The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-05-27


the strength and weakness Of the
With an even break in the luck, the
games or more.
was led to believe by the nowery
reports sent out from the camps OF
the Indians and Tigers that they had
added greatly to the power OF their
clubs. and were all set for the dash
to the top. Well. we met them and
we beat them. and beat them so con-
vincingly that / am sure 1t was no
accident. The Indians thought that
all they would have to do was just
tess a glove out there and wallop US.
No team has any right to think that
II a team OF fence busters like the
ankles.
SEVERAL GOOD REASONS.
Now the fans may be interested in
why / think we will win the pennant
80 easily. There are several reasons,
and believe that all Of them are good
reasons. We have greater strength In
the several positions, ami in this gen
eral rating i am including cur pitchers
who are now out OF action with sore
arms and all that sort of thing. Carl
Mays right now Is almost unbeatable,
lfoyt IL winning his games in fne
style. and the rest Of the boys are
best under every condition. We took
three from Cleveland and three from
Detroit with Bob Shawkey and Bill
Piercy out of the game.
Speaking I'm general, the Indians are
not as strong as they were last year.
The combination around second Is not
uc % the standard Of championship
ball defenSvely. The Tigers are
strong on tn. attack. and have very
fni- defensive power put they lack
pitchers OF standard quality. We
eliminate the Browns and White soE
from the championship class at first
blush. Going to the East. we nnd
little there except the Yankees. Wash
ington is slipping down to a 500 stand,
where it probably will remain. and as
for the Athletics-well, the league
knows the Mackmen.
INDIANS WEAK AT KEYSTONE.
Having made q general statement,
I will try to justify 1t. The Indians,
having the championship of the world
last year, must naturally be regarded
q. favorites for a psnnsnt by the fans.
But critics have agreed that the
Ya,k. will, give them the hardert
fight of any Of the other teamA i
- Ius. a little bit further than the
critics and I.aintain that tho Yankees
vi II only give The Indians q battle
nut VIII =. 'ually b.c; them III the
dash or the Tag.
Cleveland is not as strong as its
record would indicate this season for
the reason that the play at second
base has not measured up. Riggs
Stephenson is making game effort
at the keystone, but it is hard to ex-
pect a college player to step into
big league team and make good
right off the reel. There are dozens
Of little tricks that come with expert
ence and they must be learned before
a player becomes polished. Little Joe
Sewell Is playing good ball for the
Indians, but he is scarcely in the
class with Roger Peckinpaugh-
Conceding the Indians an advantage
in center field, and granting that their
pitchers hold ours even, our inheld is
far stronger and OF greater expert
ence. grant the tribe only a passing
advantage in pitching strength for,
as 1 said before, Bob Shawkey has
not been Of any use to us this year
because of a sore arm. Just when
Bill Piercy was going good he caught
cold in his shoulder and is out Of the
running. When they como back ara
they most assuredly will come back.
we will hand mp one nrst class pitcher
after another.
TIGERS PITCHING POOR.
In the case Of the Tigers. they are
up there because OF their hitting
strength. Just study the games that
the Tigers have played. They have
had more free scoring games than
any other team this season. They
are able to make plenty Of runs, but
they can't stop the opposition from
getting them, and the poor pitching
Ia responsible.
Tho Yankees could use q left-h anded
pitcher very nicely now. Harry Har-
per had tho misfortune to have his
thumb broken In a game IN Detroit
just when he was going along nicely.
l believe that every club should have
two left handed pitchers. Not attempt
ing to question tho judgment Of Miller
HugKins, l think that we might have
kept George Mogridge.. 1 think he Ia
tho best left-hander In the League
He 10 one OF tho smartest, and GER
tainiy the best hslding pitcher in the
game. As we are nov, ve have nc
southpaws.