The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-11-13
Reds May
 Out Pace ' AYa " A New York
Matty May Develop Club of Enough Strength to Carry Off National League Pennant Next Year - Needs Second BaSeman and Two or Three Good Pitchers.

Of all the clubs in the National League, the Giants can best afford to stand pat on it's present make up next season. All the other clubs will have to strengthen to give McGraw's teaml a battle for the pennant, and, judging from last years performances on the Tener circuit, it is still doubtful if any club will be able to stop the New York club journey to another pennant. The club which seems to have the best chance will be Christy Mathewson's Cincinnati Reds.
 When Miller Higgins, now manager of the Yankees, was in St. Louis, the Cards gave the Reds an unlimited amount of trouble. While there was much joy here in New York over the engagement of Huggins as the Yam, in Cincinnati over his leaving St. Louis. Cincinnati figures that with out the foxy and aggressive Higgins the Cardinals will be easy picking for Mattys club next season.
 Cincinnati gave the Giants more trouble than any one club in last years pennant race, anad if Matty can strengthen his club in a few spots it is likely to give McGraw even more trouble next year. In the out field Matty can stand pat, and his in- field is all right except at second. He needs a stronger second baseman, and will evidently have one before the sea- son begins.
 Mathewson lso hopes to strengthen his pitching staff. His right handlers delivered the goods satisfactorily, and what the Cincinnati leader is now gum nj foy i, 1oft h Io could use a couple if he could ge, them. With the gap in the infiela filled, and with strong left-handers to help out, Mathewson would not pr afraid of the Giants or any other club. New York fans are likely to regard next seasons race as something of a certainty, but it would bew ell for them to wait a while and see how Matty begins the season before be- coming too confident.
 When Cincinnati wound up the baseball season by winning the Ohio series. from Cleveland, which at the end of the season was generally re- garded as being stronger even than the Chicago White Sox, the hopes of Cincinnati fans scared to great heights over next years prospects. Cincin- nati fans have a bad habit of win ming pennants during. the winter months, but this year they have more reason to bank their hopes on great accom- mplishments than ever before.
 There has been some talk of trouble between McGraw and Herzog and that the fiery second baseman would make a move next season. Cincinnati would give almost anything to have Herzog back at second base in Redland. but gossip of the McGraw-Herzog feud is not taken seriously here. and as he has a 1eng-term contract with the New York club, it is not likely that Me Graw will break up his winning com bination.
 Mathewson believes that in Bress1er he has a 1eft-hander who is going to do something next year. Bressler was at one time with the Athletics, but last season showed great improvements in the Southern Association.
 The Phillies do not appear to be strong enough to give the Giants as much opposition as last season, The combination in Philadelphia is grow ing old and is. naturally slowing up. Pat Moran will have tS strengthen his club in spots, but it is unlikely that he will be able to improve enough to make much trouble.
 Although unsuccessful in the worlds series, McGraw still has conf dence in hissteam. Next year he will have Ross Young to strengthen the outfield, and it will be hardly neces- sary to make further changes unless to add utility player or two to the secondary defense. Mo Graw, during the last season, was weak on second string players and pinch hit ters, but he was fortunate in going the season without serious injuries. His outfield was able to go through the season without a change, which is rather unusual while the injuries to Herzog and McCarty were ; the only serious setbacks he encoun- tered.