The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1916-03-24
,By FRANK q. MENKE.,

IBy FRANK q. MENKE)
The PhiIlies, in our opinion, will not
figure very largely-if at all-in the
1916 pennant tight in the National
league. 30. ..a
They won in 1916. not because they
were wonderfully strong, but because
all the other clubs were weak, either
normally or because of midseason in.
juries. The mighty arm Of Grover
Alexander was the real power that
lifted the Quakertown outfit to the
crest Of baseball. II Ia unlikely that
the wonderful Alexander ever can
duplicate his work OF year ago. He
may pitch better baseball in spots; he
may turn in better average. But 1t
seems beyond the range Of possibility
that he ever again will rise to the
sublime heights in the critical mo-
ments ~ he did last year.
The Phillies will take the field In
1916 without any noticeable changes
In the lineup. They haven't acquired
any youngsters who look likely to bios
som forth into big league flowers And
% We view It. the 1915 Phillie outfit
vii not have q real chance against
tho greatly improved machines thai
other cities will send into tho battle
The Braves look about as good as
any club In the Tener circuit. The ad
dition cf Ed Konetchy ought to i'm
prove the batting and fielding power
The Braves have a few young pitchers
who may be able to jump into the line
up regularly. They have fair batting
power. great fielding strength, super
fluffy Of pep" and some real pitchers
Theirs is machine built compactly;
. machine with. speed and endurance
The Giants are problem. They
have been strengthened greatly by the
addition Of several Federal leaguers
and dozen stars Of lesser magnitude
but have they been strengthened sui.
hciently? II McGraw can grab OF two
Or three real pitchers from that flock
that he will take South with him the
New Workers. ought to be back among
the pennant battlers. because their in.
field and outfield are extremely power.
full.
On paper the Giants look better thar
they have for many years. But are
they good enough to set the pace from
the start-and hold 1t until the finish
Those Cincinnati Reds will make the
biggest noise that any Rhiueland club
has made for many years-or we miss
our guess. Charlie Herzog. the hat
Ting" manager. is extremely confident,
that his club will be in the fight all
the way into the STRICKLAND Her
Eog's optimism IL shared by many OF
the dopesters l p
The Reds will have q great infeld
with Mollwitz on first. Esmond at sec
ond. Herzog at short and Groh at third
and they'll have fine outfield, too.
Behind the bat the Reds are az strong
a. any other club in the league. while
their pitching strength is increased at
least 10 per cent by purchases Of Fed
eral league and bush" talent.
The Pirates cannot he figured a. q
powerful club from this February view.
point They never were In the fight In
1915. yet the plan seems to be to. send
practically the same crew into battle
b l916-unless q me real major
Jeaguers are found among the young
sters. Jimmy Callahan may be able to
put the club into the fight. but II
seems doubtful The Pirates must be
rebuilt before the Smoky city folks
can have their pennant dreams come
true
Those Dodgers will bear watching.