The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-03-07
American FLAG
TO stay IN EAST
Athletics, Bostons and Sena.
tors Believed to be the
Chief Contenders.
1t is generally conceded by both bali

1t is generally conceded by both ball
players and critics that the American
league championship will remain in
the east another year. The three
clubs almost universally picked to bat
tie out in front this season are the
Athletics. the Bostons and the WASH
ingtons. Few figure any western club
a. having a look-in for the highest
honors. 1t is supposed to be a three
club race. This opinion is founded
or the actual winning of the worlds
championship last fall by the Bostons,
on the known strength of the Athletics
and on the sensational squirt of the
Washington team during the latter
half Of the past season. P%resident
McAleer, of the Boston, said o long
age that he hopes to see his club win
again. but that he fears both the Ath-
letics and Washington. He does not
figure n other club as a possible
contender. AS a matter of fact, the
Athletics do look like the best pros
pect in the American league. Fans
cannot forget their great work in the
worlds series of 1910 and 1911. when
they easily cleaned up on the Cubs and
the Giants. 1t is believed that they
would have won a third-straight pen
nant last season if Connie Mack had
been able to keep all his players in
the best of condition throughout the
year. But with Bender off the wag-
on and his outfield in more or less
of a broken up condition he could not
rally his club for the big effort which
would have been necessary to come
into the home stretch head and head
with the Bostons, who had good luck
all year and played a steady and
utNa {Dhk MO-. va-o- ~:l-, L.--v.
There Is little doubt that the Ath-
letics. at their level best, are the best
club in the American league. They
have shown it for several years. II
they can MAINTAIN their best standard
from Wire to wire this year they
should win, not in a walk Of course.
but without any great strain. The
only weakness in Mack's team is that
he apparently must depend again on
his three veteran pitchers, all Of
whom have seen Years of service and
n or more of whom is liable to
break under the pull of a
hard battle of six months. Bender,
Coombs and Plank, all in good shape
for the entire season.. ought to best
n other three pitchers that can be
stacked up against them. Mack has
a couple OF good youngsters, it is said.
in Houck Inc Brown, but he will
naturally. depend on his three old
timers. tried and true. for the bulk Of
the heavy work. II all three Of these
men hold up the pennant should fly
over Shibe park again, and the
worlds series of 1913 is likely to be
divided between Philadelphia and
P%ittsburg.
The Athletics have the best infeld
IN either league. very good catching,
and their outfeld will be better this
season than it was last year. The
a is very powerful at the bat and
on the bases and needs only the de-
n OF good pitching to win a big
majority of its games. 1t looks like
n best bet in the American league.
always taking the chance that one or
more OF the regular pitchers falls by
wayside. Plank and Bender have
been in the harness many years, and
n or both of them may drop back
this season. If not, look out for the
Athletics. The Bostons will put up
q strong fight. and 1t will not be sur
pFising to see them cop 1t off again,
provided the Athletics break at any
stage of the race. The present
worlds champions, while not sensa.
ttonal in their work, are steady and
pioddlng. They Won last year be-
cause they did not have a single set
back throughout the entire season.
n team remained intact, none of the
regulars was out OF the game for any
length OF time. and the pitchers. head
ed. by Joe Wood, one Of the best in
the business. delivered the goods with
great consistency. This club. how.
ever. will scarcely improve this year.
and it may go back some. 1t ia i'm.
possible to hope that it will get bel.
ter pitching than it did last season
when Wood was at the top Of his
form April to October and got
great assistance from Bedient.
O'Brien. Collins and Hall. The infieid
may go back a little. as Manager
Stahl Is bothered constantly BY some
trouble With his legs and does NOT
even know whether he can stick OUT
this season or not. He has ALREADY an.
nounced that it will be his last wear
as a player. and he may not be b
to Set through even this season.
Charley. Wagner also is no chicken
and It 10 not to be expected that he
VIII go on playing the same game hs
Did last year for ever. The team can.
not. therefore. show any improvement
at first base or at shortstnp and NAV
suffer a decided falling off. The out.
Held played grand ball last year and
will do no better. Lewis has been
holding out and is far from satisfied,
while Speaker is at top speed and
Hooper as far az he can 60. The
cnsnee for the BostonS IL that one OF