The Washington times., 1914-07-26

After six American League clubs
had kept well punched for the great.
sr part of a month and it had be,
rIn to look as though we were tc
sse one of the tightest races in this
circuits history, the strain has told
on some of them and the Athletics
are gradually drawing away.
1t pains me to admit it, and be,
lieve that the majority of fans and
players also are sorry. but the fact
remains that at this writing another
pennant for Philadelphia looks very
much like the dope. The Athletics
had bad slump couple of weeks
ago and, when our club played them,
looked as though they had ''blown."
But they got themselves together
before having to relinquish the lead
and it now seems that they are
travelling at their true gait.
am not yet ready to concede it
to the Macks, however. There are
several clubs which may take a
squirt and bother them, but there is
10 use binding yourself to the real
facts and pretending that Comics
people are on the slide. Their work
for the last week has been as good
as any in all their history, including
pitching, batting, fielding, and that
very essential thing, luck.
The Tigers. in spite of their slump to-
ward the finish of the Eastern trip. still
sre in the hunt, and will not acknowl-
edge themselves done until il is mathe-
natically impossible for them to win
our pitchers, some Of whom were badly
showing signs of wear, but 1 believe
that they will rally when we get home,
md put us back where we belong.
1 am convinced that Boston is going
10 be one Of the hardest clubs in the
league to stand off. Carrigan's boys
made q good stand against the West,
and are breezing along naturally and
without strain They ought to have
plenty of reserve force left when the
time comes to sprint, and they will
surely be heard from before October.
You must remember that the Red SoX
have raised themselves to command
ing position by good playing, despite a
not been able to do much work this
summer, and Foster was out of the
game for long time with a bad knee
With these two excellent hurlers going
light, Carrigan will have a mound corps
second to none in the league Collins,
leonard, Wood. Foster. and Johnson
nave shown their mettle in fast COM
pany. and the recruits, Ruth and Shore.
look like men who would be able to
nelp out The Tigers handed Ruth a
good work against other clubs and
ought TO develop into a conner.
When YOU come to pulling the IL .
and other alibi stuff. Boston could
frame 10 a hard luck story that would
bring tears to the eyes of marble
statue. Just supposinR that ''Heine"
Wagner one of the best infiel6ers who
ever wore a uniform. had been in the
-ame and going at his regular speed.
nd that Joe wood had been strong all
aeen2 You can take my word for 1t
hat II all the other teams had been
0layinp the same sort of ball that they
rave this season. Boston would have
oeen leading the procession by a mile
or more. Wagner alone would have
made enough difference to have won
zen additional games for the Red Sox.
nd Wood could have been counted on
for a number of victories.
Dick Hoblitzel ought to help out the
Red Sox. do not know the exact cir
INSTANCES Of his leaving Cincinnati
and being allowed TO depart from the
National League. but understand that
nonditions were such that he couldn't
Jlay ball for Herzog. Most of the Ma
'iOnal League clubs are well provided
with first basemen. too. which may ac-
~ount for the granting of waivers. Hob
litzel is a good batter and a beautiful
fielder and he ought to come through