Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-03

This year the Indians. White Sox
and Yankees are making great
three-cornered struggle out of 1t in
the American League. with tie hrst
two mentioned frequently changing
places for the lead. while a no less
hectic battle is being waged in the
National League. where the Reds and
Dodgers have been seesawing be-
tween first and second positions, with
the Giants challenging and the
Reds mud Indians Now Lead.
Today the standing Of the clubs
discloses the Indians In the van in
the American League, with per-
centage of SIS. the White Sox in
second place. with mark of GIL. and
the Yankees following, with sos. Only
eleven points separate the first three
clubs.
In the National League the Reds
are at the peak with percentage
of 1856: the Dodgers runner-up. with
$50. and the Giants next in line with
.544. a margin here of two games. or
% points. between first and third
place teams.
Any one willing to bet real money
at this stage of a pop-eyed campaign
on who the contenders viii be in the
world series next month is either
careless with his jack or eligible Tor
examination by akenists.
Until a couple of weeks ago the IN
dams were regarded as having an ex-
cellent chance to stave off the rush
of the White Sox, and with long
stretch of games on their home lot.
maintain their lead to the end Then
the traditional hard luck of Cleveland
developed with the loss of Chapman.
and they generally were regarded as
out Of the race. Speakers men stuck
to their task, however, and with the
White Sox in a bad batting slump
again moved to the crest. With the
Gleasonst also scheduled to play all
but six Of their remaining twenty
four games in their own back yard.
they. too. will have a big advantage
over the Yankees. who have only half
dozen more games at the Polo
Grounds, as against seventeen to be
disposed vof. on foreign fields. But.
laying only one game back of the
crest and with Babe Ruth expected
to resume his trade of homerunning
within a few days the Hubmen must
continue to be regarded as dangerous
contepderf.
{ Odds ON the Reds Drop.
Notwithstanding their present high
ratihg the odds on the Reds reneating
in the Heydler circuit have tumbled
in view Of trouble in the ranks which
resulted a few DAYS ago in the cam
ming Of Slim Sallee. and the dis
ciplining Of Allen and Ruether for
failure to- keep in condition That
Moran would have his troubles with
the champions this season was fore
cast last spring when several MEM
hers Of the club openly and persist
entity violated training rules during
the Preseason games with the Ma
fionaJs. Cranial imitation has been
the bane of the Reds all season. The
likelihood that they will be without
the services Of Shortstop Kopf will
hurt their chances. and the fact that
they must play twenty-three Of their
last thirty-one games away from Gin
cinnati. Is another serious handicap.
Up to the time they invaded Pitts
burgh and got knocked for a row of
haystacks the Giants were being
touted as sure-fire victors in the
stretch run. Now their supporters are
hedging bit and again considering
the Dodgers. The experts" are unani-
nous in asserting there is absolutely
nothing to the Brooklyn club except
its pitching staff. They point out that
the Robins are weakest just where
title winners are supposed to be
strongest-behind the bat. at short
and at secondhand assert that
Wheat. Myers and Johnston are the
only real players on the club. They
pooh.pooh the idea Of such a team
winning the championship. but
Manaux. Smith and Mitchell continue
to turn in victories in sufficient num-
Der to keep the Dodgers at or near
the top and they have shown no sign
of cracking. There is nothing unusual
about flags being captured by clubs
which have no right to win" The
championship Braves of 1914 were
such a club. SO were the Phillies in
rs and the Dodgers the following
year.
At any rate it is thrilling race
the bugs are being treated to and any
one astute enough to pick the win
ners should be able to retire and gig
gle when the H. c. L. is mentioned.