The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-05

Never before in the history of base ball have so many problems arisen to complicate the major league season. Even the Brotherhood uprising. the American league invasion. the Federal league assault failed to smash the major league teams, to upset the dope and to make the uncertainty of the season so great as the world war has done.
 We will see 12 practically remodeled ball clubs in action, and the other four, less wounded by loss of men, have been hit in vital spots. Managers have discarded old ideas-some have discarded practically entire ball clubs. Some, for financial reasons, have trimmed down to the essentials, and possibly more sensational, material.
 The season of 1918 promises to be the most interesting in the history of modern baseball. Probably the brand of baseball exhibited will not be as good, from the standpoint of the ex- pert, but there is an even greater chance that it will be better,sfrom the standpoint of the spectator, than it has been in a long time. Salaries have been cut Players, who have been too prosperous to pay attention to their own business have been jared by sal- ary cuts and the prospects of more salary cuts. The golden age of base ball has passed and this is thrift year for certain55 The owners finally have walked to the fact that the public doesn't give a darn for stars who will not hustle and that the fans would rather watch a bunch of fighting, hard working young fellows battling to win than to see the most perfect brand of ball turned out by spiritless and self satisfied stars.
 Besides the situation, as we face 1t in early March there is the strong probability that the government will call upon number of the athletes during the season. This adds an in- centive to all clubs to keep hustling. X club with 10 games the lead may lose two great pitchers in the con- scription, and tumble down to join the second division teams. Several clubs will start the season relying mainly upon men who are in the first call This adds to the uncertainty and to the interest of the major league races. Last year the only hope of any Ma tional league club was that the Giants would be caught in a train wreck The American league was in much the same class, only Chicago and Boston really figured to have a chance.
 We find another condition: In the National league, Cincinnati and St Louis, after long periods of bad ball clubs, seen to haev real chance to get into the pennant races. and the Chicago Cubs. having spent a fortune for players, figure to challenge the Giants right to the championship. In the American league, Boston, after being riddled and almost destroyed by loss of men to the army and navy, has rebuilt the team until it forms for midable opponent to the worlds cham pion White Sox.
 HARD JOB FOR DOPESTER
 All this is pretty tough on the poor dopester It makes his task this spring harder than he ever has known. First, he must figure oa remodeied teams, second, he must calculate as to the chances of certain men who are vital to the interests of teams being called to the colors.
 Let us suppose cases: Cleveland. al ready shot to pieces by the draft and by volunteering, has managed to re- assemble team, grouped around Iris Speaker. which may upset the calcu- lations of Boston and Chicago. Yet there is Wambsganss listed for the first call Without Wambsganss what chance would Cleveland stand?
 There is the Chicago White Sox. The pitching staff has been hit hard and. although the team remains prac- tically intact what if Faber, who is in the first call, be summoned during the height of the season?
 There Is Cincinnati, and the case of the Reds constitutes tragedy The Reds have waited two generations for chance at the pennant. They have a team which, for the first time in many years promises to give them chance to win. Yet the strength of that team depends largely upon two men-Toney