Evening journal., 1915-05-05
BASEBALL race
PUZZLE TO FANS
Unlocked For Changes Fig
ure Majors Early
SpurtS
PILLS SEEM TO
HAVE A CINCH


Although the complexion Of the
championship baseball race almost daily
presents radical changes, so that it is
difficult to get any real line on the
ability Of any one crup on paper, all the
teams would appear to be fairly evenly
balanced. Il is hardly likely, however,
that any of them are showing natural
form.
AS rule, pitchers are far from being
at their best. and the batsmen have
yet to strike their stride. That both are
getting down somewhat to form Is
shown by the increasing number of close
scores.
This, with the lack of condition Of
some of the pitchers, is responsible for
the abnormally high batting averages
of many players and the apparent slip
ping of batsmen that have for seasons
stood well to the front All this will
of necessity correct itself with the prog
ress of the race and the steadily mount
ing temperature to be expected from
this time on.
As the pennant race stands today, the
Phillies are easily the class in the Ma
tional League and are playing better
ball than any of the clubs in either
league. Cincinnati and Chicago look the
stronger of the Western teams. Judging
by results, with the Braves now in the
first division. Vet. until the present Sec
tional series is over and the Eastern
clubs battle with those of the West, it
will be difficult to determine the rcla.
tive strength of the clubs.
Similar conditions exist in the Ameri-
ran League Like the Philhcs, Detroit
has been setting the pace for the other
clubs, with two Eastern teams follow
ing Yet il hardly is true that the
Tigers are a stronger combination than
tho White SoN. which almost every sen
son are slow in getting right. Viewed
from any angle, il would appear that
the two divisions in both leagues should
be evenly balanced between the sections,
but il is going TO take time to straight
en- the clubs out in their natural order
of merit
Notwithstanding that the many
lawsuits had made people suspect
that baseball was not a pastime or
amusement, but a variety OF cold. cal
culating business. the game does not
appear TO have lost much OF its popu-
larity with the masses. Given team
that has any chance OF a high posi-
ton in the race. one with the slightest
Dennant possibilities. and judging
from the attendances since the season
started, baseball maintains It's hold
on the public. Naturally the average
fan loves a winner. fighter, and the
club to be always in the thick of the
4 championship struggle will not lack
, Tor support. This has been shown by
the attendance in nearly every city.
But you cannot fool the baseball pub
ic. A club must show that II is
: worthy of support
~ The Athletics continue to bump I'M
J. iertainly along, although they have
in crawling out Of last
vplace The team has been hitting at
its usual gait but IL has not been
SUFFICIENT to always overcome the lack
OF form displayed by the pitchers.
4 Until the --thletics' pitchers get into
better shape the burden OF victory is
bound TO rest with the hitters. II Is
not that the pitchers are always in
effective, but nearly all of them show
lack of steadiness. and their Wild
ness has been the cause of more than
one defeat-even after the team has
worked hard to overcome the handi-
cap. The return of Eddie Murphy ia
right field and the placing Of McCon.
nell on third base will have a hene.
fetal effect on the team, which has
not been playing its usual smooth
game. II will he welcome to the clubs
supporters when Kopf is again ir
shape 10 play. for he appears to b,
about the best Of all the candidates
that have been tried in Bakers job
There is no denying that Eddie Col
Inns and Baker. as well as Plank ant
Bender are sadly missed. and IN,
players seem to recognize IL as mucl
as the clubs followers. HerculoaI
work will be required TO hold thu
present Athletics into championship
aggregation. and while Il is being at
tempted the club will naturally b,
/ an uncertain element in the pennan
Y race.