Evening star., 1919-04-20
PICKS RED SOX TO GAIN FLAG
AND GRIFFS TO FINISH FOURTH
Maxwell, Philadelphia Writer, Who
Visited All Major League Camps,
Saws Cubs Will Win in National.

will be much closer than in the Ma
tional, for there are some clubs I'M
proving every day and they might up
set the dope. Right now the Red SoX
have the call because of their expert
enced players and the pitching. Witt
known if Ruth will add strength to
the outfield. Babe evidently has de-
cided not to pitch this year. He wants
to be in every game and likes to play
in left field. He hasn't been in the
box once this season. With Ruth elm
mated as Il pitcher, the hurting will
be done by Mays. Sam Jones and Bush,
with Du Mont, Dubuc and Pennock
as relief men. 1t looks as if Babe
will have .. to stake his turn on the
mound before the season gets well
under way.
Because Cleveland made a great
showing last year. Fohl's team is seri-
ously considered now. The club is
showing up well in the south. the
pitching is good and perhaps will
spring n surprise. Larry Gardner will
be a big help.
The Yankees have good pitching.
good hitting and good fielding. but
lack speed and quick thinking. They
cannot be figured better than third.
Sees Griffs in First Four.
Now comes the tough part of the
job. The other five clubs are punched
and you can take your pick. Wash
ington has possibilities. and if deal
can be put through for Dave Robert
son Grff should be in the first divi-
sion. Robby will round out his out
field and Janvrin will be a big help at
second base. Shanks can play short
stop if Davis fails to come through.
and johnson. Harper and Shaw are
=, !, ha- .t.1, h L.,
Hovlik also is good. and if that Club
ever gets going there will be plenty of
excitement. Washington hasn't bad
ball club and with Robertson to work
with Milan and Sam Rice there will
be some tall smuggling.
THE White SoX also must be con-
sidered. but there must be an improve
ment in the pitching department.. Out
side of the hurlers Gleasons club
looks as strong as ever Chicago and
Washington must be closely watched
Connie Mack will not be in the
cellar this year. He has a good team
that will win the majority of games
it plays. George Burns at first, Shan
non or Grover at second. Dugan. short;
Thomas or Bates third: Kopp. Walker
and Capt. Robby Roth in the outfield,
and Perry, Kinney, Naylor, johnson.
Geary, Buckley and Watson
as pitchers look good. Perkins and
McAvoy will take care of the catch
ing. The Athletics will be up in the
race. but will have to go some to land
lin the first division.
Detroit still has weak pitching, and
St. Louis is coming along in fine shape
MY guess in the American League
is: Boston. Cleveland. New York.
Washington. Chicago, Athletics, st.
Louis and Detroit"
Cubs Have Great Pitching. Staff!
"The Cubs should win the pennant
because they will be stronger than
last year when Alexander comes
suit. He will round out one of the
best pitching staffs ever seen in the
big leagues, and the thirty or more
games he will win viii place the team
far in the lead. Alex. Tyler, Douglas
and Vaughn should score at least
eighty victories this year. and Hen
dryx and the other twirlerS also will
come in for their share.
Il asked one of the veteran ball
players the other night why the Cubs
looked so good this year
well he replied. ''they have a
great pitching staff. wonderful
catcher in Killefer. a great shorstop
and a high class first baseman. Hol-
locher will make any second baseman
look good, and Deal is no: the worst
third oaseman in the world. Paskert
is one of the best outfielders in the
game and always hits around .37O.
Mann and Flack also will hit we'll
New York still is weak in the
pitching department and some of the
wise birds believe the ancient infield
Will crack in midseason. Zimmerman
Fletcher Doyle and Chase have passed
the thirty-three-year mark an can
not stand the rough going like the
ha cIfrh
good on paper. and if the veterans
s.and us and some pitchers are dis