The New York herald., 1922-01-29
OUTLOOK PROMISES
BETTER BASEBALL
Continued from First Page.

experiment, and on how the experiment
works out the success OF the club this
year is largely dependent. Pinelii and
Caveney are newcomers to the nfield (;
Bohne joined the club as late as last
year, and Jake Daubert is the. only
veteran. A young crowd like that may
lack stability. 1t may fall down and,
on the other hand. it may hit a fast
pace. George Burns will strengthen the
outfield and the Reds have young bat
terry men who are due to be better than
last year. IL the infield holds UP the
Reds will be stronger and better club
than last year.
Yankees Big Box STAFF.
The pitching staff is the very heart Of
defense. and the Yankee staff, with the
addition OF Jones and Bush TO Mays and
Hoyt, and possibly Shawkey (though the
staff Is formidably strong without count
ing on Shawkey's coming back. is
doubly strong. The team. therefore, is
stronger than last year, for with Ruth
and Meusel back in the good graces OF
Big Boss Lands 1t isn't any weaker
anywhere than year ago.
The outfield will be better, because
Miller will be in it all year: last year he
wasn't. The infield will be as strong
in fielding. not quite as strong in bat
ting. AL De Vormer is improving right
along as catcher No American
League team has added as much appar-
cnt strength. The Yankees are almost
sure to play better ball. They might
90 that without finishing as high UP and
by the simple process of some other club
making still more Improvement.
The point the writer is trying to make
Is that the quality OF big league baseball
is likely to be better than year ago,
not that this or that club is going to
do bigger things relatively. In Cleve-
land they feel sure the acquisition Of
McInnis will make the club stronger.
The writer. for one, is not SO sure Of
that, but whether or 10, better playing
by the Indians wouldn't necessarily win
another pennant for them The Yankees
have strengthened as much as they have
probably more. rate the Yankees 20
per cent. stronger than in 1921, and the
Cievelands must improve If that is so
and brace up 80 per cent. to beat them
out.
The Browns Have Possibilities.
One more good pitcher, such as they
nope Danforth will turn out to be, means
considerably more opposition from the
Improvement by this team is more likely
than not 1t Is a team of seemingly
Great potential possibilities, but with a
tendency to fall short. 1t is lacking in
the finality OF the Yankees and, In
dfans, or has yet to prove possession Of
1t. 1t was behind both of these last
year IN finesse and In digging up an
extra ounce OF effort to complete the
Job. Mechanically, the Browns haven't
yet reached the limit of their capa-
bilities.
Wherein the Boston Red sox have
done anything to expect better baseball
from them than last year Is not discern
ible at this time. They may answer the
question in the affirmative on the field
and IL they do their performance Will
not accord with their winter forecast
Yet, believe both Duffy and Frazee
really are hopeful and think they will
nave better club than last year. Col
lins and Piercy will have to make sur
prising Improvement rs pitchers to
bring that about, for they've never done
anything to make II probable that the
pitching staff will be as strong with
them as 1t was with Bush and Jones.
who come to the Yankees.
Unless Ty Cobb can rig up a better
infield than he's been doing business
with the Tigers won't enter the race
any stronger than year ago, with this
exception: The chances are he will have
better pitching. He has a left handler.
Cole. who Is very promising, and likely
to Improve over 1921. There is every
reason to expect Kid Gleason's White
Sox to play better. The young MEM
bers of the team, Johnson, Falk. Multi
gan, Mcclellan, Sheely, are in line for
natural Improvement. and the Chicago
crowd has lot of fighting spirit.
The Washington club has strength
ened. 1t is a first good all around
team except in the box. The pitching
ought to be at least as effective as last
year, and the presence of Peclsinpaugh
will have a marked benefit on the field
ing defense. The Athletics cannot do any
worse than finish last, their end of the
season abode last year. Even IL they
do that again they promise to be a better
organization. They have a number of
youngsters In the box and elsewhere in
line for natural Improvement
Summing up. the indications arc that
majority OF the big league clubs have
1t In them to grade UP higher than last
year. They will be more accustomed to
the conditions Of new ball and another
disturbing factor. changes In pitching
requirements. and, therefore, In a posi-
tion to settle down to steadier and more
consistent playing.
Midwinter Football Drill