The Washington times., 1915-09-04

the term OF your contract expires?"
Nothing dcinx," said Bender. II
10 20 good that IL the league explodod to-
morrow wouldn't worry But II isn't
going to explode
Such was the blind faith Of ball play
ssAn we.ks sso. ! sSinf 's% there moh,Ss; haWs
oeen . few eye-opt ners within the pas.
week or ten days. Certainly there 10
not the same air, Of coni'dsncs.
Throughout all OF its dealiass. or
gNniEed baseball has maintained its
unsyfited name for honesty ana fair
eesaiyg: Never once has any club at
tempted TO break 4 contract not con-
ole use. That many such contracts are
great burdens Is shown BY the resdi-
neas Of major maenates to turn back
Their chattels to minor clubs and 10
pay part OF the salary for the privi-
The unsettled state OF Federal Lsasue
enairs has the veterans OF the game
Tar more worried than all the RAFT of
ycuits coming up for trial. An sorts
of runors are ahoat as to the object
Of OF the independents In assuming that
Players Of the second cities or The Fed
eral chain are convinced that GIL
more's venture is almost ready to throw
up its hands. But then pla yers know
less about these things than they are
supposed to know.
The members of the Detroit team will
not waste much time apsculasins on the
worries Of outlaw players-net FOR a
week or two yet. anyhow. None Of US
10 ready to give up the ship All
realize that victory means a long, hard
pull. Within the past two weeks De-
troit's consistency has been OF pennant
winning class. But those Red sox have
matched us stride for stride. We lost
our one golden opportunity when Bos-
ton wss last In Detroit. Every game
was q battle. Detroit was not out
fought. but 1t was outlucked. which IL
Just as bad.
A cleanup for the Tigers then would
have given US the lead and might have
broken. some Of the conhdenne Of the
Hub spirit. But somehow Boston has
had the sign on US all season. We have
won only seven games from them; they
have taken eleven from us. We play
four IN Boston next trip and need those
four for an even break with the Red
just about give us the pennant: three
would help a lot. An even split would
not be Of much help.
Detroit has succeeded at least in eltfni-
natlnR tne Wnlte SOX Irom tne Iield TOT
this year. ana that 1. no small service.
OF course. there 10 still q mathematical
possibility for Chicago to win, but not
much chance. I am sure Detroit has the
respect and thanks OF all fandom out
side the Windy City for stopping the
white Sox. Personally. I think 1t would
have been a very bad thing had Com
iskey won. Certainly II would have Jus
titled ground for the contention that the
chs ampionship had been purchased.
Five Of the eight American League
clubs are out OF the race. 50 that five
mana gers are likely to do a lot OF sx-
perinentinK with new men for nekt 0ea-
son. That is a commendable thing. But
hope these managers will put forth
their strongest possible Opposition
in every remaining game. In that case
there can be no suspicious Of favortt-
ism Every precaution should be taken
to have the really best club win the
pennant.
AS these lines are written. there
comes an unconfirmed rumor that
Frank Baker has been purchased by the
New York Americans. l hope 1t is %.
Baker could be used to grand advan-
| tage at second base. for he plays the
position well and that would not in
terfere with the sensational Maisel It
| Ii shame the Yankees have been al
| lowed to 20 to seed SO badly. The pres
| ent owners are men willing to pay well
for the right kind of players. But evi-
bv Connie Mack and Charles Somers
when the many second division stars
| were nut on the market.
| Copyright. 1915. BY the Wheeler Syndi-
| cate. Inc.)