The New York herald., 1922-01-29
SITUATION IN GOTHAM
New Ycrk Clubs Seem to
Have Added Most Strength
Over 1921 Form.
BRAVES A GOOD PROSPECT
Familiarity With New Condi-
tions Will Be a Help to
the Players.
By WILLIAM b. HANNA.

BY WILLIAM b. HANNA.
From a midwinter point of view,
which may go much astray from sum-
mer and autumn realizations. the New
York Giants and the New York YAM
KEGS have added more strength for
next season than any OF the other
major league teams. There seems no
reason whatever why there shouldn't
be perceptibly better grade of base
ball all along the line this year, for no
team is any weaker, regarded as a
whole, than it was, and more than
signed to add strength. and which
probably will. The relative strength
OF the various contenders is another
matter. but whatever it may turn out
TO be, the optimistic view Of better
quality by and large is reasonable and
founded on winter transactions in
players and the natural Improvement
in young players and young teams.
The Giants made first class in
field still stronger when they acquired
Groh. This is the nearest to an i'm
penetrable infield Of any just now ap-
pearing on the horizon. 1t may be
that the outfleld will not be as efii-
cient with George Burns no longer a
member Of it, but there are youth and
speed coming UP to supplant Burns.
and the team is as strong in defense.
provided tho pitching does it's share.
and stronger in batting and base run
! ming than last year.
Giants stronger Than Ever.
| Granted that the pitching does not fall
off, the Giants loom up as 20 per cent
stronger in attack and defense than n
year ago. It is the best balanced club
in the whole arena The pitching staff
may turn out to be all right. but, though
/ no cause for anxiety exists, the outlook
there hardly Is one to be regarded with
complacency. 1t wasn't quite secure and
dependable enough last year to warrant
It's being so this year. 1t hasn't been
strengthened any. and what strengthen
| ing II may develop will have to como
Il
Pat Shea. Virgil Barnes and Bill Ryan
are the lads who will have the say so
| in this question.
But IL the pitching does fuifli hopes
then the Giants have the makings OF one
of those really great ball mines OF his
tory, of which the White Sox OF 1919
were the last. I. does not appear that
| the Boston Braves have added any TIM
| Der on which strength over last year can
f,sff ho Ara rr
BILE OF 90 per cent better baseball than
they put forth year ago; that is, that
| amount of Improvement is entirely pos
sible. This is SO because Of the hustiine
| young players on the team who will be
better than last year. Such young men
as Southworth, Powell. Ford. Boeckei,
O'Neill and Gibson may. without stran-
ing themselves. play better as group
IL not all OF them individually. than in
1921, and Ford, FOR ono, looks like a
conner, who may develop into a real
crackajacl.
Besides, the team is of the hustlirg
| kind and has good spirit. II has a right
good lot OF pitchers, too. and one of tho
best staffs in either league. when it
| comes to even distribution of pitching
skill. The team will profit by its ex.
perience OF last year. Grant and Nit
chell have built up right stancr and
snappy organization there. and the added
year will give IL more steadiness.
Cardinals Improved.
The Cardinals. IL appears. will take
the field with about the same individual
array as in 1921. but better fixed in
morale and confidence. The Cardinals
ought to play better ball through having
found out that they are a better team
than for n greater part OF last season
they thought they we're. Their came in
dividual array, plus the impetus o1
added confidence. viii help them. They
have the elan and are likely to give tho
Giants a better battle Notwithstanding
the latter's added strength But in
that grim. unyielding faculty TO sustain
q drive over the whole route they haven't
shown the tenacity and unbeatable spirit
Of the Giants. They've got TO have thar
to keep alongside.
The Pirates need that same psychis
stimulant: they need TO quaff of is
deeply. II they are game experience
will help them avoid the humiliatlng
break which struck them last year and
allowed the Giants. with the lattcr's
sturdier moral fiber. to carry them
through. I look for more courageous
rivalry fro:n the Pirates. IL none better
physically. They are as strong as iasa
year, and for most of the last race see
the pace.
The Brooklyn club could readily be =
better one this year. not because OF any
thing added to its roster. but because
II Is a club OF good and bad years, bio
peculiar in this respect. Its pitchers and
htters make Il still formidable. and its
veterans are capable of one more kick
TO carry them at faster pace than
shown in the 1921 campaign.
Where the Cubs are going 10 find any
more speed and winning ways than iase
year Is something they must demons
strate. for Il isn't to be seen at this time.
The Phillies may get better playing from
the Improvement OF youngsters. ana
Messrs. Baker aud Wilhelm arc conf
dent Rapp will improve and add strength
TO the Philly team. Then. again. r.
certain moves come to pass the infiold
strength will be increased 20 per cent