The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-03
MAJORS CLOSE
TO THE START
| OF 1922 DRIVE
Foster Sizes Up the
Chances of Vori-
GUS Teams.
BY JOHN B. FOSTER

Copyright, 1922, by The Argus)
New York, April 3-This is the
last full week of training in base
ball. Next week the championships
begin. 1t has been a spring train
ing season devoid of a single sem
sational feature. Ruth and Meusel
have not been reinstated, despite
the optimism of many who were
close to the New York American
league club and wished the owners
well. The owners have taken their
medicine and have more to swaI-
low. 1t will need perhaps three
months to determine the exact sig
nifcance of the suspension of those
players.
Not sensational performer has
been developed. A few young play
bers have received chances to make
good. Detroit's inability to make a
trade that would bring a shortstop
with it, gives Rigney, sturdy
minor Lacquer, his opening. He Is
not an Everett Scott, but he is 4
dependable player. Detroit, by the
way, has experienced abominable
luck by the temporary loss of one
of the pitchers for whom it paid
SO highly during the winter season.
Both of the New York clubs are
forced to enter the race with eX-
periments in the outfeld. One Of
them for a time will have, almost
no outfield. Neither Philadelphia
club seems to be in any way con-
tender for the first division unless
there is change in conditions.
That which may befall other clubs
may have a great deal to do with
the good or bad fortune of the
Philadelphia clubs.
One Chicago club is seemingly
out of it and the other much the
same as it was. The Cleveland club
appears to be no less a contender
than it was, with Bagby improving.
The Pittsburgh club is more Il
problem than it was in 1921. Still
a capital pitching staff always
should give it reSourcefuluess
Brooklyn is about the same old six
pence.
Senators Improve.
Washington shows improvement.
The team indicates more stability
and that will help it. Both st. Louis
clubs are impressive. Either of
them is probable winner when it
! is getting anything like good pitch
ing.
Cincinnati will fuss and sputter
quite a lot but will probably not
enter actively into conteSting the
championship with four other
teams easily named. The Boston
clubs seem sure to keep the city
I interested, although they appear to
/ be no more dark horses than they
were in 1921. If Boston Nationals
could not hold its pace last season
and in that respect it much re
sambled Pittsburgh-why should it
be expected to do better this year
with no addition of appreciate
aggressiyeness? The Boston Amer
leans are a team of cIubbers who
will make life a batch of sour
dough for most pitchers and win
when they are hitting and getting a
good pitched game on their own
account, all on the same day.
st. Louis Better.
Such is the way in which all
look now There isn't logical
fact to suggest that the two New
York champions are certain to re-
peat and there isn't a team of all
of them which appears to be
more sound contender than Cleve-
land if it preserves all its strength.
In the National league, St. Louis Is
superior in points in which it new
er has been superior since the days
OF Bresnahan.