The Washington herald., 1916-04-09
By WILLIAM PEET.


The American League season for 1916
will be officially ushered in next Wednes-
day afternoon, the Griffmen taekling Bill
Donovan's Yankees in the Polo Grounds,
New York. while the Athletics are play
Ing the world champions Red Sox In Bos-
ton. Detroit opens in Chicago and St
Louis at Cleveland.
Never before in the history of the Ban
johnson circuit have the clubs started
on even terms, at least most Of them ap-
pear to be very evenly matched on paper.
The weak sisters of 1915, Cleveland and
st. Louis, have both added considerable
strength. The New York Yankees,
through the expenditures of thousands of
dollars, have collected an all-star cast.
and many experts are already picking the
Donovan clan to win the pennant.
Fielder Jones, in st. Louis, has at his
command a lot OF frst-class talent, in
Guiding many stars Of the Federal
League. Mound City scribes are OF the
opinion that Jones is going to cut an i'm
portant figure in the coming campaign.
The Boston Red Sox. world champions
OF 1915, are standing pat; they have lost
Iris Speaker, but gained valuable play
er in Clarence Walker.
Hughey Jennings Detroit Tigers, with
the great Ty Cobb. are picked by many
as a pennant possibility, while the Chi
A., cago White SoX have also strengthened,
and the Windy City fans consider the
pennant almost as good as won.
The Cleveland team, under a new own
srship, with Chick Gandil, formerly OF
Washington. and Iris Speaker, the Red
Sox star outfielder, will cause a whole lot
Of trouble and many upsets
The only weak club in the American
League looks to be Connie Mack's Ath-
letics. The tall leader from the Quaker
city is building for the future. he admits
there Is little hope for his club to make
much of a showing this season
As for Washington the Grifman will
enter the race very much of an expert
ment with new first. baseman and right
fielder, who have yet to make their
marks in fast company.
Old Fox Grin is not predicting any
pennants, as a matter of fact he does
not know where his club will finish and
frankly admits it.
That Washington will be strong in
pitchers is already assured; as a fielding
team, the Grifmen have always been
able to hold their own also they have
usually been able to get men on the
bases but lacked just the necessary hit
, ting strength to make the club a potent
factor in a pennant race.
Grifith hopes that his new players will
come through with the timely punch. II
they do he bids everybody wake up and
take notice. If they do not, he admits
that the club will probably finish in the
second division.
From where we sit the American
League pennant race this season should
be a hair-raising sensational affair. with
Boston, New York. Chicago, Detroit and
Washington all lighting for the flag.
Griff has decided definitely about his
batting order for the opening game in
New Fork on Wednesday. Howard
Shanks will play left field and Charley
Jameson right field, both Rondeau and
: Barber being slated to warm the bench.
Shanks is a mighty sweet hitter in the
spring. and as long as he keeps up the
good. work with the stick will probably
remain in left held.
This does not mean that Shanks and
Jameson will be played regularly dur
ing the season. for just as soon. as one
OF them shows signs Of slumplng Rom
game.
Walter johnson will more than likely
be ordered to pitch the opening game,
although Griff states that he has not as
yet made up his mind about the pitcher
intimating that he might start Harper
or Gallia.
Rain yesterday called on the exhibition
game between the Grinmen and Phila-
delphia Nationals, but the Quaker City
club will remain here over Sunday in
the hopes that game can be staged to-
morrow.
Johnson and Alexander will hook I'D,
IL this game is played, but the chances
are that neither Will go more than three
innings
New York writer picks the American
and National league clubs to finish the
season as follows:
American League-Ffrst, Boston; sec
ond, New York; third, Chicago; fourth.
Detroit; fifth, Washington; sixth, St.
Louis; seventh, Philadelphia; eighth,
Cleveland
National League-First, Brooklyn; sec
ond. Boston; third. Philadelphia; fourth,
New York; fifth, Chicago; sixth, Gin
cinnad; seventh, Pittsburgh; eighth.
St Louis.
After seeing the Brooklyn Dodgers and
Boston Braves In action against the Ath-
letics' Connie Mack figures the PhiIlies
have an excellent chance to repeat their
pennant-winning performance OF 1915 In
the coming National League crush.
Il Ike the Phfllies because OF their
pitching" said Mack
Pat Moran has fine pitching stafr,
some better than either the DODGERS or
Braves l figure Brooklyn has a little
better stan than Boston. The Phillies
. should be even stronger than last year.
Boston may have the best infield in the
National League, but the Braves are not
/. as well balanced as the Philiies. II looks
like Brooklyn has little something on
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