The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-29
Griffmen Shouting Great Playing In
 New York Series
By JOHN E. FOSTER
Copyright, 10.


 (COpyright, 1921. by The Age-HcraId.)
 New York, April 2S.-Keen managerial judgment and strong finishing of games | finishes in which the players are more alive with baseball pep, if anything, than they are at the start has boosted Wash ington to first place in the American league before the month of April is over. When the elevator hit the top floor wise men were confounded and kerfiummiXed. To the confusion of most of them the Senators had fought their way to the place which Chicago once held in the junior organization. It has been predict ed if not unanimously, almost nearly so, that Cleveland and New York would monopolize first and second places in the circuit all of the season.
 If they think they've got monopoly they will find a tough customer to deal with. There's a polish and a fight and a baseball sense to the Washington team that will make lazy bones stir to de- feat it, and dullards never will beat it in a series fight. There's an outheld that is an outfield-not bluff alone an infeld that may not be plastered all over the billboard as one of stars but It teams up smoother than any washing ton infield of years.
 W GO1ul4NN
 If the fates have another good year in store for Walter Johnson, and If the Washingtons had three-fourths of another Walter Johnson Cleveland and New York would find that there's a tri- urrviate in the American league this sea son instead of dual monarchy.
 Speaking of Walter Johnson brings to mind the fact that he went out Of the game temporarily last season with an arm which hung heavy for the first tune in his pitching career. He seems to think it will be all right this summer. It has started well. Now and then he un- leashed a flash of speed which burns the air as he was won't to burn It Tn the days when batters said the ball went by them like shadow cloud.
 But here's another who has gone for treatment as Johnson went last season. Alexander of the Cubs has been sent home to see the family doctor about his arm. It was beginning to be thought that something was radically out of the way with it when he went day after day without appearing with the Cubs. IT he is down for any length of time 1t Will be a body blow to Chicago. It comes hard, too, with Evers making the hsh' that he has made with his outfit since the beginning of the present season. Wltll Alexander and Vaughn, if the latter gets started good again. Evers had lot to back on for two games in about every series If Alexander is out of 1t, even for a brief interval, Tyler will have to come to the front for the Cubs or they will have hard travel when they take the road for the first long swing over the circuit.
 CARDS LOSE TWO WAYS
 When the St. Louis Nationals don's lose because the pitchers flub the games away, they lose because the fielders are startled by good pitching. The shock of the novelty upsets their neldlng shh'. Pittsburg has cleaned up St, Louis as 1t cleaned up Cincinnati, and the Pirates are the first team in either major outnt to have their victories numbered In dou- ble figures. They are pushing ahead, eV- cry boiler working, taking advantage or every slip they can, crowding m every victory possible in the spring, thereby following the policy of the oldest and the shrewdest managers, which IS to bite as many mouthfuls out of the cake as possible before July and August set in"
 Brooklyn is pushing along by main strength, showing the Giants to one side just as the champions showed the Bos- tons. It's gall and wormwood to Me Graw to be defeated by Robinson. It's the fighting fielding Of the Brooklyns and the steadiness of the pitchers that are moving the old hulk up nearer the top Kilduff is playing a second pase | for Brooklyn that is incomparapie. HIS defense is as strong as it was Tn the worlds series, when he gave one or tne best fielding exhibitions ever seen Tn worlds series game. The Giants are un- tble to bunch their hits, and thelr pitchers are being found in the pinches.
 TIGER RECRUITS GOOD | Before the season began, Cobb insisted | that he had a fine pitcher in Holilns and another in Sutherland. He demon strated 1t against Cleveland, for It was the puny hitting of the Cleveland cluo against two near-bushers that cost the | champions their place at the top wnich they had won, only to lose again | Kelly. who is the right-hand home run | onponeut of Ruth, had plugged out ms fifth. They are 'even Steven now, puF I in a few days, when the American leagues eastern teams take to the roau' Kelly will have the better of 1t, TOT ne will have the shorter fences of the Polo erounds at which to shoot. Although q rieht-hand batter he hits prodigiously 10 | right field so the short right heid stanu at the Polo grounds helps him as well as Ruth. oYrc
 Scandal trials coming. The man who cheats in baseball is the man without country.
 The first round of championship baseball found the Giants just lack 1 ing the punch. But there's more rounds and Young will be back with | them soon.
 The rules for 1921 have actually been changed, although the fact never has been generally made public. The I game however, is played as it was with the amended rules of 1920. Small boys end amateurs should bear that in mind. The home run rule has been modified and so has the dead ball rule l York, who is being tried by the l Cubs, was once an Athlete, but 1t was not his fault.
 Both St. Louis clubs will be heard l from before the season is completed