The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-01-04
BELIEVES LEADERS
SURETO SLOW UP
Bill Donovan Thinks Red Sox,
Tigers, and White Sox
Will Fall Back.
BY JOE villa.

NEW YORK, Jan. 4.-The best bal
anced field to start out in a pennant
chase since the American League was
organized will answer the umpires' call
next April. according to Manager Bill
Donovan, Of the Yankees, who has been
identified with Ban Johnson's league
during the greater part of its existence.
Donovan played a prominent part in
deciding the 1908 race, the closest that
the American League ever had but he
believes that the coming one will be
more interesting, because more teams
will be real contenders for the title.
The 1916 race was a close one" re-
marked the Yankee leader, but 1 look
for more balance to the 1917 field. Late
last August seven teams had a chance,
and while 1 don't look for eight to
be in the chase at this tage next year,
believe that several clubs will be
battling until far into September.
Leaders VIII Slow Up.
IL believe the Big Three Of the past
few years-Boston, Chicago and De-
troit-will slow up somewhat in the
next campaign, and that the five other
clubs will be able to show to better
advantage in 1917. With the leaders
coming back and the second runners
improving the field is sure to be better
balanced.
why will the leaders slow up? The
Boston club depends to a great extent
on veteran players, such as Lewis,
Hooper. Gardner, Barry and HobHtzell
Surely they must be expected to be slow
ing UP a bit.
The same goes for Chicago, which has
a few youngsters, ! know. but a num-
Der Of veterans such as Joe Jackson.
Eddie Collins, Jack Collins, Scott and
Benz. Such players are not improving
at this stage.
Crawford Almost Done.
Jennings has lacked pitching
strength for some time, and it is
unlikely that he will find It in the
boxmen from the smaller leagues
who have been added to his squad
for tryout. Then, again, Crawford
is almost through, and it will be
long time before another such player
is added to the team.
Most of Hughey's leading boxmen
are in the veteran class, too. With
so much smuggling talent and a COM
paratively young inf1eld, the Tigers
must be rated as a strong team, but
do not believe they will do as well
in the coming race as they did last
year.
Yanks Should Do Better.
"Now take the other clubs. The
Yankees should do better next sea
son. If only in the matter of escaping
injuries. We have some young pitch
ers such as Russell and Shocker, not
to mention Cullop and Shawkey, who
are a few years from the veteran
stage. Pipp, Gilhooley, Gedeon, and
Maizel are also young enough to look
for improvement. If they play no
better than in 1915, but escape acct
dents, the Yankees will win a lot
more games. The st. Louis Browns
may be expected to improve, as Jones
was unfamiliar with the players of
his own and other teams last season.
Cleveland, with Morton and Cove
leski in shape from the start of the
race. will be very dangerous.
Griffith will have a younger club
and a harder hitting club, with Leon
ard, Smith and Rice as regulars, and
some promising pitchers added to the
staff.
THE Athletics do not look like a
pennant contender as yet, but their
work late in the season proved that
the team is coming. 1t will be a
harder club to beat all next year than
it was during the greater part of
1916"