The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-06
WARM FIGHT EXPECTED
IN AMERICAN LEAGUE
With Every Team Ban Johnson Organization Strengthened
Since the Close of Last Season. Race This Year Is Elk
pected To Be Warmer Than Before

A prediction that the American
league race will be even closer this
season that 1t was last verges on the
outskirts Of probability. 1t Is easy
to remember that for the most OF
the distance at least six teams had
an outside chance for the pennant.
1t may also be recalled that every
club, with the exception Of st. Louis
and Philadelphia, was at some time
or another in first place. and that St
Louis was at one time in second place
1t Is a fact that the difference between
q winner and a team that finished in
seventh place was only a matter of
fourteen full games out OF l54. Just
how close the race really was. how
ever. may not be realized without
considerable analysis
The Boston Red Sox, pennant win
ners OF their league and worlds
champions, won the flag from the Chi
cago White Sox by only two full
games. During the season they did
not lose a single ! to 0 contest and
won seven battles by these figures
Moreover, they won two of these
games in thirteen innings and one IN
ten innings A to 0 game is an un-
certain proposition, yet had the Red
Sox lost three out of the seven that
they won the Chicago White sox
would have beaten them to the finish
line. Boston, therefore. actually won
the pennant not alone by only two
games but Also by only three runs.
They also may be said to have won 1t
in extra innings. 1t Is hard TO rock
for closer race than this
Nevertheless. while the distance be-
tween the first two or three clubs
may be greater. many persons look
for race that in its entirety will
be fully as thrilling as that OF last
year They base their belief on the
fact that the second division clubs are
not to- make a better showing than
they did then. AZ a general matter
Of advance dope ii Is hard to see
how any clubs outside OF Boston.
Chicago, Detroit and New York can
crowd into the first division. AMI yet
a couple of the others have at least
q chance to do SO.
In attem ptinK to get some line on
what the clubs do. It 10 easier to fol
low the old business rule OF beginning
at the bottom and working UP. TN
less Connie Mack has strengthened
more than Is apparent on the surface,
he again 10 apt to have undisputed
claim to last place. Bodie is a good
outfelder and a fair batter. but long
way from being the snaartest- ball
player In the game. From all ac-
counts Thrasher Is slueger. but also
mono too fast. and sluggers in the mi
nors are not always siuggers against
American league pitching. Con,..s
will have experiments at both second
and third base. His chief hope OF
making a better showing appears to
lie in hts pitching star. He has two
fir.t-ciass pitchers and number Of
youngsters who needed seasoning but
showed bright promise.
Need Offensive Strength.
Washington Is another team which
must be strengthened. Griffith has
some new men. but nobody knows
Just how good they are. and the Sem
ators are sadly in need OF offensive
strength. Moreover. II Walter john
son should happen TO have bad
year. the remainder OF the pitching
STAN could not hold the team .ery
high against the opposition it is re-
CURED to face.
Cleveland la a club which h.s the
possibilities OF a surprise. Under GER
tain conditions il might be one Of the
most dangerous teams In the race. 1t
has fine outneid for both offense
and defense. With Chapman playing
the game Of which he Is capable. the
infleid is good. Much depends on the
pitching staff. Stanley Cove'eskie,