The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1918-07-04
BY CONDO


Tn turning point Of the baseball
season IL July 4.
Aitho this date does not exactly
divide the season In equal parts. u
is recognized as the tirns when IN"
big league clubs begin their biz
drives for the pcnnant
with one exception IN the history
Of baseball. u has been the rule mat
A club out uf the running July :
would have no chance NJ the pennant.
The exception was the Boston Braves
Of 1914
Get Line To-day
Julv &. then. Is the logical time 10
re, a line on the clubs to form an
idea Of how they viii finish In the
fail
Conditions this year are 40 cofnph'
Gated by men being called into service
that il is rather hard 20 form an opin'
ion on how the clubs viii finish.
The prediction mane In this article
will be based on what the clubs have
done 40 far. and consi'iering the clubs
as they appear at this time.
THE AMERICAS LEAGUE
All conditions considered. the Amer
lean league race this fan should de
velop into one Of the most hotly con
tested In the life OF the league.
Right now there are five clubs
which must be considered in the run.
ming Boston. New York, Cleveland.
Chicago and Washington.
do not look for the White Soy
to repeat this year. The club.
giraffe at Its best In 1911. has
been torn by war conditions until
II presents far different aspect
than the club which won the
championship last fall
Pitchers Weak
The Chicago pitching staff IL
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 20 be In the East. The New
York club and Boston Red Sox arc
dangerous 90 any other clubs aspird.
tons Manage 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 az well without Pipp. who
will be caught IN the next draft. re.
mains TO be- seen
Cleveland Dangerous
The Ped Sox will 90 thru the sea
son with the strongest pitching staff
in the league. but probably will lose
two more players in the draft-Ever.
EFT Scott and Dutch Leonard--who
probably will be called late this
summer
Cleveland. with an unchanged line.
up. will be a dangerous factor for
anything In the league. but II Chap
man f. lost before the end Of the sea.
son. Foil will have a big problem on
bis hands.
Clark Griffith has a great deal Of
faith In his Nationals. and they may
prove a factor In the race.
Right now the best bet In the league
Is Boston. with New York "A close
second.
II II hard 10 imagine Detroit. Phlla.
delphla or 81. Louis out Of the second
division.
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
The Cubs should win. Here Il
ball club with great pitching
staff. q fair aIl-rOund offensive
and defensive organization and
the winning spirit. The New
York club IL not showing the
best Of form. and the loss Of Ben
ton and kauff was great blow.
IL would not be surprising 10
see the Braves crowd the Giants
out Of second place.
Watch Braves
The Braves have started a
drive almost AZ sensational ~
their 1914 effort. when the con.
dition Of the club at the start of
the season Is considered. Watch
them--they will make the Cubs
and Giants both step lively be-
fore the season is over.
The disappointment OF tho league,