The Washington herald., 1918-07-04
Nationals Halt Higgins Leaders First Spor
OUTLOOK FOR
| BIG LEAGUERS
Eastern Clubs All Have a
Chance-Brayes May
Be Dark Horse.

The turning point Of the baseball
season Us July 4.
Although this date does not ex-
actly divide the season I'm equal
parts. It Is recognised as the time
when the big league cllbs begin their
big drives for the pennant
with one exception in the history
Of baseball It has been the rule that
q club out Of the running July Z
would have no chance at the PEN
nAnt. The exception was the Boston
Braves of 1914.
July 1, then. Is the logical time to
get q lien on the clubs to form an
idea of how they wilk finish in the
fall.
Conditions this year are 30 COM
plicated by men being called Into
service that IL is rather hard to form
an opinion on how the clubs VIII
finish.
The prediction made in this ar
ticle will be based on what the clubs
have done so far and considering
the clubs as they appear at this
time.
All conditions considered, the Amer
lean League race this fall should de-
velop into one of the most hotly con-
tested in the life Of the league.
Right now there are five clubs
that must be considered In the run
ning-Boston. New York, Cleveland.
Chicago and Washington.
Do not lok for the White sox to
repeat this year. The club, erratic
at its best In 1877. has been torn by
war conditions until it presents q far
different aspect than the club which
won the championship last fall.
The Chicago pitching staff is sadly
weakened by the loss Of Faber and
williams. The loss OF jackson cut
tremendously into the offensive
strength.
Right now the class Of the league
seems to be in the East The New
York club and Boston Red Sox are
dangerous to any other clubs aspira-
tons. Managers Of four other clubs
In the league have told me the club
that beats out the Yanks will win
the pennant. Whether this club can
go along as well without Pipp, who
will be caught in the next draft, re-
mains to be seen.
The Red Sox will 20 through the
season with the strongest pitching
stan In the league. but probably will
lose one more player In the draft,
Everett Scott.
Cleveland, with an unchanged line
up. will be a dangerous factor for
anything in the league, but IL Chap
man Is lost before the end Of the
season Fohl will have a big problem
on his hands.
Hlath h.- Ax~f k.t3l.
in his Nationals and they may prove
a factor in the race.
Right now the best bet in the lea
que Is New York.
1t is hard to imagine Detroit, Phil
adelphia or ST. Louis out Of the sec
ond division.
The Cubs should win. Here is a
ball club with a great pitching staff.
fair. all-round offensive and de-
fensive organization and the win
ming spirit. The New York club Is
not showing the best OF form and
the loss Of Benton and Kauff was a
great blow. 1t would not be sur
prising to see the Braves crowd this
Giants out of second place.
The Braves have started a drive
almost as sensational as their 1914
| effort. when the condition of the
club at the start of the season is
considered. Watch them, they will
make the Cubs and Giants both step
lively before the season is over.
The disappointment Of the league,
of course, is the Reds. On paper
the Reds this year looked like a
sure one-two-three club. Right now
they are playing minor league base
ball. Matty isn't getting what he
should from the club and the men
are not giving Matty half what they
are carcble of delivering.
!, 3. ould not be surprising to see
Brooklyn in the first division. This
club looked hopeless at the start Of
the season, but has bucked up won
| derfully.
Jack Hendricks has not been able
to get the punch over at st. Louis
and Pittsburgh is proving a disap-
pointment Philadelphia never did
look good.