The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-03-31
Nv HUGH FULLERTON
American League


cincinnati ...... 2I4I 80 ia
New York ....... @6,E 20 S&?S
I;os,ou ........... 800 81 1924
Brooklyn ........ @i5H 60 1921
CnlcaEv .......... cIS7 so $50
Philadelphia ..... @496 GA> 7'it
There are moro surprises furnished
by the complete dope on the "uthcfu
strengths Of the major teaSu" clubs
than In any dope | have studied Tor
years. The figures Will como as some
thing OF q shock 10 number 81 fans
who have been Roasting that their out
fields outClass all others. especially IN
hitting power-aud TO some managers
who have imagined that they are un-
challenged in Quilted strength.
Detroit, due largely to It's terrific hit
ting power in the Cobb -Nca"h
combination assumes the lead In the
American League. with tho St. Louis
Browns second and with SIX "c III" eight
clubs punched 50 closely that tho mar
gin Of difference frequently is shown
by differences in ono position.
In the National League che Giants,
with only one weak position. fan back
10 fourth place. after having been the
acknowledged leader for several years.
L.
erful outfeld both in attack and IN &c
serve strength. holds III" National
League lead with Pittsburgh second
and the Cincinnati Reds n close third.
these three being so CLOSELY punched
that the figures represent no actual nd-
vantage Tor any OF them. In fact.
should Burns return 70 the attaching
power he displayed for many years with
ha nIS
the top OF the list
Strength In Both Leagues Well
Distributed
Undoubtedly the outhe!d strength or
both American and National is better
Il stributed no wthan 4; has been for
the past seven years. The only big sur
prise in the figures is the relatively low
standing Of the New York Yankees.
who. In spite OF the attacking force OF
Ruth and Meusel. have great Weakness
in defense. and one wabhly position.
The suspension OF Ruth and MeuSeL
for the trts month OF the season also
acts to Gu, down the assaultins force.
although not 70 the extent that WAS
supposed by the fans bowling over inc
punishment: OF tho rebels. New forS
defensive strength ~ scarcely greater
than that OF the Athletics and Red SoN
and It's attacking force IS exactly the
same as tina, OF the lowly Mackmen.
There Is this 70 be said. and that Is
that the Yankees have plenty OF chances
to iuproye-in fact. cannot so back
much no matter what shifts are made.
and with the available young material
there Is big chance for improving tho
team without purchase or trade. Ruths
detection. OF course. cuts the reverse
strength OF the team. and the enforced
use Of sub outfield for a month or
more cuts down.
Yankees Lose Strength
The worS. element tending toward
loss Of strength on the part Of The
Yankees however. is the fact that
American League pitching all down the
line is liable to be much better TINS
season-and il il is the Yankees VIII
suffer most. since their great strength
has been in cleanup hitting. which will
suffer most from improved pitching and
q less lively bail.
In other words. the Yankees weak
ness Will be Shown up and their inabi.-
ity 70 score runs by reSourceful. cum
ming baseball exposed. This Is more es-
pecially true because OF the loss OF
FcckinpauGh. who was the Smartest
PLAYER on the team in that respect.
Washington has made tremendous
gains in Infe!S as well a. outtie!d
strength, and the regular Washington
team looms up as Il strong. consistent
aggregation with the strength well dis
tributed through the seven regular pos
ittons. which OF itself is a great ele-
ment in strength OF team. Cleveland.
which perhaps will be the leader. or
c.oSe TO K in the AnaI figures. ranks
third in outfeld strength in spite OF the
high standing OF Speaker. The loss Is
largely attributable to the necessary
shifts of players to set the full strength
into the field at once. Chicago. supposed
to he shot 10 pieces. reveals unexpected
outReld strength. Hooper ard StrunH.
OF course. are known elements. and
Johuuy Most!l Is coming along nicely.
The sub strength out there IS cair-but
the team cannot stand more than one
cripple at time and hold up 10 is
fgUre strength.
Cards, Pirates and Reds Practically
Evon.
s.. Louis Pittsburgh and CiUcinnatI
are practtcally on n par In the National
with tho Giants following closely be-
hind The Giants do not show as much
strength in the outfcid as was supposed
Lack OF ada p,abiltty ~ ,hN worst raui':
ir't field loses considerable strength,
which is noc reEan"d IN center. aud
Young. while he leading right fielder
Is Handicapped by weak 'cg.
Boston shows the most surpr!sin &
strength. bu'. considering the hitting
power concealed IN that team th!s
sruuld not be such - surprise. Brouk
lvn ranks fairly w"l. up in the figures
a.d Il Whltted is used as AN outGelGc'
iHStead Of 70 bolster Up the weak !nhc'd
tnc gain val! be considerable | had e
rKura Whiti"d as working part Of the
time IN tho uHtneld anyhow. tBlcaSr
Gss suffered loss this SurinS rattle:
man 4 gan. and ~" outite.d - Shaky
a.,1 uncertain m" rHiiS ave rattle;
,stnn,I~ ut -" ."s' a S"'irI-p:o s":'
~ an ".rN'. -, Williams and hiS dead
IN otrc-.n K mo he's, IT tho a'tackutI
>trenEth.
IN tho neS' article vii sum ~
ne catch~rS 81 rhs two leagues ="
member. hn""."r. that n The manager
wake shirS b"fpr" 'he final Alignment
and compilation -: 'u" d"r". NO hol"
the right 10 switch thea" galGes 20 Ii
thu players.
(Copyr!gh,. 1922. n. Sew York
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