, 1923-04-14

Wullc Ino 1lhIlIb LnG mllt6
Sox at tho Polo grounds.
According to camp followers. both
championship New York clubs are In
excellent condition and loaded with
confidence. but there is q growing
feeling among critics generally that
their path toward the top this season
Is beset with formidable obstacles.
Taking into account the inevitable
uncertainty OF the game. a majority
of experts view the coming American
league race al n neck and neck
struggle between the Yankees and
Ty Cobb's Detroit Tigers. In the
National league they predict a three
cornered affair with the Giants.
Pittsburgh and Cincinnati as the
principals.
An outside chance 10 conceded the
Chicago Cubs in the National league.
while the Chicago White Sox. more
potent than at any time since the
departure of the 1913 worlds series
scandal principals and the Philadei-
phia Athletics, reviving IN Connie
Mack's breast memories OF his IA.
nous team OF a decade ago. loom as
factors In the American league
struggle.
Curiousiy enough, both st. Louis
clubs. which gave the metropolitan
teams their keenest opposition most
Of last season.. do not figure to land
near the top The Cardinals arc be
ing rebuilt around Rogers Hornsby.
while the Browns. badly handicapped
by the indefinite loss OF George Sisler.
would not rate as strong as 1922 even
with their peerless first saeker In
the lineup from the start.
On paper. the Giants appear most
likely of the New York entries to re-
peat. The twirling stafr is the most
vulnerable point. even with h add
ton OF Jack Bentley. expensive Balti-
more southpaw. but Jimmy O'Con'
nell. another high priced recruit. has
the markings OF a star outfelder and
the IS karat infeld. plus McGraw's
indomitable leadership. will cover a
multitude of shortcomings.
Pittsburgf's seasoned veterans will
ooncede little II anything to the
Giants on all aroun strength and in
addition. the Pirates have a more
consistent pitching staff. Cincinnati
may feel the absence OF the veteran
Jake Daubert for a while because OF
illness, but the Reds have a youth
full outfit. fired with Pat Moran's ag'
g-ressiveness. besides a corps of box
men second to none in h league and
further augmented by thu addition of
Rube Benton.
The Chicago Gus WIN be handicap.
ped at tho start OF the season by the
absence OF Captain Charley Hollocher
the veteran shortstop, who has been
III with in luenya
Psychology will figure largely in
the showing of the teniperamental
Yankee outfield- Potentially strong In
every department. the club is some
what Of an uncertain quantity. with
Babe Ruth already showing the strain
of over.andety in his attempt TO re
gain lost slugg.ng laureals. But witt.
six pitching aces. Higgins Is well for
titled in a department that has proved
decisive on more than one occasion.
Against the Yankee twiriing array. Ty
Cobb win match the powerful attack
of the heaviest hitting club in the
league.
Tho progress of the Boston Braves
under the presidency Of Christy Ma
thewson and the showing Of the Phil
lies, under their new manager. Art
Fletcher. will be interesting. Brooklyn
is IN the throes Of reconstruction.
Washington. pfloted by DOME Bush
may be Troublesome; iris Speaker is
rebuilding the Cleveland Indians with
several promising young ntnrs, and
Frank Chance is yet IN the early
stages Of revitalizing the Boston Red
sox