The Washington times., 1916-07-22
viii Have Edge on Three East.
srn Rivals, as They viii
Battle at Home.
YaHks ARE RECOVERING
Bin Donovan Optimistic Despite
Big Hospital List and Thinks
His Team Best.
BY LOUIS A. DoUGHER.


BY LOUIS A. DOUGHER.
Tor the next three weeks the three
western clubs still In the hunt for the
Anerican League pennant honors.
Cleveland. Chicago. and Detroit, will
have some advantage over their three
Eastern contenders. Boston. New York.
and Washington. by playing all their
games at home. Ordinarily this ad-
vantage In small. but "a the struggle
has been running this season. homo
teams have benefited considerably by
playing at home.
The Griffnen, though playing away
from home. bid fair to be most dan
gerous contendcrs. They have found
i've Of victories. Maintaining the pace
With the stick that they are now show
ing. the Griffs may surprise the fans
everywhere by running wild.
The coming trip finds all three East
ern clubs ready. The Griffmen should
have Ray Morgan back In the lineup
inide Of q few days. Rippy williams.
who was hitting we'll when he was In
Jured last Sunday in Cleveland. should
b ready for work by the time the team
hits the trail. With these two players
In shape. the team IL sure to be strong
sr than It II now.
The Yankees big hospital list is show
Ing signs OF recovery. Fritx Maisel
win play third base Tuesday in Chi
caSo. mis- injured shoulder being strong
again. Frank Gilhooley. who broke q
snall bone In his ankle In this city.
% almost in shape to resume his place
at the head Of the Yankee batting or
der. Nick Cullop reports his injured
back much improved. and Hughey High
has recovered from his wrenched leg.
Frank Baker. out with three broken
y1bs. win not accompany tho Yankees
"a Chicsgo. but tho slusger expects to
b IN shape to play inside of two weeks
Il u doubtful. though. II Bill Donovan
w1n risk permanently injuring Baker by
poaying him too soon. and the nome
run swatter may not not take his place
IN the lineup until the team returns
home next month.
Tho worlds champions have begun a
drive similar to that which took them
70 the top last season. In 1915 they
hk their stride about July 4. and rap
IDLY overhauled all teams ahead OF
them. Once In front. they were never
down to tho very end Of the campaign
They threaten to repeat that perform
ance now.
Bill Donovan. manager Of the Yam
KEGS. while not exactly predicting pen
nant honors for his team. Is incliped Il
bO optimistio:
':Just givo us an even break in tn,
lvck from now on" says Wild William
'tand there vii be nothing to the race.
Bill Carrfgan. boss OF the champions
II saying little. but he II working hart
TO keep his team on the grindstone.
Clark ariffith. z. Optimistic tic q: n, eve, s
dictions. but that quiet smile he show
as ne peeks at the batting averages 9
some Of his now players means who'll
30 far a. the chances Of tho Griffme,
are to be considered. there 10 no reasol
Nhy the washington club should no
III "a It's own with every club In tn
W\et. Only the Yankees have shown T.
nj Aked advantage over the Grins. an
thH Yanks are not to play them
ThdPe isn't q team to be played o.
thiS trip that has any margin wort
discussion over Grif's lauds.
ord this spring when they failed I
break even on the road. The tear
IL generally better away from nom
than at Georgia avenue. and II woui
tosetSer next Week on the enemy
neld and start a streak carrying ther
III: s.s; been when couple sRs sr%s sf
were playing ahead of their .ow
speed. They are occupying positio
today from which q speedy march !
the top Of the ladder is possible; nd,; L, L.
they may make a eailop Of It.
At the same time, those three Yves,
ern clubs must be feared by the
Cleveland is far from slipping. TT
team looks as good now as II did
the spring. The early return of Gu
Morton TO slab duty means much y,
the Victories to be won BY that ste'
ling young pitcher. Battling on the
own grounds. with thousands OF fraI
tic rooters behind their every efi9r
the Indians are sure to make troub
for the next month.
Detroit Is not doing as we'll ,
Cleveland. but the Tigers still po
sess the wailSp trS oa ana Ty nc COBB: sms WI !,
Jungaleers are not as ferocious
they once were. but they are still sa'
age enough for moat opponents.
The white sOf: ga. after 2 an more Ss. or S ls
probably pick up their feet and sta
upon one more of their Atreaks
Comiskey Park. The White Sox ha'
balanced club and a stror
pitching corps.
Unless some club breaks away fro
the present jam. II is unlikely that 4
betting fan can do much picking un
AFTER Labor Day. The first six teal
are so closely tied up that short sire
of three or four games by one mere
offsets similar streak by some 9th
outfit. usually home team. This
again Offset as soon as West goes
Hast or East goes to West.
Il one. club. the Griffmen. for instan'
can hit up a streak of victories III
will continue for eight or nine stralgh
Il may put sufficient margin behind II
upset the calculations of thousands
over the country.
With one club breaking away from |
buneh, some other Is bound to fall II
much behind. thus cutting down the s
OF tho mob trailing the psnnant.
The Grifrnen are going to try to tu
this trick.