The Washington herald., 1916-12-31
GIANTS A BUGBEAR
To NATIONAL CLUBS
Figure McGraw's Team Difficult Prop
osition to Beat in Seasons Race.

New York, Dec. so.-'How Are. We to
Stop the Giants?'
Set to dolefuI music this is the latest
unpopular song being rehearsed by seven
National League managers. And, to say
the least the rivals Of John ]. McGraw
have something to worry about.
OF course, this Is no time to do any
thing In the line of picking winners, but
when sentiment to the effect that the
Giants should have a walkaway with the
National League nag next summer Is
openly expressed by pilots in the old
league. there must be more than a good
chance for the Polo Grounds gang TO
grab the gonfalon next fall
The makeup of the Giants as they
closed the season OF 1916 VIII need few
II any alterations. McGraw saw that he
needed some new material last August.
and he stepped right out and got It.
When the National League held its an
nual meeting here McGraw was seen sit
ting about the Waldorf lobby with a salts
fied smile on his countenance, and he did
little or no dickering for players.
"AIl I want at the present moment"
said Jawn, ''is a little stronger pitching
staff"
And Jawn expects to secure the talent
necessary to make his wiggling corps
winner.
Four of McGraw's rival managers ex-
here that the National League might Just
as wen save itself time by voting the
Giants 800 for next years pennant and
have It over with. These four are Will
bert Robinson, Pat Moran, George STALL
ings and Jimmy Callahan.
Fred Mitchell. the new manager Of the
Cubs did not express himself quite so
strongly. but he admitted that the Giants
are tho lads to watch: Mitchell hopes to
have the Cubs in the race and he says
he expects to see an of the veteran clubs
In the National League show to better ad-
vantage in 1911. than they did this year.
The sensational winning streak with
which the Giants brought their season to
close has put fear into the bosoms of
other clubs and when the season opens
the Giants win have seven teams fighting
tooth and nail to stop them Rival man
ayers will go through at least the first
six or eight weeks Of the season using
their best pitchers against the Giants-
They will save their most dependable
slabbers for McGraw's boys. but II ap-
pears now that II the McGrawfRn clan
hits its old stride it will be as hard to
stop as the Twentieth Century Limited
Point yourself for the ducks at the
traps"
This Is the advice handed out By many
old-tfmers who, after combing the
marshes Tor year, ana pokinB run AT Ino
boys who burned up good powder shoot
ing at Iifeless Objects" since they have
become confirmed trapshooters.
Take almost any ordinary Nfmrod who
has hunted the birds spring and fan for
years, persuade him to try his skin at
the traps and he viii probably be greatly
chagrtned to md that he Is not a go per
cent marksman. But get him to stick
for a while and as soon as he sees the
value Of training his sights on the clay
discs he will be just as enthusiastic as
the fellow who brings home State
championship.
Gilmour Doble, who for eight years
coached the undefeated elevens at Wash
ington University, says he 10 through
with football for an time. Doble dis
agreed with the faculty at Washington
when several of his players were declared
Ineligible Doble's ability as grid men
tor is well known all over the country,
and II is the belief that he will be lured
be ok into the coaching field by some
school during the coming summer. The
opinion is that Doble was at Washing
ton too long and new surroundings VIII
be acceptable to him.