New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-24
Big League Managers
Plan Baseball School

| They can distinguish between the sham
and the genuine. And u is imposslDio
to get much genuine ball out OF MAJOR
league club that finds no sther oppo-
stion than the sticks can show.
Whether or not the practice OF inter
league games Will revive attendance IN
the Southern districts. the fact remains
that 10 should give all of the teams SO
. engaged better means Of getting some
genuine effort out OF the players before
the season starts Major league play
ors are more Jealous Of their roputa-
:ious when opposed 20 men OF their own
formidable skill.
This. too. must be remembered. In
d;vidual managers have their individual
methods. The style Of play IN the
American League IS altogether differ
ent from that in the National. The
teams Of !ohnson's circuit play a more
conservative and scientific brand OF
ball. There is greater dash and spirit
in the National. even though the Iener
ring be the weaker at present, as Few
will gainSay. Ii may be that Johnson
iron hand has suppressed TOO far that
spirit which fsndom loves.
But, in any event, II does every one
good TO get out of the narrow channels
Of humdrum existence. The National
League clubs should set different
viewpoint on certain lines Of strategy
from association with American teams
and vice versa. This new order OF
training can accomplish no harm. II
is likely TO result in great general good
The wonderful finish OF the Giants
last fall. including as IL did the record
run OF twenty-siX consecutive victories
against all seven rival teams, has
placed serious handicap on John j.
McGraw.
Everybody now seems ready to con-
cede the 1917 pennant TO the Giants
II one is 20 believe the public prints.
But there will be found seven clubs
not ready TO concede the point when
the bell rings There is nothing quite
so dangerous to any athletic combina
ton as overconfdence The trend OF
the press is 10 initiate the personal
egoism Of the individual Giants. But
the seven other clubs OF the Nauoua!
League. with a wholesome respect for
McGrsw, are likely TO concentrate upon
him their very strongest attack 70 the
advantage OF some other first division
club.
One reason that the lot OF a cham
pion usually proves hard is that all Of
It's competitors try harder against the
title holder than against any other
rival team. The strongest pitchers are
nursed along with the object OF stop
ping the champions. But so far as
these lines OF strategy lie. the Giants
next year are likely TO find themselves
the butt of the general target.
Strong and capable as the Giants are,
thew 90 not so far outclass the Ma
tonsl League field as 70 Offset com
bination OF seven foes. II must be
remembered that Brooklyn won a pen
nant last year. A team good enough
10 win is always worthy of its due re
spect. Usually a pennant winner is q
serious factor for several years 20
come. Brooklyn vas Just able TO nose
out the former champion. the Phlilies.
Pat Moran was in the fight all the way.
The unexpected collapse Of severa OF
his pitchers kept n second flag from
him. Again. some of the second divl-
sion clubs Of the Tener circuit may be
more formidable next year. Jimmy
Callahan showed promise with the
Pirates the last half OF the season.
Mitchell. a supposedly clever general,
is in command OF the Cubs. Mathew
sons Reds are no longer the despised
aggregation they were when Big SIX
took charge.
The Giants may win the pennant.
They should be favorites. But they
must win on the field, not in the news
columns.