New Britain herald., 1925-04-13
SEEM TO
 BE THE BEST BET
Look Like Fifth Time Winners
 in National
(BY BILLY ENANS)

tB1 Bll.l.l FN A1NSJ
 In figuring the chances ot the eight clubs in the National league it is simply impossible to get away from the New York Giants as first choice. eI
 All angles point to the winning Of a fifth consecutive pennant by that club. Last season the Giants won fourth straight flag. setting q ne" major league record.
 Tn figuring the chances or the Giants the tact and personality ot Manager John McGraw stands out He gets results. It seems cIup managed by McGraw must of neces- sity be a pennant contender.
 While McGraw has perhaps man aged greater teams than his pres- ent club, yet man for man com- parison of the Giants of l92o makes it rate the class of the league py comfortable margin.
 McGraw Infcld Has strength
 Tn figuring the strength of the Giants and their ability to win fifth consecutive pennant. the iniield , is the one feature of play that im- presses. Remnants are seldom won by clubs with a weak inner defense. The Giants infleld is the best in the ' National if not the majors.
 The brilliant Frisch, the depend- able Groh, the flashy Jackson and the versatile Kelly make combina- ton hard to beat. Close up IS Lindstrom, the hero of the 1924 world series.
 No doubt McGraw would welcome more battery strength. know that he is hopeful that several of his young pitchers will help him this year Yet it seems that re- gardlcss of pitching, the offensive and defensive strength and fight ing spirit typical of its leader, usually carries McGraw's teams to victory
 I feel safe in vcDturing the opinion that the team that beats New York will win the National league pennant.
 HThe Brooklyn club, runnerup last season, is not an impressive team
 as you give it the once over. yet it has great hidden power.
 Superlatiye pitching, plus an offen- sive punch. made the Dodgers a con- tender last season rather than a r.uoro or aoel,,- dnfaOen IT, dop ing Brooklyn to press New York. it
 must continue to get the fine pitch 5 ing that featured the clubs play last ' year.
 9 Pittsburgh and Chicago are tho : two question marks of the Natona = league. Last winter these two clubs
 put over the biggest deal of the off. . season. On the showing of tho n players in that swap will determine X the placing of the clubs. 7 am inclined 10 the opinion tha ;. Chicago got the better of the deal Q While realizing that Owner Drcy - fuss had his reasons for breaking III 7 his great infeld by including Firs & Baseman Grimm anu Second Base d man Maranville Tn the deal, ] an ', positive these two players will hell ,, Chicago fSr more than any men th f Pirates secured in return. The in jury to Marapvile will, however, b felt during the early part of tn :, chase.
 - Ii looks to mo as if the deal jus
 about made the Chicago club a con tender, providing Maranville return
 okay. and possibly took from tn " Pirates a certain something that wi ,ee keep that team from being danger ., ous as q pennant chaser.
 Reds Uncertain Outfit H. Cincinnati is an uncertainty. Tn , club was picked 10 run one-two-thre l last year and proved a bust. Th :, year it gets q second division ratin ,a from the experts. Manager Her a dricks doesn't think so. He wan ". i, to finish fourth. His great pitchin - staff gives him such chance.
 The St. Louis Cardinals, featurir .o the great Rogers Hornsby, don't loo ;s like pennant possibility to me fro iI any angle. The top of the secor ', division is about all Manager Rickc ts can hope for, and then his drea ad may not come through
 II looks like a battle to the ve ,i+ end between Philadelphia ar mi Boston to escape the ignominy ,r- finishing in last place. The tear ,,, appear so evenly matched for tn ,st position that I refuse to venture - opinion on the outcome.