The Washington herald., 1917-01-14
WATCH THE YANKEES,
SAYS BILL DONOVAN
Veterans Are Slipping and His Young
Ones May Cop.

New York. Jan. 13.-rWild willyum
Donovan has hunch. Yizza boy! Bin's
hunch. in tabloid form. amounts to the
belief that the pennant gallop in the
American League this year is going to
be a nerve-shattering affair. And 1t looks
like Bill knows whereof he speaks At
least there are several hundred baseball
lupinaries and just plain critics who
agree with him.
To begin with, Bill ought to know
something about the American League
He has been connected with 1t prac-
dcally ever since 1t was born and as far
back as 1908. when the Johnsonian cir
cult enjoyed the tightest little race OF
its career. Bill was in there tugging at
his cap and hitching up bis belt. and he
played a prominent part in deciding that
race. But let Bill tell it himself.
Last year we had a grand little race, :"
says Bill. But ! look for a better race
this year because there will be more
teams In the running. I look for a bet
ter balance throughout the league. Late
in August of 1916 there were seven teams
lighting I look for all eight clubs to be
in the race at that stage of the game this
year.
'T believe that the teams which have
been big factors in the past few years,
practically Boston, Detroit and Chica go,
will slow up bit this year This is why
the race should be tighter. I figure that
Connie Mack's Athletics will bear all
sorts of watching. Don't take the
Athletics showing of last year as an
indication Of what can be expected next
summer. If you do you are liable to
get badly fooled. So. with the leaders
slipping back a little and the other clubs
coming on, the field will have more
balance.
"Boston's veterans are still good.
There's no doubt in my mind that Lewis.
Hooper. Gardner, Barry and HobIitzeI
have the goods but they can't be ex-
pected to show the way to the field year
after year The same goes for Chicago
with Collins, jackson. Fournier. Scott and
Benz. At Detroit, Cobb can stiu be sx-
pected to do his annual share, but Craw-
ford is almost through and Jennings
pitchers are mostly veterans. OF course,
Jennings still has well moulded club
and 1t will be In the race, but I don't
believe II can make as strong a bid this
year as II did in 1916
Now take a slant at the rest Of us
The Yankees should go much better this
year. honestly believe that we have
a grand chance for the pennant II We
kept two and three players on the in
jured list throughout the whole Of la st
season. Eliminate the cripples and look
what we've got We have some young
pitchers, such as Russell and Shocker,
not to mention Cullop and Shawkey, who
are few years from the veteran stage.
And then there's Pipp. Gilhooley, Gedeon
and Maisel. also youngsters, who will i'm
prove.
The Browns will show Improvement
too. Jones wasn't well enough acquaint-
ed with the league last year. He didn't
even know his own players we'll enough
But look out for him this summer Cleve-
land, with Morton and Coveleskie in
shape, is going TO be heard from and
will be dangerous. Griffith has some
mighty promising youngsters at Wash
ington and a fighting ball club.
so II looks like a tight old race from
where l sit. See II I'm right"