The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-19
Does Not Think
Giants Haze Chance to Win
National League Penndnt
Star Pitcher of Phies Anxious for McGraws Team to Get
Close Enough to Be Considered Contenders- Phil
lies Are Set for Hard Fight
by GROVER CLEVELAND ALEXANDER

feel certain that there will not be an
other slump. We should be able to win
four or five more games than we lose
against the west which just about elm
mates the Giants, even if they sweep
every series with the western teams.
Mathematically it is possible for New
York to win and if it had better pitching
it might finish third but l think the fans
are becoming unduly excited. For one
thing, 1 do not think the Giants are as
good a ball team as the fans believe
The way we played against them almost
any team would have beaten us and the
continuation of the winning streak
against the Reds means nothing.
GIANTS ARE GOOD
Before lauding the new Giant team,
it is best to wait until it has been put
to test. There is a wonderful amount
of hitting strength, speed and natural
ability in McGraw's outfit, and it will be
powerful in 1917 but it needs consistent
pitching and a system of play that CAM
not be obtained in a week or two weeks.
The Giants have been profiting by the
reaction of the Phillies and the weakness
of the Reds, and will find other clubs
much stronger
Two or three teams the Giants must
meet yet will fight them to a finish. This
is particularly true of Boston, and
fight the Giants hard even if Stallings'
team is out of the race, as there is said,
to be little bit of feeling between the
players of the two teams
The American league race is just as
close, and l would not be surprised if
1908 was repeated in one league or the
other In that season both pennant races
were decided on the last day of the sea-
son with the Tigers and Cubs winning
after Cleveland and New York had led
throughout the season. We are in the
same position the Cubs were in at that
time and Chances team won because it
could beat the Giants and Pirates. We
will win because we can beat the Dodgers
and Braves while / look to see the Red
Sox win because they have pitching that
will stop the smuggling of the Tigers and'
White Sox.
PHILLIES IN FINE SHAPE
We are in better shape for the drive
than the fans imagine. Our pitchers are
in grand shape, despite the string of re-
verses at the hands of the Giants and
Cardinals, and when the time comes for
two pitchers to carry the burden, with
another filing in for double headers, the
strength of the Phillies will assert it.
self
Moran had quite scare when Bill
Killefer was injured in New York anu
for time we were under the impression
that his wrist was broken. If such had
been the case, we would have been in
bad way, but only because of the extra
burden it would throw upon Eddie Burns.
The fans have an idea that Killefer is
the only dependable catcher we have, but
1 think Burns work in 1915 after XII
had been injured, should convince one
that Eddie is one of the best catchers
in the league
Burns is unfortunate in being with
team that has a Killefer. 1t is no dis,
grace to be second strong catcher on a
team with Killifer, because 1 don't be-
lieve there is catcher in the game liz
his class, and / know there is not in the
National league Burns is one of the
headiest receivers in the game, and If
he had been called upon to step into the
breach would have done it in satsfac-
tory manner.
Copyright, 1916, by G. c. Alexander.)