Omaha daily bee., 1918-03-27
GIANTS BETTER
ON PAPER THAN
EVEN LAST YEAR
But They Will Have to Fight
Harder to VIM, Pitching
Corps Worries Man.
ager ,McGraW.
By HUGH S. FULLERTON.
In military service, 3.
Subject to first call, 4.

Subject to first call, 4.
Practically unhurt by the war, af
fected less by the financial condition
of base bali and by salary cuts thar
any other club in the league, and will
gfewer spots TO strengthen and more
and better material to strengthen
them than any other team, the Giant,
Hook better even this spring than they
stid last.
II There arc two places at which thu
afunner-up of the worlds champion,
sfnay fail: Pitching and second base
land of these the pitching seems tc
worry McGraw more than any others
vi While McGraw's team really ha:
smore strength than it had last season
III does not promise to have the cinch
victory that it enjoyed. There are
three clubs much strengthened that
have come up to challenge him
These are Cincinnati, Chicago and the
st. Louis Cardinals. They are not as
strong as are the Giants, but they
have one advantage. Each one OF
these teams has strengthened and
built tip along special lines and these
lines are on the beat the Giants
plan.
II is an axiom in base ball that the
pennant winner of one season must
play harder the next year for the sim
gple reason that every club pays spe.
feial attention to beating the cham.
pion. Each of the other seven clubs
Tplans its pitching campaign, saves
its best pitchers and attacks the
strongest club for the simple reason
sthat, il the strong can be overthrown
the weak have fighting chance. II
will be that, plus 10 per cent interest
this season.
ri The Giants really outclass their
league, with the possible exception OF
cincinnati, which is a better club il
il can hold its strength against the
draft. ~
Loss of Herzog.
The loss OF Herzog helps and hurts
the Giants. Undoubtedly the best
move was to trade Herzog after the
insurrection last fall which proved be.
yond doubt that the fiery second base.
man cannot play ball under McGraw
in peace. This is the third time they
have clashedf and each time because
Herzog objects to the McGraw sys,
tenn of playing ball and because Nc.
Graw insists on obedience from all
There was nothing to do but lose
Herzog-but at the same time losing
Herzog took one of the brainest ant
best players from the Giants, reduced
their amount of aggressiveness anC
weakened the team.
The second base problem is goine
TO worry McGraw. He has broaghl
back Larry Doyle, who has slowed ur
very much. His damaged leg ough'
to be stronger and he may serve wei
during part of the season. He ha:
the brains and can hit, and McGraw
has capable youngsters to mderstudy
him. He blundefed in selling Pete
Kilduf and perhaps in letting Jimmy
Smith go TO Boston.
The Giants are aess hurt by wal
demands than almost any club, losinl
tonly two sub-infelders and a recruit
pitcher. The team is not liable tc
receive any great shock in the draf
This summer, although Dayey Robert
son may go. ,.
There is a point: Ii Robertson~car
go, it makes an automatic opening
for Young, one of the most promising
ball players to come into the major.
in years. 1t was freely predicted tha
II Young would win regular job in the
Houtheld even if Robertson remained
and that he might even displace Ben
ely kauff.
Kauff Should Be Better.
The out6eld will remain in ranl
Close to the top of the league, II
speed, defensive and hitting power ir
any event. Benny Kauff, with the en-
klargement OF the Uranium consider
sbly reduced by the late worlds series
Ought to be better ball player thar
Fle has shown in the National
The inheld is good enough to re
soeat. and its driving power ought tc
NsiIETGdSe TdtHtT lldn uHlllnlSH. Cal
Ssee no sign that the weaknesses of tht
eam. as revealed by the White So,
attack, furnish the other Nationa
eague clubs any hope such as they
might have if they possessed tht
strength of the Sox.
There never has been series tina
80 clearly showed the vital spots a
(which championship team may b,
attacked. The White Sox analyzet
She Giant attack and defense almos
Perfectly, after they had sized then
ap. But at the. same time their wei
planned attack revealed how cleverly
McGraw had covered the weaknesse'
.of his club. For instance, the White
Box decided that fast curve pitching
would do best; it was. but while j
Stopped some of the Giants it was
playing into the hands OF others. Some
Teams argue that fast left-handet
ipitching will set down the Giants. /
will. part Of them, but it plays. fol