New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-25
He Who EludeS Alexander
May Emerge from Cellar
AT Least, That's the Way
McGraW Evidently Felt
Yesterday Afternoon.
By GRANTLAND RICE.

The sombre shadow Of Grover Cleve-
land Alexander fell across the Polo
Grounds yesterday, and the Giants
lost no time in beating il back 70
winter quarters and calling it an OIL
day. No rain mad fallen for twenty
four hours. the field was IN fair shape
and the weather was balmy enough.
The only deduction 10 be made is that
the Phillies had grown extremely DIS,
tasteful 10 the Giants, VINO desired
a. other day TO rest and think u over
As a result over 5000 fans made the
uptown haunt with nothing TO inspect
EXCEPT the outside of the park.
The pastime is evidently becoming
efct. The tennis courts and the golf
courses heard the call OF the open, pul
the bali park was closed while ootn
clubs went through an afternoon work
out. At this rate games VIII soon De
postooned on account OF the wheat
anime in India. or high tide along
tn. soup-colored Amazon.
T,-day's shift finds New York and
Boston confronting each other. The
Giants open with the Braves IN haugn-
to,yille. while the Yanks and Red Sox
expect TO make an unlimited supply
of fur Ay at the Polo Grounds In
scramble for the top.
hose two clubs have been see-saw-
ing for some time. but for the next
foGr DAYS the competition will be dl-
rest. Later on it may be difficult 10
dig VI the phrase crucial series so
II might as well be yanked out now,
white the yanking is good.
At any rate, crucial or not, TINS
ser',s will be an important one for
the Yanks If they can suppress the
worid-champions. or give them an even
battle. their confidence and general
pep should be immensely increased.
These next four days will also be
a Thorough test of the Yank attack.
BY the time they get through with
Shore. Ruth, Foster and Leonard fair
line. at least. can be obtained upon
the quality and quantity Of their Of
fensivc display.
Even Shore. Ruth, Leonard and
Foster will look good to the Yanks
after their long spell with Walter
Johnson. The Blond Shrimp is the
only pitcher who has stopped them so
fer. but he has made pretty good
lob of il. having won all three starts
II will be a good many weeks before
the lanks look on Johnson again: but
they could stand it if they didn't see
h, face for the next ten years.
There is little or no rest for the
weary. as some one has said before.
tn. Giants missed the Phillies yester-
day. but they get the Braves for the
next four days. McGraw is planning
10 send Tesreau. Palmero and Ander-
son against Boston. Schupp may work
the fourth battle.
The season is young enough. but one
lore victory isn't much TO cheer about,
even in a young year. A bad setback
in tns series will give the Giants a
long haul to ever reach polite society
ag..in: and better pitching will be
needed to break the bad streak.
In the meanwhile the Phillies. who
ar. booked in Brooklyn. will have
tcueh fight on to maintain their pace.
Robbv is getting better pitching than
the Giants have had TO offer. and he
will need il. as the records show. lie
won't have anybody 10 beat this after
nool except Alexander the Great. who
has already collected two victories out
of two starts.
Neither Giants nor Braves have been
able TO make any impression upon
Norsn's outfit. If the Dodgers are
also overwhelmed the Phillies will get
TIE same big lump which carried them
safcly through last season.