The Washington times., 1915-05-29

The pennant races in both leagues
this year promise to be far too close
for the good of any team that enter
tains superstitions. Both seem to be
wide-open affairs in which hustling,
faith, and conscientious effort are bound
to count heavily. Even the poor old
Browns, that we of the Middle West
had regarded as more or less OF a Joke.
suddenly came to life and put the skids
under the sensational Yankees. st.
Louis utterly ruined what promised to
be a triumphal tour for Donovan.
l must confess that the Boston Red
sox have failed to fulfill the fine prom
tse they showed IN Detroit. They gave
us the time of our lives and seemed TO
have attained their proper stride at
everything Is not running smoothly In
the ranks for Bill Carrigan. The re-
cent suspension of Dutch Leonard would
indicate that something is amiss.
team had Strengthened out for a spurt
when last saw him.
My men are just beginning to find
themselves" he told me. 'Tris Is in
good condition now. and is beginning
to hit UP TO form. My pitchers, who
season, have improved wonderfully.
Joe Wood and Vean Gregg need only
little smack of summer. When they
are ready the drive will start in earn
est"
Something seems to have gone amiss
with these calculations. Perhaps the
very bad weather that the Sox have
encountered on their journey has had
something to do with 1t. Naturally
loaflng might be expected to handicap
clu6 that was Just rounding to tn
proper edge more seriously than II
would one properly conditioned. Any.
way, | still believe Boston is going &c
| give the Tigers every bit as much trou.
h1n I,a 1
| Is there, all right II Carrigan can steer
clear Of inside politics or dissension.
New York's recent slump should moi
be taken too seriously, as the team
has a wonderful defense, a fair wallop
| and unlimited speed. The Yankees have
looked at little except southpaw pitch
| ing in the West. and the teams bes'
| hitters are left-handers. While the
| club was on its own grounds it seemed
| to be able to treat portsiders rather
ruthlessly. In fact, number OF these
wellknown artists of rival clubs were
| knocked out OF the box.
That the club Is not hitting left
handed pitching SO we'll now Is easil!
| explained. Cottrel is Donovan's onl!
to the club pitching to the batters il
practice. But on the road Donovan
does not have the opportunity to EN-
ploy this stout fellow in his particular
speciality, and DonoVanS lett-hande(
! htters simply have begun to show II
their batting the lack of practice. TIL,
| remedy lies In home opportunities.
| Bill Donovan could secure a good south
| paw, one who would take his regula
turn. he would add 25 per cent to tn
| effectiveness Of his fine staff of right
| handlers.
| The White Sox have been steamini
| along at a great rate. Eddie Collins
| think, has been as great a facto
| toward this end as Manager Rowland
| or any other two Chicago players.
| second baseman of Collins calibe
comes once in a lifetime, and one o
his gauge comes pretty near making
| an infeld every time. And Collins ha
some pretty capable assistants on th
| inner line. So long as Chicago's pitch
| ers maintain their present effectiveness
the white hosed clan will continue dan
gerous to every one.
1t is really sad to see the wreck O.
| the once great Athletics. Connie Macl
must reconstruct his entire team. T~Tert
Is little hope for decided Improvement
in the fragments of the former pennan,
trust.
Copyright 1915 by the Wheeler
Syndicate, Inc)