The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-04-15

1918 the experts have made the White Sox and :he Giants favorites to repeat Both aggregations look like the class III Their respective circuits, but nothing IS more uncertain than baseball. II wouldn't be at all surprising to see the Cubs or Reds nose out the New forhers' or for the Red Sox to show the way lo the world champions.
 The ciansmen of McGraw go into the fight this year carrying practlcaiS aS much power as in 1917. But the opposi- t;on they will face in two sections, a' ,east will be far stiffer than any oHerea
 in 1o17 And so the Giants who were 6-to-5 shot in the preseason wagerlhs of 1917 are only quoted at lS 10 Ill oel ting circles now.
 The Cubs this year look better than any since the halcyon days or Iinkerss to -E,vers- to- Chance The addltion ol Grover Alexander and Bill klllifer mas given to them pennant iook. nH ne great right handed hurler turned Tn So victories. or better for the 1915, islo 1 and 1917 Phillies. Given even fair sup mort he ought to repeat with the Cups | of 1918. If that comes to pass ana the associate hurlers do even falr "olh' those Cubs must be regarded as the most dangerous Giant rivals
 | The Reds look up powerfully Matty has welded together a team that LOOKS
 really great. It has great nittlng powei, superb fielding, skill, speed, fighting spirit and youth. The pitching depart I ment tutored by the canny Mathewson
 may be expected to do it's share, ana 1 perhaps little more.
 l The other five clubs in the Tener cir cult do not figure right now as pennane contenders. Drafts, enlistments and re- l tirements have shot most of them to pieces The Dodgers look weak ana even their most optimistic supporters do not predict better than top section or second division for them. The Phillies, without Alexander, look at least 50 per cent weaker than in 1917. The Cardi- nals may land in fourth place, but even such high ranking for them is doubt 1 ful. The Braves appear mediocre. Sec
 end division seems to be their certain tot. George Stalings is building new ma chine and until it is completed it cam 1 not travel at pennant clip. The Pirates
 have been improved and seem sure to l furnish a far stronger argument than
 they have for several years.
 | The White Sox have been extremely fortunate. They haven't lost real star I through draft or enlistment and the l team that Clarence Rowland will pilot l in 1918 will be almost the same that swept I through to the crest of the baseball world in 1917. It's a great ball club-a marvellous one-and any team that heads it to the October wire certainly must l be wonderful.
 The entries for the Americans league
 race show but one club that can be con sidered as a really powerful rival of | Comiskeys juggernaut. And that is the Boston Red Sox. The very fact that Ed l Barrow is at the helm of the Bostonian machine is a menace in itself for every
 rival. Barrow is one of the best verced men identified with the national game; a great leader, a wonderful strategist,
 a baseball genius.
 The many gaps made in the Red Sox ranks by war calls disheartened the Boston rooters at first. But each anu
 every hole has been plugged in a mos: satisfactory way. Leslie Bush promises to fill Ernie Shores shoes, "Stufy' Me
 Innis is far greater player than was Dick Hooltzel, or Del Gainor, and Waffle Schang and Amos Strunk are sure to star in the other vacancies. These players, together with the veteran Red Sox, all directed by the fighting Barrow-well,
 that's grand combination and one that surely sHoulu De Tn the 1lSnt all the I way.
 The Yankees look good. The acduisi-
 ton of Miller Higgins as manager waa
 a master stroke. The several deals put through by the new leader have
 strengthened the team. and it has some new found and much needed pep Of fensively and afield the Yankees have power. If their pitchers come though
 they may spring bulky surprise.
 The indians, which furnished such T
 strong argument in 1917, have been weak
 ener by drafts and enlistments. The 1911
 team would have had chance in the
 battling this season. But the new team
 looks weaker. The Tigers. despite the
 presence of Ty Cobb and Bobby veach
 look fair. and no more. The trouble is the same--weak pitching stan. If two or three youngsters come through, why
 but the chances are that they won't The
 Browns have second division appear-