The Washington times., 1916-09-03
Bill Cdrrigan Thinks
Red Sox Sure to VIM;
Dodgers Fear Braves
Worlds Champions Leader Says Even Start Against
West Is Enough for Victory-Robinson Believes
h. Merkle Will Bring Him Triumph
BY BILL CARRIGAN,
Manager of the Worlds Champion
Red Sox.

Red Sox.
II will be q fight to the finish. but
am more certain than ever that my
club will capture the American League
pennant this year. l will not abso-
lutely predict victory. The game Is
too uncertain. Provided was sure that
none of my remaining players would
be injured between now and October 1
would 20 on record quickly enough.
But here only the other day JACK Barry
hurt his hand and will be out for at
least two weeks. His loss is big one.
Boston has certainly a good lead for
this stage of the race. Its lead IL no
greater than reasonably to assure us
against such a slump as may develop
unexpectedly from any quarter. l. do
not anticipate any slipping or of the
club, however. We cannot slump very
much so long as our pitching Is main
talned at the present high standard.
Still my Red Sox could arrord a little
setback without running their prospects.
No other team In the American League
can say the same.
A month ago 1 figured that Boston
would need u lead Of four games at
least on the eve of the last Western
trip to guarantee itself the pennant.
Now 1 believe the club could set out al
most on even terms with the Western
teams and still hold their own. A
month ago l expected to battle four
little or no assistance from my Eastern
allies. All that Is changed.
think, II balance could be struck
right now. IL would be found that the
four Eastern clubs measure up to West
ern standards in every respect. Ger
tAinly no team In the league has played
better ball within the past two weeks
than New York. or course, the Yankees
ran into a snag with Detroit. but the
stun Is there. A month ago. with a
bunch Of cripples In his lineup. Bill
Donovan appeared to be pointed for the
depths Of the standing. No gamer fght
against odds ever has been made than
that Of the 1916 Yankees. New York is
trip. Frank Baker should be back by
then. There is no better pitching stan
IN the league, save my own, than that
Of the Yankees. Philadelphia Is no long
er the joke club that 1t was the last
time We Fasteners went West. II was
at the expense Of Connie Mack's disor-
Eanized club and Bill Donovan's sadly
crippled team that Chicago. ST. Louis.
Cleveland, and Detroit were able to keep
90 prominently In the race. Mack now
Any time Joe Bush or Myers starts the
Athletics have as good q chance as their
opponents. We have another ally at
Washington. Walter johnson will take
Fears Detroit Most.
1 ngure Detroit the strongest club in
the west; or. rather. the most danger
Gus. Cleveland has broken badly. The
White Sox have slumped. Mark my
words. the Browns will find more trouble
on their hands at home than they en-
perienced through their last long, local
stand. Nither Cleveland nor Detroit. I
believe. has the pitching to stand up
against q star Of Boston's caliber lem
ming. has only three reliable boxmen--
CoVeleskie, Jamse, and Dauss. Rowland
should have q great pitching stan, but
he hasn't He is not getting the service
or which his men are capable. | don't
! never really feared st. Louis Field
or Jones has lot OF good ball players +;
enc OF the very greatest in George Sis
Ter 1t isn't as good u club az It appear
ful spurt at home few weeks ago. TO
begin with. II Is newly welded aggre-
xation that lacks cohesive strength.
which can come only with experience.
Therefore. the Browns are spotty. but
will be a great club some day.
dislike an alibi as much as anybody.
But I know the Browns We're helped to
Eet UP In the fight by a trick that did
not strike the other clubs any too
last time. Sportsman Park looked like
. hay field. The grass In the outiieid
was knee high. The infield was shaggy
ana d uncut: The skinned part OF the
diamond had been dressed with a loose
and yielding soil. 1t was almost i'm
possible to hit ground ball out OF the
inhetd. The grass held two and three
base hits to singles.
Browns Are Speedy.
Now. YOU may think that such condi-
tions were as fair to rival clubs as to
the Browns. but such is not the case.
Jones team Is possessed OF unusual
speed. both a-field and on the bases.
It had chance to acquaint itself with
all the tricks Of the pasture. That il
what It was. Visiting clubs. in their
short stays. had no such opportunity
My statement will be borne out by the
six other rival managers. who objected
In vain to the condition Of the ST. Louis
playing field. The club owners vigor.
ously kicked to Ban Johnson. But by
the time the frat protest reached him
q series already had been played. Mr.
johnson. quite properly, took the atti.
tude that immediate remedy OF exist
Ing evils would not be fair. The East.
ern club that already played would be
away back at the time. And st. Louis
was able to get away with something.
The Browns will no longer play In 9
hay held. The owners were ordered tc
ton. like the other parks. ii win be a
case OF merit from now on between
Jones and his rivals. l think two OF
three clubs are going to prove them,
selves better than the Browns
realize that my hardest task OF the
season confronts me before ! set out
for the West. My champions have .
yery important series at the Pole
Grounds. The Yankees have given vi
more trouble than any other American
League team this year, Donovan's clut
has been playing az well as we have
In every series between the two teams
II he were not 30 far back. Wild Bill
would have me worried. | can tell YOU
But have this consolation. I can af
ford to lose the series; Donovan cannot
II Boston wins this set of games New
York will practically be out OF the race
But that would not break the courag,
OF the Yankees, No gamer club evel
has been seen. I can count more surel,
on New York for assistance against tn,
Westerners than from any other East
srn club. Put me safely past New York
and Boston's lead will take care OF itself
Copyright, 1916. by John N. Wheeler
Inc)