The Washington times., 1917-12-19

Chicago, Boston, and New York.
this trio Of cities seem destined to be
the baseball eenters Of the future
The White Sox are the class of
the American League. The Cubs
have been strengthened by prodig-
ious outlay Of money. Thus, Chicago
has two teams that should be In the
pennant races OF 1918. ~. s,s
The Giants are the class Of the
National League for the same reason
that the Cubs are new contenders.
Hampstead has never hesitated when
It came to spending money under the
direction Of his manager.
Harry H. Frazee. president Of the
Red Sox. does not mean to let Uncle
Sam ruin his outht. not II money
can wean star players from other
clubs Therefore, Strunk, Bush and
schang have been obtained to all
the places OF Duffy Lewis and Ernie
Shore
Fear T0pheaVineas.
Spending money for ban players is
generally most welcome to the fans
boastinE the generous magnates, but
many close followers Of the game to-
day believe that there II q strong
tepdeney to make both lsagnss, top
heavy. *. =-
II has long been charged that
''Muggsy" McGraw bought" his Ma
tional League pennants. The same
condition exists with Charlie Comis-
key, although his clubs. packed az
they have been with high-priced and
highly-paid stars, never delivered the
IL L.
charged by baseball writer's all over
the American League that Comiskey
was trying to ''buy a pennant."
Last season the National League
had but one team, the Giants. Only
two teams made much OF a fight, st.
Louis and Philadelphia, though the
Reds enjoyed a wonderful spurt for a
while and threatened to finish In sec
ond place. Next year It looks like
New York and Chicago, with no
others to threaten
Grifnth Needs Moro.
While Washington fans are more
than pleased that Clark Griffith has
strengthened his team by adding Bert
Shotton and Johnny Lavan 20 the
roster. nevertheless, the Griffmen will
not be contenders for the 1918 cham
pionship unless even more changes
are made in the team; that Is, II the
Chicago and Boston clubs continue at
their present strength. No one
knows this better than Clark Grif-
nth himself, whatever he may say
shout It for publication.
Suppose the GrIffmen open the sea-
son with the following regular line
up: Judge, Morgan, Lavan, Foster.
Shotton, Zeb Milan, Rice, Ainsmith,
Henry, johnson, Harper, Ayers, Shaw,
and Du Mont. That team will not be
sufficiently improved to mako much
headway against the White SoX or
the Red SoI. Third place will be its
best promise.
Seeond-string men make the differ
ence between winning and losing
clubs. Manager Griffith will have
slight assistance from Charity,
Crane. Mcbride, Shanks. Acosta, Eph
Milan. and a nondescript bunch of
green twirlerA
Many Are Useless Here,
Many Of these extra Griffmen arc
practically useless here. GhGrrity's
arm Is too weak TO allow him to
work much behind the bal. though
his slugging makes him a handy lad
to replace Rippy Williams.
George Mcbride is done a. a ma
Jor Lacquer. With Altrock acting as
coach, there Eeems no place for the
veteran HhOrtstop.
Sam Crane never wAa n major
Lacquer and never Will be. IL he tries
the task for ten thousand and one
years.
shankF slowness OF foot and his
.2o2 batting average spell his ruin.
As utility outhelders, neither young