Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-06-07
BASEBALL OUTLOOK
FOR THE BIG TEAMS
Hal Sheridan Says It Is Too Eearly in
the Game to Begin on It-Teams
Are Well Balanced.
(By Hal Sheridan. Written for the
United Press)

happenings VI 4h1J huiihB WhANA WV
Giants went rolling and tumbling into
the second division, Brooklyn fairly set
the league on fire and hung tight to
the flying Phillies only to slow down
later, and the Pittsburgh Pirates graced
the second set-if these and other sur
prises were rolled into one big COB of
fireworks, they shouldn't amount to as
much as a penny firecracker If June
runs true to the season g series Of sur
prises in the National league.
Taken as a whole, the league seems
TO be too evenly balanced to permit a
blaze through the circuit that wolld
carry any one Of the favored far enough
in the next few weeks to clinch the
flag. The Phillies, long jinx-ridden,
this season have shown as much claim
to pennant consideration as the next
one, and contenders can't loiter until
they turn into the stretch and then
expert TO get away with it. II the
Giants and Pirates get under full steam
and the Phillies continue to hold up,
look out for the packing of four teams
in the first division like sardine in
box.
It is a long, weary journey from June
until October, and as some sage re-
marked "without fear Of successful
contradiction " that Rome was not built
in a day, so it may be said with equal
safety that pennants are not won in a
day or a week or a month, for that
matter. Philadelphia, New York and
Pittsburgh appear TO be the best bets
for the ultimate National league lead
ers. Philadelphia has been going great
guns, the Pirates have been trying hard
and with the exception Of several un-
fortunate accidents to members have
shown class that is dangerous to the
aspirations Of other teams. With the
Giants there has been something lack
ing that it ism Z too late yet to get
the ferocious fighting fervor that re-
turned McGraw a winner twice in sue
cession. They have occasionally slashed
and torn at their opponents, but it has
been wild slashing and tearing, not
the systematic, calculating attack Of
two and three years ago.
Outside Of Mathewson, the pitching
department of the Giants during May
fell way below all expectations. Mar
qoard has been complete tizAle and
Tesreau an inand.outer, Also the bat
ting Of the team slumped. All Of which
Mawruss is enough already,
Taking it throughout, however, il
has not been so much that last year (
league champions are weaker, as it hai
been that the clubs they are playing
this year are better clubs than the onei
they played during the same period las
year. Tho Cardinals and Brooklyn es
pecially are stronger, Pittsburgh il
not as much stronger as it was cracked
up TO be, but the Pirates certainly hay,
played better ball so far in 1913 thai
they played up TO the same time il
1919. The question finally resolves II
self into how big lead either tn
Giants or the Pirates are going to le
the Phillios grab off before they com
to their senses and get together,
Unless tho prophesied braces an
breaks como soon, however, it will b
up to tho federal department Of iustic
at Washington to keep an eye on Tn
City Of Brothorly Love, To owners an
managers Of fourteen major leagu
baseball clubs, II not to the authoritiC
at Washington, il is as plain as nose
oil faces that an individual named Co
nelius McGillicuddy, alias Connie Macl
and certain party named ChRrl
Doom, are openly and ayowodly, wit
malice aforethought, planning a tru
that will unreasonably hold every alto
OF attention in tho country along
October Those ON the inside say Il
trust will be known as the worlds 3
rics trust, and that Connie Mack al
Charlie Doom already are counting
to how theyll spend the money.
For he II admitted that the Athlot
this year arc the Athletics Of two yea
agone, They are swinging strong Al
look like winners-at this time II
Cleveland Maps might threaten thol
hut they n have to do lots better
beat them out, Washington might G
n real figure II they had two or thr
Walter Johnsons in the lineup, but
far as Clark Griffith has been able
learn, there aren't any moro like job
son at homo, and johnson can't wo
every day The Nationals are doh
well, and credit Is due them but
non.Johnson days they aren't up
pennant form.
Some real bang.up sport will
staged within tho next week. when I
English and American polo teams cor
together In their series for the int,
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