The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-03-27
DOPE FAVORS GOTHAM FLAG CHASERS
TO TAKE 2 REMNANTS, SAYS CORBETT
SIugging WreckeTS of Giants
and YankS Give Teams the
EDGE.
Bv LANES j. CORDETT

1t looks very much like a Gotham
year in big league baseball.
The Giants seem to have sizeable
edge in the National league and the
Yanks, with their terrific hitting
strength. have flag winning look.
Ultimate success depends largely
on the flinging staffss If the Giant
squad delivers according to expeeta-
lions, their teammates should be able
to punch out enough runs daily to sew
up the race for John McGraw by Sep
TENDER /.
And the same thing is true concern
ing the Yanks With Ruth, Baker,
Meusel, Pipp and the others leading the
attack, the team can be assured of an
average of three runs per gams-per-
haps four. That's enough to win any
pennant il the Yankee pitchers, no
toriously erratic in the past can
steady themselves.
The Indians, in the American and
the Cubs in the National should fur
nish the most dangerous opposition.
The Cleveland outfit is powerful. 1t
wouldn't have any trouble in repeating
in 1921, despite the great Yankee col
lection, IL it could duplicate it's 1870
work. But can it?
1t seems unlikely that the club viii
smash beyond 300 this, year while
Bagby is winning 80 straight. Cove
leskie is flingng remarkable baseball
and Mails is winning his every start.
And it must be remembered that the
Indians have Sewell, a youngster now,
in place of the great Chapman, who
lided SO remarkably in the first four
months of battling.
BOOST FOR CUBS
The Cubs have great pitching
staff. The deadwood in the infield
and outfield has been cast adrift Some
new faces--and faster players-are in
the 1921 uniforms. If they line up to
spring training camp promise, and the
pitchers don't slip, those Cubs ought 10
cause all flag chasers some worrisome
moments.
Shifting back to the American:
| The Browns look exceptionally good,
| They may be even better than they APP
pear. They are the real dark horses.
1t wouldn't be surprising IL they were
up near the top all the way. For any
team that has Sisler. Shocker, Tobln
and Jacobson in the line-up, plus =
| half-dozen other good veterans and
some promising rockies, is a team TO
be respected even If It does come from
st. Louis.
| The Tigers are an unknown guam
tity. Without Ty Cobb as a manager,
they would be regarded as certain
tail -enders. for there's not much great
ness in the outfit. But Cobb may re-
tuvenate the whole crew and make 'em
play beyond themselves.
The Senators haven't the pennant
look II they land better than fifth,
they'll be doing well.a The shattered
White Sox, the youthful Athletics and
the broken down Red Sox are hopeless
ably fight it out for cellar glory.
DODGERS WEAK Err
Usually the pennant winner one sea-
son Is looked upon as the favorite for
| the next. But that's not so with the
| Dodgers. The team due to hold outs
| is much weaker than in 1920. But even
| If the outfit was intact, 1t wouldn' I
compare with the greatly strengthened
1921 Giants.
The Reds are through as 1921 pen
nant prospects. The team has been
weakened by nonarrival of its stars,
the morale is gone and fourth place
| looks like the best the Reds can ex-
pect. with fifth place the real likeli-
hood.
4 Keep your eye on the Pirates, George
! Gibson welded together fast and
quite powerful outfit last year. It's
stronger now. 1t may be lot stronger
than is suspected. If so, those pirates
may give the Giants the toughest fight
Of them all.
The Cardinals are only fair and dom