The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-25
BIG UpSETS IN
MAJOR LEAGUES
Red Sox and Cubs, Champion
ship Teams Of 1918, Not
Playing Up to Form.
WHITE S0X REGAIN FORM
romiskev's Team Giants on5
WHITE SOX REGAIN FORM
Comiskey's Team, Giants and
Dodgers Exceeding
Expectations.
By sHoRTsToP.

By sHoRTsTOP.
while most of the big league clubs
ere running true to form the first month
Of major league play already has re-
vsaled some startling upsets. For one
thing, both the worlds championshin
Ped Sox and the National League cham
pion Cubs arc playing far below the
form predicted for them.
On the other hand the championship
teams Of 1s17-the White Sox worlds
champions OF that year, and the National
League champion Giants--are exceeding
expectations Both OF these clubs seen,
10 be starting where they left of In the
fall of 1917, and at present look far
more dangerous than the two club.
which met in the 1918 worlds series.
Cincinnati and Brooklyn in the Ma
tional Leag especially the former. ara
doing better than their well wishers
hoped for. while Pittsburg. picked by
many as real contender, has dis
played little real strength
In the American League little was ex-
pected OF Detroit, but few baseball men
though. the Tigers would be az much
Of doormat as they have proved to he
The Athletics also have failed to show
the improvement some Of their partisans
predicted for them.
Made Good start.
Following the ease with which the
Red Sox took the spring series from the
Giants and Boston's hollow victory over
the Yanks In the opening game on the
Polo Grounds. II looked as though Bar
rows men would be hard to stop. But
10 date the Red Sox have shown nothing
to cause fear. Defepsively It is the best
CLUB In baseball. but Boston's offence
has been weak. Ruth smashes out a
long hit now and then and ends a game
but on the whole the pitchers have
LEANED his weakness and he is hitting
below 200.
stury McInnis, a consistent 800 hitter
win the Athletics, Is not batting ND
10 MS former standard, and the same
holds good for Amos Struak, who nor
mally ranged between $50 and .s1o.
Ruth, McInnis and Strunk comprise Bos-
tons heavy batting department, and
When they are not hitting the club needs
superior pitching in order to win. Witt
mas rounded out a great fielding infield.
eut mas added little to Boston's offensive
strength.
Barrow's pitchers also are not as strong
on the field as on paper. Ruth and
Nays are winning. willis Ray Caldwell
also has pitched a few good games,
Joe Bush has been Off form all spring.
and Jones. Pennock and Dumont are
DONG nothing extraordinary.
be1ore the season started 1t was real
heo that the strength of the Cubs rested
on the most remarkable force Of pitchers
assembled by any club in years. q
Splendid catcher and a great snortstop.
The remainder of the club was of ordi-
nary material. But a pitching stan
composed OF Alexander. Vaughn. Tyler,
Hendrix and Douglas was considered
strong enough to win any championship,
especially in the National League. where
the opposition in recent years has not
been formidable.
Cub Pitchers Dencient.
However, these crack pitchers have
only aided the Cubs in win ning half their
games Alexander does mot seem as
strong as before he wslt to war, as
the Cubs gave him a two run lead In
ech New York and Brooklyn game
which he FILTERED away.
But, on the whole, the Cub trouble
is weak hitting. Even pitchers like
Alexander, Vaughn aEI Tyler need runs
with which to win. Several veterans
Nerkle, Psskert and Mann-performed
unusually well last taason and are I'M
likely to repeat this year. Merkle APP
parently has slowed considerably, and
Psskert, who will be 3s next August.
Is near the end Of his big league rope.
Mann last season was batting far above
his normal gait and was due to slump.
Nevertheless Chicago will remain dan
fsIous. The shakeup In the Cub lineup
already has brought forth better results,
and Alexander is bound to grow more
effective when warm weather arrives.
Kid Gleason deserves much credit for
tho way in which he has put the White
sox In the running. Many able base
Dali men believed that the White Sox
would have TO fight TO get into the sec
ond division this year. They pointed
out out that the return of the shipyarders.
Jackson, Williams and others, would
ering dIssension, but Gleason will have
no dissension in his ball club II he has
10 beat 1t out with bat.
Another error OF the critics was In
nMng the veteran Cicotte too lightly.
EDDIE really seemed TO be slipping per-
oeiuoly last year, as he won only twelve
games and lost nineteen, losing his first
eight games pitched. However, Cicotte
winning as regularly this spring as he
lost year ago.
Giant Pitchers IN Form.
Livery one realized the Giants had
strong ball club aoutside of pitching. but
me tWirlers behaved so badly in the
spring exhibition games. even with
Warrington when the Giants were win
ing that many shook their heads.
however after taking some hard knocks
N me hrst week OF the season the Giant
s'ah suddenly recovered. and even with
0uy The aid Of Perritt and roney.
,,.i barnes. Benton, Causey Dubuc and
Hters have kept the club at the top.
me veterans on the Giant infield, espe-
c@.!y Doyle and Zimmerman. also are
P.ylhg much better than was expected.
Nothins was expected OF the Cincin-
nat team outside OF Redville. as its
ptcn'ng seemed hopeless. but the great
norh ny Eller and the rejuvenation OF
.Ay Fisher under Pat Moran have made
he Reds quite formidable. and they
'"Tu!d be dangerous all season.
~ was realized that Brooklyn had
,K pitchers and also a very good in
"V'a' Out after the Dodgers were cuffed
:" over Dixie by the Yankees only the
nSt optimistic Brooklynite expected
,uen o. them in the league race. But
Me dodgers have played good baseball
~, r since the championship season
s' rn.a and won their place near the top