Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-01


And somehow I believe the Pirates
will be better campaigners than their
Western rivals. I have been accused
Of prejudice against both Cincinnati
and St. Louis. There is absolutely
none. I have placed Pittsburgh first
in the pennant chances percentage
all season, because I regarded the
Pirates the class of the league. And
they are that. If they are beaten out.
it will be because of the many games
lost while that internal feud was
boiling and the numerous Pirate dis
abilities, particularly the loss of Glenn
Wright for about a month when his
services We're indispensable.
To a certain extent any critics 5udg-
ment is Influenced by personal obser-
walton. For instance. 1 have seen the
Reds play 10 games this year, two
training games with the Yanks in
the South and National League
games at the Polo Grounds. OF the
10 contests, the Reds dropped 9. On
the other hand, have seen Pittsburgh
play games in New York this year
and lose only ], and that lone defeat
Of the year at the Polo Grounds came
after IS innings Of great base ball.
The Pirates scored runs in the
first half Of the thirteenth on a homer
by Rhyme. only to have the Giants
score 3 in their half on a homer by
Lindstrom.
Cards Popular Favorites.
Naturally the Pirates stand out
stronger in my mind than the Reds.
l recognize that st. Louis is the popu-
lar favorite and that outside of Pitts.
burgh and Cincinnati, the tendency is
to pull for the Cardinals. And that is
quite natural. It IS quite natural for
the American to root for the undcr
dog, and the Cardinals held that role
for many years.
The Cardinals are a fighting ball
club. and apparently are q great team
In the making. If they do not win
this year, they loom as the best bet
for 1927. But st. Louis is interested
now in 1926.
There has been a remarkable i'm
provement In the Cincinnati pitching.
For quite a spell Rixey and Luque
We're pitching on their past reputa-
tons, but in the past fortnight Rixey,
Luque, Mays, Donohue and May have
turned in the best pitching In the ma
Jors. In a three-game series with the
Dodgers last week the Cincinnati pitch
ers yielded only one run.
The Giants have dropped complete
~ out of the picture. They went
through a pathetic Western trip.
winning only two games. Both the
Pirates and Cardinals cleaned them
up, but they managed to get away
with one victory In each, Chicago and
Cincinnati. McGraw is taking apart
his club. and has gone in heavily for
requirements. BY 1927, the old Giant
pennant winners will not be rocog-
niZable.
Cubs Continue Good Work.
The Cubs continue to play mag
nificent ball. and have practically
clinched a place in the first division
That's quite a climb from the cellar
In 1925. This Is another team which
must be figured high in the dope next
year. Brooklyn has fallen apart, and
today the Dodgers are not presenting
as much resistance as the Braves and
Phillies.
In the American League. the Van.
KEGS had some Of their big lead shaved
down, but the club practically is
in The Yanks can do a lot of
losing without being in any real
danger. Victory in two double
headers with the Red Sox late last
week helped Cleveland to pull closer
to the Yanks.
1t Is just as we'll for Higgins that
his Yanks are not hard pressed. as
his pitchers, outside of Pennock and
Shocker, have been none too steady.
Hoyt gets knocked out at every start.
He hasn't been the same since he in
Jured his arm in mid-season. Sam
Jones pitches an occasional good
game, but he lacks his former con-
sistency, and all the youngsters are
In -and-outers. Dutch Ruether. oh
tanned from Washington on waivers.
should win a few games.
This week l again put Cleveland
second In pennant chances percenta ee
The Indians have rallied nicely from
their recent slump, and as they finish
the season at home. they have a GER
tain advantage on the Athletics. They
still may be close enough to the Yanks
to put kick into that six-game series
with New York in Cleveland in mid
September. There is no doubt that
Ohio, with Uhle. Levsen. Shaute.
Smith and Miller Of Cleveland and
Rixey. Donohue. Luque, Mays and
May of the Reds, has the best two
collections of pitchers in the majors.
Mack, the 63.year-old pilot of the
Athletics. continues to look ahead. AL
ready he Is planning a. new outf1eId