The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-02
(By Hal Sheridan.)

(By Hal Sheridan.)
New York, March 2.-The Giants
have an excellent chance to win the
National League pennant this almost
here season. The best the Yankees
are hoping for is first division berth
this year. That, in substance. is the
way New York is looking at the COM
ing pennant fight.
And there is a lot more interest in
both teams this year than there was
last. The mo- ntonous succession of
pennants the Giants won rather killed
interest in them from the sportsman's
viewpoint Losing last seasons flag
has stimulated the satiated appetites
Interest in the Yanks was dead last
year. principally because of the own
erShip and the way the club was rum
This year the owners are popular, as
Is the new manager, Bill Donovan.
1t will be surprising if 1915 isn't the
banner year in New York baseball
despite the cry of hard times and
lean ar
With the exception of his pitch
ing staff McGraw has as good a team
to start the pennant fight as any man
ager in the circuit-and a whole lot
better than most of them. The return
mighty sweet infield. AS it is, he has
nicely balanced one. Merkle on
first will probably perform in his usu
al style. Should Shafer really return
pretty scrap for second. Fletcher on
short seems to have his position
clinched and there is practically no
doubt at all that Hans Lobert will be
seen pickin' them off around third.
n Gap Filled.
Lobert at third has solved a great
problem for McGraw. Many is the
game that rolled away through Ed
die Grant and Milton Stock last year
while McGraw sat on the bench ours
1n l1x he Lot RI I low
zog get away to Cincinnati. Yes, Nc
Graw has an infieId that will COM
pare favorably with any in Tener's
circuit.
In the outfield there are four regu-
1ars-Snodgrass Burns, Murray and
Robertson. All four are dependable
men-good fielders and steady with
the bludgeon. Jim Thorpe, the big
Indian, expects to make a hard fight
this year for a regular berth.
McGraw freely admits his pitching
staff is giving him worry. Mathew
son, Tesreau and Fromme are his
only veterans, as RUDE Marquard's
case is unsettled. He has two young
sters who have sat on the bench for
two seasons now and they should be
about ready for the firing line. They
are Scbauer and Schupp.
McGraw is depending more this
year on his fifty-odd recruits he paid
expenses for to Marlin than ever be-
fore. He needs young catcher and
could use a couple OF promising young
hurlers. Meyers and Mclean will
probably bear the brunt of the re-
ceiving again this season.
The Yank Men.
Bill DOnovan'S best asset is his
pitching staff. 1t stacks up favor
ably with any in the league. Cald-
well, Heating, WARRIOR, Fisher, Brown
and a number of promising rockies
comprise his hopes. Frank Chance
once said hat Ray Caldwell was the
best pitcher in the American league.
From this early angle it appears
the big thing that is going to keep
Donovan's crew down in the race is
its lack of batting strength. If Pipp
and High come to terms this will be
partly solved, as Pipp especially is a
snappy hitter. Pipp is generally con-
coded first base if he comes to the
Yanks; if not, then Charley Mullen
undoubtedly will cover the bag again.
Luke Boone appears the most like
1y candidate for second. He played
the bag a greater part of last season.
Peckinpaugh, of course, will assume
his old place at short and there
doesn't seem any chance for Fritz
Maisel to be rooted out of his posi-
ton at third.
The YankS have a fast fielding out
field, but like the rest of the team,
weak at the plate. Birdie Cree is
fairly certain of berth; Cook, HoI-
relinquish him, will scrap it out for
the other two places Behind the bat
Donovan is fairly well supplied in Ed
Sweeney and Leslie Nunamaker. They
are seasoned, steady and should per
form creditably.