New-York tribune., 1916-07-09
YQnkS See Pennant
Already on the Pole

on twice. Nogridge twice, Russell twice
and Nerkle once.
The loss of Frank Gilhooley at this
time Is serious. The little outhelder
was in his best form and was climbing
I'm the batting averages. He was among
the ten leading base runners and also
among the ten leading run getters. IL
has plunged the Yankees into predica-
ment. for none of the substitutes with
The team are of really high calibre.
There is strong probability, however,
Of Captain Huston inducing RUDE
Oldr.ng to return to the diamond IN the
un form Of the Yankees. This would
add 20 -he Athletic colony now with
the Yankees. Frank Baker and Bob
>hawkcy once wore the livery OF the
Mackmon.
While mourning the loss Of Gil
hOoley the Yankee fans have cause Tor
looking on the brighter side of life.
Frank Baker. the home run king, has
found the range and is mounting in the
percentage column. change in posi-
ton in the batting order has worked
for the better with him. Another rea
son for the position of the Yankees is
the batting of Wallie Pipp. The big
first sacker is clouting the ball as 1t
should be clouted. He is up around the
.270 mark or thereabouts and Is improv-
ing as the days pass. Al Walters, the
Waco demon. is catching and hitting as
a major Lacquer should, and is quite
find. The discovery Of this Texan has
injected a load Of the old pepper into
Les Nunamaker, and the veteran OF the
Red Sox i5 outdoing himself.
Maisel Will Return.
Fritz Naisel will be back in the game
i'm a little while, and while ne may not
be sent 20 his former position in centre
field it is probable that ne will see
some service at second base. Joe
Gedeon, the present guardian of the
keystone sack, has not lived up 20 his
early season promise Of greatness. lie
has fallen from the ranks of the 300
hitters well down TO a place among the
meek and lowly. Maisel was beginning
20 hit a. his normal gait when he shat
tered his collarbone.
The case Of the Giants Is peculiar. in
deed Whatever the strange influence
that playing at home fields over the
team, it is powerful. Victories on the
Polo Grounds have been few and far
between, and there are several good
reasons for il. To begin with, the pitch
when the pitching has been good the
fielding has been of sallow complexion
and puffy under the eyes. Weak hitting
and laundering base running have been
contributing causes at various times.
Ii has been only on rare occasions that
the pitching. helding, hitting and other
incidentals of the game have been as
McGraw would have them.
The Robins simply refuse to do the
expected, and crack under the strain of
leading the league. They are moving
along fairly we'll, and, while the pitch
ing staff has not been doing wonders,
the slump is momentary. Such, at least,
is the opinion of Wilbert Robinson. The
team is hitting the ball hard enough,
and is fielding well, too. There is a
slight disposition TO fash the bone on
the bases. but, for all that, the team is
70 be reckoned with at all times.
Not so long ago Lee Fohl scoffed at
the idea that a team needed twenty-five
players to carry il through the season
At that time he had his Indians out in
front of the American League race, and
every man was in good condition. There
was not a cloud in the Cleveland sky.
But the Indians are working under the
influence of an evil spell, it would seem.
Even as accidents tore the old team Of
Bradley, Lajoie, Turner. Rossman. BAY,
Flick and the other stars to pieces, IN
Jurles have torn this team 10 pieces. In
one fell swoop three pitchers, a couple
OF lnhelders and Steve 0'Neil, the first
string catcher, were bunged up, and il
IS small wonder that the team has sur
rendered its lead for the moment.