The Washington times., 1916-07-22
Bill Donovan Looks for Six
Teams to Be Blnched for
Pennant TIL End Of Race.
BY BILL DONOVAN,
Manager Of the New York Yankees.

BACK In loUS the American League
had It's closest finish. II was a finish
In which only the four Western clubs
were concerned. Fractional games sep
arated Detroit, Chicago. 81. Louis, and
Cleveland q week before the close. The
way matters have shaped up In our cir
cult 20 far should not be at all sur
prised II next October finds q similar
condition. II looks now as II six teams,
rather than four. might then be bum
ohSd.
The team that wins the pennant in
our league this year will be well quail
filed to tackle the National League
champion. For II will have no Joy ride
throusS. late September and Early Oc-
tober. II ever there was a year where
the luck Of the game is likely to cut a
figure this means the one. Consequently
luck will be at q premium.
The American League II the best bal
anced Of history. This fact shows clear
first six clubs. The seventh entrant. st.
Louis. is far from being q bad ball
club. Fielder Jones' men are only about
Q dozen games behind the leaders with
practically half the season before them.
cond team generally was from the Ath-
letics In the days Of Connie Macks
great champions.
Indian Pitchers Weak.
The Cleveland club. in my opinion. II
troit. Fohrs pitching staff los, its
greatest asset in Guy Morton. There
was not the class In numbers to mini
mize such q blow. Coveleskie and klep-
fer are good pitchers. but. since Nor
ton dropped out. both Of these have
are likely to suffer from ove.work long
before the season closes. Bagby and
Gould looked pretty we'll against Ils at
the Polo Grounds. but they are still ex-
must not be taken too seriously. One
at his age seldom effects q real come
back.
Yet the Cleveland club is not an acci-
dent. II Is capable Of fine things. espe.
sis',n as much ss nS help as the White sox ana
world. champion Red sox. OF course.
iris Speaker Is the predominatinR fnc-
tor e the cause o. ~oSd e@s fatal
Cievelend's chances. Speaker has as
sured Fohl a wonderful outfeld. Chick
Gandil made the inheld; Had nothing
happened to Morton: Cleveland elan would
Sns 70 sa Se. esos
10 gone. II 80, he 10 through. Without
him, cannot see where Cleveland has
the pitching to tide It through the fight
"S Ghicsso just now is giving the rest OF
US much concern. Rowland Is strong In
pitchers. Ray Schalk 10 the best catch
er in the country.
White Sox Have Hitters.
The White Sox have q bunch or slug
gers now that Eddie Collins has thawet
out. Joe jackson is slugg1ng the bal
for keeps. Chicago never was . very
good road club. but 1t always has beer
hard to beat on Its own grounds. 1,
behooves the rest OF us to give tht
they hit the road again. kowiand
club n one that cannot brook adver
| sity. A severe drubbing through a sertei
or two or the loss OF star might up
CLUB. though. that 1 don't want to SCI
get out in front. imagine Rowland
boys would be some front runners.
| 1 haven't seen the Red Sox lately. bu
American League players who have DE
clare the recent successes of the world
champions have resulted directly from
fne pitching. The offensive and defen
| sive power OF Iris speaker Is missed
Members OF the Cleveland. Detroit, ant
". Louis clubs told me that, outsid
as soft as anything in the league, bar
ring only Philadeiphia- New York ma
found Boston no serious problem 81
far. but then Il must be remembere.
that the Yankees have had the lndial
sign on the He'd Box somehow Tor tn
past several seasons-
| Detroit Broke Even.
Detroit had the time OF its life L
break even with US at the Polo Grounds
Hughie Jennings tells me that his pitch
ing has been all that could be desire
the past three weeks. Well, 1t didn
strike me as being anything to bra
veleskie. the only one OF Hughie' pitch
ers that we feared. Willie Mitchell
who hadn't been able to finish gam
before he hit New York, beat us tw
gamess to our shame. he had little
comparison TO Coveleskie. / reary d
not believe Willie will get very far tn
rest OF the season. James and boian
looked good against us. Inc rest
Iennings' pitchers are too uncertain.
L do not believe that Detroit carrie
Is impaired. Heilman does not pegl
to measure UP to the Wahoo man. NJ
is Heilman the slugger he appeared
be. He Is falling OF fast in his hi
: ting. Wit, Detyoit's third baseman.
nursing O charley-horse. Cobb straine
, his knee in one Of the games again
Us and is wearing an elastic bandag
, or three other clubs that occasion mo-
, worry than the Tigers.
r Clark Griffith's well-laid plans ha,
been seriously affected through the di
; affection of First Baseman Judge. TT
D Old Fox made a great mistake In Gu
ting loose from Gandil before he ha
. proven Judge. This club ia no strong,
. | than II was year ago. Perhaps u
= pitching js a trife steadier. Yet, wit
= Walter Johnson at his best, the N,
tionals must always be respected.
The st. Louis Browns are likely
r have lot to say before the season
: over. This is not badly balanced clu
: and II has several real stars. Sisle
a q Marsans. Shotten and Pratt are amor
= the very best at their positions. II
amalgamation of two clubs gave Field
Jones lot OF tried material fro
n which to select battery men. His pitc
e Ing stan should have shown better r
Il suits than Il has.
IS Providing nothing further happens
X the Yankees In the way of injury
y sickness, ! think my CLUB should be
,r the race till the finish. Maisel Is almo
Ia ready to start In again. Baker will
% hack within the next two weeks. VIII
his ribs are healing. he can rest up
3. sore knee. He will benefit. think.
It the lay-or. Cullop's injury was pal
9. ful. but not serious. II means the 10