The Washington times., 1925-05-16

Outside Of my personal interests.
the American League seems to
have more chances for "a wide-open,
free-for-all. There are six strong
clubs and the other two are dan
gerous in a pinch. Before going
West. three of the boys were in
to look me over. Bob Meusel, Joe
Dugan and Steve O'Neill.
seen any Western clubs in action.
to have me out there in right
field but they weren't down.
hearted over the poor showing of
the club. As Bob put It, George,
you know the first ten days
don't count" Long Bob always
calls me George.
A different club then the Yankees
should have busted wide open after
such a poor start in it's home terri
tory. But after a ball club has
league for several seasons in sue
cession it takes long time to for
get its strength-even though the
old-time strength isn't there. Or
often times the other clubs have
been popped up with a lot of new
blood. But the mental effect means
q lot and believe me the New York
Yanks, three times champs, aren't
going to concede this years race TO
any mans ball club.
That's the line Of talk got from
Joe Dugan and his two teammates
when they called. They weren't
Dragging. They admit Washington
is harder to beat than last year.
Cnnrfa AFoaIsS aI.ih
looks like it will stay up all season
long. They expect plenty Of trouble
from all the Western clubs. 9nd
figure Eddie Collins has made the
Sox much stronger. When ball
players come out and talk like
that people can't say the Yankees
are kidding themselves by feeling
our pennant chances are as good
as ever.
The boys showed new life as
soon as they hit the road. At st.
Louis they looked like the old
time sIugging Yankees and gave
Iefthanders and righthanderS
pretty rough treatment, including
their old teammate Joe Bush.
From all the dope / get Manager
Huggins is satisfied with PennOck
and ShOcker, although our new
spitbalI specialist lost ten
inning game at Chicago that he
deserved to win.
No use talking, Detroit and New
York are the disappointments so
far. Washington and Philadelphia
have played good ball, but owe
lot to the fact they bowled over
the Yankees in some easy games.
] can't speak for Detroit, but as
j get the "ringside" dope over the
radio the Yankees don't seem as
bad off as lots of folks imagine.
The trouble is this: People expect
too much of a club that has won
three pennants in a row. 1 admit
they shouldn't be in the second
thirty days. But just seeing the
name New York" down there near
the cellar sort of jars the eyes.
But it's an entirely different
picture when you stop and figure
the Yankees are only ten games
out of first place! One Old-time
winning streak would wipe that
out and they've got five more
months to do it in.
I'm tired of eating my breakfast
In a hospital nightgown, but I'm
not worried about the Yanks. Pen
mock and Shocker have been doing
most of the pitching. Paschal and
Combs, most of the batting. And
don't forget Shocker, Paschal and
Combs give the Yankees strength
they never had before. Just wait
until Jones and Hoyt get their
e rms right and Meusel, Pipp, Ward,
Schang and Dugan come to the
assistance Of Paschal and Combs
at bat. Then if the other clubs
can stay out in front, Yankee fol
lowers will have something to
worry about.
All l ask is that I be permitted
to loosen up a little bit by May 20.
The Yankees come back to the
Stadium May 26, and that would
give me six days to work out and
get some playing strength. The
way ] feel today. I'll be in right
field on Tuesday, the twenty-sixth,
the opening day" of the season
to me.