The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-05

The Tigers. who are still opti'
nnistic, point to the fact that in 1914
the Boston Braves were In last
place at this stage Of the game
yet they not only won the National
League pennant, but went out anu
captured q world championship
What the Braves could do the
Tiges can do, opine the whole crew,
and they are going to set out doing
g.
There can be no doubt but that
the remainder Of the campaign
should hold more victories, pro.
portionately, than has the first
stretch. The team still has eighty
eight games to play. Crippled and
weakened, physically and morally,
as a result of the tough luck which
has pursued the Tigers with relent-
less Vigor, they have still just
about held their own against teams
that have been able to present their
full strength in practically every
game.
!. II the badly shaken and bruised
Tigers could manage to keep up
with the parade under the heart
breaking conditions that have be-
set them, IL is not Overburdening
the imagination to assume that
once they get their complete regu-
lar team on the diamond they will
be able to do much better.
In Jones, Haney, Rigney and
Blue the Cobbmen have an excel
lent infield and one of the fastest
in the league. Yet It has not been
possible to have this infield intact
so far this season until now.
Just when Jones was recovering
90 that he could not back in the
game Blue was stricken. While
Rigney was out for more than a
month, Jones was laid low with a
broken foot. No sooner did one
man get back in the game than
aonther was Frustrated.
Now. however, the whole COM
pany seems ready to proceed. From
this time forward the Tigers must
play the game as they appear able
60 play It, on paper at least, or the
early predictions Of the expert pick
ers viii go flooey.
There can be no more excuses or
alibis, unless of course further in.
juries should come to hamper the
team. From now forward the or
ganization that most of the stu
ish one-two will be in operation
The outfit has been sadly handi.
capped by fate, but II Is not too
late to make up the loss.
The team is far from having
been left at the post, and Cobb
and his mates say they will find
q hole to slip through the bunch
and get up nearer the top.
While it is a tough road ahead
It is not hopeless. A sudden squirt
could change the complexion of
the whole situation in a month.
The Tigers say they will take
that squirt. For a few games
last spring the Detroit outfit was
virtually in perfect shape. 1t may
be assumed that the team then
played its normal game. During
that period 1t won a large ma
jority of its games and looked as
II 1t would set merry pace.
Then came disaster and the
whole organization crumbled.
Now the troupe is mended again
and back in its strongest form.
90 that II may be assumed that
Il will start afresh where 1t left
off when the misfortunes began
20 come thick and fast.
The speed the Tigers showed
at the start of the season is all
that IL necessary for the Tigers
TO show again. II they can go
a. fast for the remainder of the
campaign as they did at the start
they will climb rapidly.
There Is another circumstance
that should benefit the CObbmen.
While they have had all the hard
luck, most Of the other teams
have sailed along beautifully and
eerene!y, with scarcely q cloud
I'm their sky.
While Detroit players have been
cut down as II by a plague, other
teams have been lucky in having
few II any injuries. and thus have
been able to present their strong
est fronts against the weakened
Tigers.
Teams that could beat thte De.
troit team with comparative ease,
because they could shoot hits
through the wabbIing infield will
find a different inner defense
from now on. Since the law of
averages would suggest that
into each life a little rain must
fall, It IL highly probable that
these teams which have expert.
Onced only fair weather will get
some clouds sooner or later,
while the Tigers, having stated
the selfish nav Of fate, may
naturally expect to bask in sun.
beams for time. They've had
their tough breaks. now for some