League this
season, the race would be over now.
Besides being a great pitcher, he is
a good fellow, modest and unassum-
ing
WE had quite a spicy time In Wash
WIngton. There was dispute over
claimed in the game when Morgan.
the Nationals second baseman, in
sisted that Chief" Meyers had cut
first base Morgan and McGraw got
personal, and the Giant boss finally
came through with this reply TO a
sally from Morgan:
4 wouldn't make so much noise
if 7 were you when 'Grin' is carry
ing Laporte just 10 hit for you"
4 LREADY big league stars have
4 been injured. Chance vas slowed
up In the exhibition games with the
Brooklyn club before the season ever
opened and Wagner is trying to have
4 weak knee repaired When old
veterans like Chance and Wagner
ges injured it takes a long time for
them 10 get into shape again IL
would teav the pittsburg club apart
~ the Pirates should lose the sery-
gsas ~ Kk-agwar this YEAR and mgss18