The New York herald., 1921-04-10
BASEBALL SEASON
OPENS WEDNESDAY
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First rage,
worthy of it's unstinted support. 1t is
coming back with a strong hand at the
helm A square deal is assured
In the general scheme of keeping up
public interest in the major league
races it has been found that the acqui-
sition OF new blood and the shifting of
old players are vigorous factors. In
recognition or this fact. as well as out
OF desire to bolster up weak spots,
managers each winter try to acquire
new faces.
VIII Trade, but Won't Sell.
The off season between the 1920 and
1921 campaigns was not particularly
active one in this respect. First class
players are mighty scarce, and every
club made money In 1920 AS a result
nobody wanted to sell. Many wanted
to trade, but few had men whom they
could release. This condition was re-
Elected in the offer of s2o0000 made by
the Giants for Rogers Hornsby, the sec
ond baseman of the Cardinals. The
st. Louis club replied that IL would
not sell the star hitter of the league for
$4,000. but 1t was willing to talk busi-
ness II John McGraw would trade.
Approximately $4,000 was offered by
the Giants for Heinie Groh, but the
Cincinnati club wanted players and not
money. and there were no players to
give. The Giants, however. picked a
couple of stars out of the minors in
Goldie Rapp and Ed Brown.
Brooklyn made one trade. 1t gave
Marquard for Ruether. Robinson is in
need of a catcher. but McGraw. the
only manager with a catcher to spare.
demands pitcher in return, and Rob-
bic will not give the finger unless he
Is absolutely forced to do so.
Il won the 1920 pennant with strong
pitching staff. and l would be a boob
to break it up just to land a catcher.
and | am not admitting that we need
one" said the Brooklyn manager the
other day
In the American League many clubs
tried to make trades for players already
In the circuit, but only one outfit. New
York, enjoyed appreciable success In that
line. The Yankees traded Mogridge and
Lewis TO the Senators for Roth, out
helder. They gave Thormahlen. Wick,
Ruel and Pratt for Schang, Harper, Nc
| Nally and Hoyt. They traded a raft OF
useless material to the Vernon Club of
the Pacific Coast League for Johnny
Mitchell. the infielder
What the "Dopev shows.
As they stand, with a normal run OF
things assured and injuries barred. how
Will the clubs in the majors finish That's
an interesting question at this time. In
the National League the consensus OF
opinion favors the Giants; nearly every
critic whom we have approached for an
opinion has picked the New Yorks. Pitts
burgh Is rated second, with Brooklyn third
and the Reds fourth and the Cardinals
and Cubs having II out for the next posi-
tion. The Braves are picked to finish
seventh and the Phillies win the cellar
without opposition.
In considering this question it must be
realized that the Giants would have won
the 1920 pennant but for the miserable
start they made. II also must be con-
ceded, even by the most ardent OF Brook
lyn fans. that IL 1t had not been for the
remarkable work of Robbie's pitchers the
Dodgers would have been nowhere The
club does not impress one as a pennant
winning aggregation, and pitchers as
stan will bring results such as those
which favored Brooklyn I'm 1920 only
once In ever 80 long a while.
The Reds seem TO be through Players
Of other clubs in the league hold that the
Moran outfit Is due for a grand bust up
this season. Many OF the Reds are try
ing to be traded of the club. but their
desires are not likely to be met. The
holdouts, no doubt, will report. but the
spirit of the clus Ia gone and we do not
regard IL as a contender.
Pittsburgh. with Maranville at short
stop. must be conceded a good chance
but George Gibson does not appear to
have the pitching staff needed to win N
pernant, and X must not be forgotten
that in the trade which sent Maranville
tc the Pirates and gave Southworth
Nicholson and Barbara TO the Braves
Pittsburgh lost lot OF its hitting power
the biggest factor in its showing of
1920. The Pirates have a few men who
are not exactly or pennant winning
calibre. The Cubs. under Evers. should
improve over their showing OF last sea-
son, but 1t viii take John a couple or
years TO make a contender out Of that
outfit.
Yanks Look Best.
In the American League the Yankees
look best. with the Cleveiands second
and the rest apparently nowhere. st.
Louis may finish third.
The Red Sox and Senator's follow In
our estimation. with the Tigers. White
Sex and Athletics closely punched at the
bottom OF the rating table. Cleveland
las the best team worlS--and that is a
strong factor I'm winning q pennant- II
also has. the confidence born Of its win
ming the flag and the worlds series last
year.
Below the Yanks and the Indians the
American League possesses very little
class. For once Il seems to euffer by
comparison with the National. particu-
larly In so far as pitching is concerned.
The progress, or otherwise, OF the
Tigers viii be watched with great inter-
est. Ty Cobb has taken the place of
Hughey jennings as manager and there
ere varying opinions as TO Ty's fitness
sSr the Job.