The Washington times., 1924-01-16

McGraw, too, is in fair shape as
he stands. Outside the pitching
box he has little to fear. And by
judicious bit of spending and a
bit of searching he has been able
to line up 3 likely looking lot OF
pitching rockies for his final once.
over down in Sarasota. He still
needs pitchers-but he has two
more on the way. With these two
additional faces he will be in fair
shape for the fourth successive pen
nant that he hopes to acquire.
Unfortunately for McGraw the
contending National League clubs
are likewise fortifying themselves
during the winter. Over in the
American League this doesn't hap
pen. The owners there apparently
are willing to sit back and concede
Huggins another pennant. Only
Connie Mack at Philadelphia anu
Lee Fohl at Boston show any signs
of life and they are looking for
ward to 1925 or 1925 rather than
1924. Cleveland and Detroit, lead
ing contenders last year, have done
little, and on the face of things
now appear very little, if any,
stronger, than last season.
Not so the National League
clubs. Our good friend Garry
Hermann, over Cincinnati way,
got the penTlant fever last season
and he has heen spending hvishly
this winter. He needed another
pitcher Moran told him. He
promptly went out and got three
all Of them fine looking pros
poets.
He needed some hitting strength,
he was informed. So he picked up
two outfielders and an infielder,
all Of them reputed to be sluggers.
And Garry Is still hunting. He fig.
ures the Reds are due-and 1924
he believes, will be a Cincinnati
year. Certainly the Reds this year
promise to be stronger than last
and last season they gave the
Giants plenty to worry about.
Over in Pittsburgh the Pirates
are likewise going about their
business quietly. Dreyfuss isn't
making much fuss, but he's busy
every minute and with plenty OF
good trading material on hand II
wouldn't be surprising to see him
put over q big deal before the sea-
son opens--a deal that will put the
Pittsburghers right up in the run
ming from the start.
The other club that can't be
counted out is Bill Killifer's hust
ling Cubs. Bill has a lot OF
youngsters who are developing
rapidly. He has great staff Of
pitchers, and a hustling crew ol
fielders. Right now he's bothered
about a shortstop--but he still has
time to tighten up in that position
before the season opens. And
given a real shortstop, the Cubs
will be decidedly in the running.
Another National League club
that promises to better its posi-
tiOn materially this year is the
Braves. OF course, they won't
win the pennant-but they Will
be tough eggs to whip, at that.
The trade with the Giants that
gave the Braves Bancroft and
Stengel and Cunningham was a
big starter. Then they got Tierney
LToIn THuauelpnAd, anu duuCU
necessary punch to their inflelo
They have good staff of pitchers
and three very usable catchers'
Their outfield, too, will be up to
par with most of the clubs.
What they need more than any
thing else right now, Is a first base
man to supplant Stuffy McInnis
who has outlived his days Of great
ness. Stuffy has slowed down un
til he is really unable to cover
the ground he should, though his
hitting is still a real factor to be
reckoned.
However-give Banny first
baseman of high class and the
Braves will show some real base