Evening journal., 1915-05-12
MAJOR LEAGUE Clubs
SHOW BETTER FORM
Teams Are Now Settling
Down in Stiff Pennant
Races
POSITIONS ARE
ABOUT THE SAME

Compared with a week ago. rela- |
lively little change has marked the
positions of the major league clubs in
the championship race, although there
has been a noticeable Strengthening
all along the line The gaps separat-
ing the first from the last clubs in
either league have been considerably
lessened and this would seem to in
dictate that the clubs are rapidly gain
ing their natural form. Here and
there arc clubs travelling at an alb
normally fast gait at entire variance
with their apparent strength while
other which look TO have hrst
division possibilities are still founder
ing around in the second division.
Time alone, however, can right this
incongruous situation.
Rather the better of the two races
is that of the American League. The
lead here has changed more than
once since the opening of the battle
and a wide-open fight is still in prog
ress between at least five clubs. First
Detroit and then New York blaze the
way. and since neither gives any in
dication of weakening. it is posi-
bic that the two may have the
race to themselves for some little
time. The Tigers arc blessed with an
outfield that, when hitting. is not sur
passed in either league, and with
three men batting well up among the
first ten. Detroit is bound to be a
dangerous factor, especially as 1t pos
sesses a consistent pitching stan.
New York may be better balanced as
whole but whether the Yankees can
continue 10 travel on high gear for
} any extended period remains TO be
| seen. Champions are generally OF
} slow development The Chicago White
} Sox this year have succeeded in get
; ting a good start and are going alonf
AT pretty even keel. while Cleveland
) the Athletics and Browns bring up the
rear with little immediate hope Of inn
: provement
4 PhrolicSing phearlessly. the Phil
a lies continue to be the pacemakers II
4 the National League, despite the Ell
= forts of the other eastern clubs. Thei
" marginal lead. however, has been ma
. teriauy shortened the past weel
" Chicago has been hanging steadily {
~ the heel OF the leaders for some time
~ and as the Cubs appear to be play
W ing by far the steadier game OF an
= of the clubs, It would not he miracl
II they would finally succeed In wres
ing the lead from the Pills. I'll
L. Cubs are Just now second in battin
and third in club fielding, while Il
81 pills are fifth and sixth. respectivel
a difference that is bound to make
y. self felt before long.
% The Boston Braves have steadi'
oI considerably and by getting a trii
o. better than an even break on he wei
W are still third, with Cincinnati, q
IN leagues batting leaders. at the ia
ne end of the first fight. st. Louis a
H. pears to be the best of the second {
vision squad, but the Cardinals W
II have their own troubles. as Brook
nu and Pittsburgh are giving them
n hard rub. The New York Giants ha
.ly shown some improvement. but it h
SIS not dragged them out of last pla
as Besides batting below their form.
"a Giants have shown such wretch
ar work in the field that the club
ell fallen 10 last place in the field
us averages. Much of this has be
ne doubtless due TO the uneven work
ne their pitchers. for nothing tends
TO discourage a team so much as p'
lllihluN.
'es A hopeful sign of improvement
Pc been evidenced by the Athletics,
,ey il seems that the champions STAFF
IL pitchers are getting down 10 sol
MS thing like better form. Pitchers m
Is than all else have kept the team ba
Sc hut 1t looks as though they may h
lhe been put through some pretty S
me target practice, as many Of them
ses not nearly so wild as they W
earlier in the season. Still they
y not yet right, and until they are
me Athletics are going to have some TT
nat BILE mounting the championship
ISL der. The club has been hitting be
ana than for some time, and now lie
en- the league in club batting, but II
is still much to be desired in field
Whether by the time the MackI
br. find themselves they will have
ack chance in landing another penn
nat is going TO depend on the pitchers
OF large measure, and these 81
IRE hurlers still lack form sufficient
que the club to overtake those enga
son Just now in building up a fat
dio. ronfaqp