The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-06

klepfer, Coumbe, Gould, BagbY, Lam
beth, and Joseph Boehling are
mighty good lot from which to pick
three or four dependable boxmen.
one or two of these mon might de-
velop into stars. If in addition Nor
ton and Joe Wood should come back
and show their" old time skill the In
dams are going to be mighty dan
gerous aggregation. If Lee Foil gets
one more good man for his tnNeli,
Cleveland will take lot of beating.
St Louis has in Fielder Jones one
of the wisest managers in baseball
and it is said that Jones has an own
err who will give him the necessary
backing Under the circumstances IL
seems certain that sooner or later the
Browns will be strong team The
question is whether Jones can develop
strength rapidly enough to make q
contender this season. lie mace Il
good start last year by wedding out
a number of Federal league left-overs
that he discovered were not fast
enough for big league company. Now
he must build, and building takes
time. ANY team led by Jones. how
ever. is apt to make good showing.
This brings us to the clubs which
on paper appear to be the 'etua
pennant contenders. No matter now
good a manager Barry may prove TO
be, the Red Sox are not likely to show
any more strength than they dill last
year. Carriean was fine handler
of pitchers, and some of the boxmen
are apt to miss his coaching. Boston
has a veteran team. IT is team with
all the confidence instilled by the win
ming of two successive worlds series.
It lis we'll rounded team, strong in
every department of the game. Last
" II Is one of the smartest and Eamest
teams that ever appeared upon a dia-
mond, No club logically can be made
a favorite over the Red Sox In the
coming race.
White Sox Powerful.
The White sox have powerful
nine in many ways. but also one that
has well-known weaknesses. 1t may
be stronger in the infield than Il was
last year. Its strength on the attack
Is conceded On the defense ii IS err
ratio Unlike the Red Sex il is not
a smart team. Outside Of the trul,
wonderful Eddie Collins, and one or
two other brainy players. there IS
enough ivory on the elup To ST pply
Slow thinking lost many a game last
year which should have been won,
and slow thinking and championships
rarely go together. Nevertheless. II
Is admittedly a dangerous club.
Detroit has for many years been
kept well in front by the great and
only Tyrus Cobb. II Hushey Jennings
could furnish Ty Cobb with a truly
good pitching staff, the chances are
that another championship banner
would fly in Detroit. The Tigers are
good club, and II a couple of the
younger pitchers show real ability the
lighting Jungle Cats will ask odds
from no one.
Lastly we come to the YANKEES.
Could they have RETAINED from popu-
lating all the hospitals between there
and St. Louis. they would have had
chance for the flag last year. The
physician was the busiest man con-
nected with the club. Never ora a
team get tougher breaks. Almost
every man on II broke something.
from a RIB to an ankle bone.
1t is not reasonable to suppose that
such a series of misfortupes viii oC
cur again this season. The team has
some OF the fastest men. some of the
greatest sluggers. and some OF the
finest pitchers and fielders in the
game If Bill Donovan IS able TO
keep It going At top speed, there is
no club with better chances or bright
er hopes.