Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-08
BELIEVE MAJOR LEAGUE
RACES WILL Be CLOSE
observers ut Training Camps Think
weak Clubs OF 1910 Have Been
Strengthened Greatly.
SCHEDULES OPEN THIS WEEK
Supcrhas Have Practically World
champion Team, but Expect Stiff
Ter oppositiOn-Red Sox Favored.
While Yankees Are Feared.

The prospects for close pepnant
races In both the National and Amcri-
can Leagues during the coming sea-
son are considered TO be unusually
bright y number OF clubs which we're
weak III one or more positions last
year. nave been strengthened and fast
"cil-oa!hnced teams are the rule this
spring II the work In the training
camps can be taken as a criterion In
the following paragraphs will be found
snort review or the clubs as they
appear t" shape up on the eve of the
1917 season:
AMERICAN LEAGUE.
Boston.
The new owners of the Boston world
champions feel confident that the Red
S"N under the management of lack
larry. viii again prove to be a great
i''tor in the 1917 pennant race All
inc pitchers are in fine fettlc, and with
'nomas. tady and Asnew behind tho
piate they are expected to keep the
Tam right Up in front from the start.
mere - uS"fui new material for in
field work bu, none OF the yeter,n.
is likely u be displaced while tho
regular ou,r,eld is a strong combine,
zion
Altogether, IL" Red Sox look to havs
r"%al chance to realize the wishes
OF their Boston patrons who are root
NIX 'or Il third consecutive pennant
winner. That there will be stronger
oppnS'tion thls season is Acknowledged
ny the new management, which homes
however. that last years winners viii
be equal I" the task Of oyerrnnirr
all contendcrs.
Chicago.
President Cotniskcv and M,n,r,
kowiand both believe that the Whi,a
S"S VIII figure in the worlds serias
games next October. Under the direc
zion of the Old Roman, Rowland he
L.
on playing talent after a thoronT,,
wedding out Of the weaker plavers
curing the training trip to Mineral
"eiiS Texas. The pitching star ,vna
SLOW IN rounding into shape. but all
81 the twirlers have satisfied the man
aEeInrnt AS to their condition. wiz,
''ahdll az first base. tn. onlv weak snot
in the intrcld has been filed sati.fat
."riIy. Will" the outer garden seems
TO he Of sufficient strength for char,
pionShip work.
Detroit.
!" all probability the Detroit amor
leans VIII start the season with nniy
one recruit in the lineup Wit tho
star third bascman, not having signed
contract for 1917 viii be replaced
by either Bobby Jones. Ellison or Dver
az or whom have Uccn tried out for
thiS position. None OF the new pI+ch
| ers has shown anything remarkubIs
during the spring training. but Couch
an" 'arroil Jones Will be given an OBJ
/ portunity for q tryout In regular con
'es'S' All Of the regular pitchers ex-
crpt bauSs are In good shape Cum
hinShhm james and Coveleskfe have
been twirling in fine form during tho
southern trip. and Manager jennings
n"lieNeS that lie has strong team
for pennant honors
New York.
close followers of the game have
no hrsitancy in naming the New York
Americans as one of the teams which
VIII set the pace in the junior league
This season. President Ban johnson
shares this opinion and managers Of
rival clubs freely admit that the YAM
t KEGS must be rerkoned with In what
/ - expected To he one OF the closest
races IN the history of the American
League. The club suffered a most un-
usual run OF hard luck last year,
player after player being seriously in
! jured during the season. AS a result
/ of these accidents the team dropped
| from rrst To sixth place. and 1t was
not until late In the season that tho
| upward climb could be renewed
Every member OF the squad reported
| In fine physical condition this spring,
| and none has suffered permanent i'll
effects from the broken bones sus-
tained last summer. Maisel. Baker.
Gcdeon, Giihooley and the other stars
are paying at top form. and while sew
eral new men give promise of moro
than usual ability II Is doubtful II they
can win permanent place In the
lineup The team Is strong at bat and
! In the field. has high class battery ma
| terlal and sterling substitutes ready to
| replace the regular 1T any position.
| The club is a pcnnant contender in
every sense OF the phrase.
81. Louis.
With considerable Improvement in
pitching and hitting power. Manager
/ Iar I.f Il Ia. To-,
"rS viii enter the 1917 race working
! we'll together. as the men have learned
his system. With koob. who was i'll
part or last season, in tirst-class shape
and some of his recruit pitchers COM
ing through, Jones figures ne is 20
per cent stronger in this department..
Jacobson. who will be used against
left-handcd pitching. is expected to
strengthen right field, where he will
alternate with Miller, who is weak
Louis experts figure the Browns should
finish not lower than third.
Clcvefnnd.
Not having missed single practice
session during their stay at the New
Orleans training camp. the Cleveland
clubs players lcfl there in excellent
condition for II hard seasons remnant
battle. Manager Foil has nine pitch
crs In good shape, but he will not call
anon the services Of Joe Wood at the
opening OF the season. although the
FORMER Boston players arm has re-
sponded satisfactorily 10 all demands
made TO date. The team will begin this
years campaign better fortified behind
the bat Guisto. the new hcst-base-
man. has shown up well. after taking
OF a lot of weight lie will be tho
only recruit-regular. the remainder OF
the infeld and outfelu being the same
as q year ago
Wnshtucton
None OF the American League man.
ayers has worked more earnestly than
clark Grihith since the beginning OF
the training stunts OF the Washington
clubs players at Augusta. Ga. but no
has been the least fortunate in many
respects. Bad weather interfered with
the work OF the men during the early
part OF the Southern session while
many other disappointments cropped
up from several angles to worry tho
hard worked manager. Walter John-
son was delayed In getting to the camp.
but the big pitcher Is now on edge.
Griffith probably viii not select his