The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-03-20
BY xpw & FULLERTON.

0Y 1N%A - @SA4A<44]~A~+Ns
The teams Of tho major leagues slow
~ are beginning to show some form and
to I'll out tho blank positions, so that IT
Is possible TO figure vaguely on the
strength Of the clubs
There are AZ yet, according 30 my
books. thhty-tvo major league players
stfn remaining in military service
abroa~that is, players who are import
ant eogs In the teams How many Of
them will be here for the opening game
and that depends upon their immediate
release
The Chicago Cubs and Boston Braves
have been fortunate In securing the re-
leases Of Alexander and Gowdy. both Of
whom are reported en- route If they
manage to secure a place on one Of the
transports and to escape the delay at
ports OF enbarkation, both probably
will be able to be with their teams dur
ing part OF the training season at least
and should Be IN shape within a short
time after the season starts
The reports from the Army Of Occu-
patton are that the players are not man
aging to keep in the fine physical condi-
ton which marked the work prior to tho
armistiee, but even So a ballplayer who
has been with the army or navy will be
able to get into playing condition much
faster than one who has spent the usual
winter.
Estimating from the rather vague and
uncertain linoups now at hand. we are
going to have some new pennant posi-
btlities this season. OF course. doping
ball clubs now Is ridiculous. Last sea-
son was nightmare for the dopesters
heA~ nit - Oh n1-
every day and team work being ruined.
the best team one week was liable to be
the worst the next It will not be that
bad this season. but during the early
season the teams will be regaining play
ers at short intervals. Besides this we
cannot know yet what condition tho
boys returning from the army will bn
In until they have trained. A Whit of
gas may have made a has been out OF a
star or case Of trench rheumatism
may have wrecked a promising athlete
The chief interest Just now Is turned
toward Philadelphia. where that master
builder Of ball clubs. Connie Mack. is
manufacturing the framework Of an.
other dangerous ball club. The Rcd Sox
strong as they are. and tho rcunlted
White Sox, and the walloping Yankees
have a now team to worry about. MOI
Is mat trSnn NlrNeI1nn, "n1Ch Ia Doing
rcmade from old Boston Red Sox ma
| tcrial into more formidable crew thar
| ever The team that is worrying the
| American League is the Athletics. The
| team Is commencing to shape ur Sc
| strong that X Mack can reassemhln his
| war broken pitching staff. he is goinf
! to trouble lot Of clubs. His team. since
| Robby Roth was acquired from Clcvc,
| land. promises to ho ono Of tho greatest
run producing clubs on III" circuit.
Examine tho records Of Roth. Title
Walker and Burns and 500. In that tric
| Mack has the best trio Of run producers
Of any club in the league.
No, no. boys. Philadelphia will not m
| place To rest up pitchers during tbs
coming season.
In the National. Chicago and Nov
| York have hecn figuring that it is h"
tween them. with all Tho others fiEhinG
to get out Of last place. Tho fact is
| that the closer students of the 'nmc nr'
| cycling that Boston Eravr outfit suer
| cieuslv. Tho Braves arc making sam,
| shrcwd moves and. arc framing ur :
| dangerous club. Cincinnati cannn: hC
| counted uron as heinc half as danger, us
| ne II has hron for tho last two seasons
| unless Moran can s"cr:" competent
| shortstop.
McGraw and snmc of the wise w"r
ricrs already nrn p""rinC across Tho
| bridge towards Flathush. They know
| that Col Fyhhnts has an acc ar two unda1
! cover and that F!hbcts owns tho nnS
| dangerous pitching corps out&id" Of th'
| Cubs. The war took exactly ten ni'''h
| ers away from brooklyn ana if IN
| entire crew gets back thn Dodgers wi
have surplus pitching talent 10 trad" IN
real ball players il needs.
| Altogether tho outlook IS for SOM
| SURPRISES before tho rnl comes. Th'
| thing that We. as fans arc Interested Il
| is what kind of teams will take tn
fold at tho start. From what I ";ll
learn Of the plans Of the manag gers. tn