New-York tribune., 1918-04-30

warm and bright, but it was too lat
From box Office standpoint. doubt
less, the move was a strategical one.
A richer harvest may be reaped in a
double-header later in the season. And
nobody seemed to care particularly
One can picture nothing less to worry
about than game between the Dodgers
and Braves at this particular time, or
for that matter, clash between the
Athletics and Yankees, as Miller Hug
gins's aggregation has been behaving at
home
Weather permitting to-day, however,
the fans of greater New York will be
given an opportunity o- real endur-
ance test in which these four victims
of major league fate will take part.
Connie Mack and his Athletics will
appear at the Polo Grounds in the first
\ OF series that can now go no longer
than three games. Stallings and his
Braves will present stepping stone to
Dodger hopes at Ebbets Field if there
can be such a thing as stepping stone
to Dodger hopes of 1918.
Connie Mack has a club which is no
cnch for anybody and one that might
have chance for the prize money OF
next October if it were not for a most
lamentable weakness in the pitching
box. Connie in this department is
worse off than Higgins, though not
entitled to the same sympathy. He de-
liberately sold off his talent and no
body can have his pie and eat it, too.
Has Seven Pitchers
Mack has twenty-five players in his
nondescript band, which is stopping at
the Hotel Ansonia. In the lot are seven
how
been put to the test. Vean Gregg, a
southpaw, who used to win most of his
games for Cleveland and who later went
to the Red Sox, appears to have come
back in all his glory after a two years
sojourn in the sticks. Elmer Myers was
with Connie Mack's sorry trailers last
year, He pitched good ball till his
hind him this year that should get him
some runs. Gregg and Myers both are
likely to give the present erratic
Yankees plenty of trouble during their
three days stay.
Connie Mack declared yesterday that
he had hopes of sticking in the fight
for a first division berth. He is not
given to boasting. In Cady, Gardner
and Walker, of last seasons Red Sox,
he believes, and in George Burns, for
mer first baseman of the Tigers. he
has enough seasoned leaven to hold
the recruits steady. Dugan is said to
be q very promising shortstop pros
pect, while Shannon has played a brill
iant game at second SO far. Rube Old
ring, returned after an absence from
the diamond of more than year, is CIV
ing mighty fine Imitation Of an old
timer coming back. Mack is of the
opinion that he may be able to develop
two or three pretty fair pitchers out
" of his minor league garnering before
the season is much older. If he car
do this he is not likely to trail the
field
The days rest was rot unwelcome tc
Higgins, for his pitchers are in such
dilapidated condition that game post.
poned at this time is next thing to a
game saved, even if it doesn't get the
team anywhere in the club standing.
Miller Higgins is trying desperately
to line up couple OF good, seasoned
cannot be mentioned for obvious rea-
sons, but whose presence should boil
ster a crying weakness Of defence
There is a possibility that one of these
pitchers may be the property of the
Yankees before nightfall, if, indeed, he
was not landed at an important con-
ference which dragged away into the
y small hours of this morning. The case
involves securing one obdurate waiver
from National League club
The other desired pitcher belongs to
rival American League club. and will
entail trade. Fortunately, New York
has good trading material available
but as usual when New York attempts
any sore of swap the other fellows
are demanding lumber yard for a
toothpck.
Announcement was made by an
afternoon publication yesterday that
hn
league baseball clubs would play Sun
day games at Harrison, N. J., this sea-
son. 1t was stated that the Yankees
and Red Sox would inaugurate the
Sabbath season there next Sunday.
While this announcement is a bit
premature, there is little doubt that
such plan has been seriously con-
fidered Indeed, such official announce
ment is likely to be made within a
day or two. Organized baseball has
paid heavy indemnity to Harry T.
Sinclair for his Harrison property
which has remained idle since peace
was established with the Federal
League.
OF course, Sunday baseball between
major league clubs at Harrison Oval
might drive the Newark hackers of the
New international League to the
woods. Minor league baseball cannot
compete with the major league brand
LII lne same city. but just now the
game seems to be case of everybody
for himself, and Glass AA organiza-
tion can expect no mercy if it stands
in the way of few suffering major
potentates.
The pace-setting Giants encountered
their first real opposition of the sea-
son at Philadelphia yesterday. BY
beating the Quakers almost as easily
as they had beaten the much weaker
Braves and Dodgers, McGraw's cham
pions established pretty good case
as to why they should be such top
heavy favorites in this seasons bet
ting. One game does not always mean
a series. Yet if the Quakers can fur
nish no more serious opposition there
is little likelihood of any Western
team worrying McGraw great deal.
1t must be remembered that for years.
because of the short fences. Phladel-
phia has been practically invincible at
home. If Moran's team cannot stop
the Giants on its own cigar box 1rs
outlook for ,the. October melon cutting
is glum indeed.