Evening star., 1926-04-07

The first group includes Washing
ton. Philadelphia and New York.
The second group includes Detroit.
Chicago and st. Louis.
That leaves Cleveland and Boston
10 make up third group. But Cleve-
land is NOT so far behind that it can
be counted out completely, although
the team is not as ready as it might
he. The Boston Red SoX are plug.
ging TO do the best they can.
Griffs Top First Group.
Washington. having been on top
last season. is entitled to lead the
first group this season. But that
doesn't mean Washington is going to
win the championship again. The
Senators must play better ball than
they did last season if they are to
win out.
The question of how much better
Ia Sc ball Washington must play de-
pends. of course. upon the compara
tive speed at which its rivals travel
this season
The New York Yankees are easily
the most improved club in the league.
That doesn't mean the Yankees are
going TO WIN the pennant. 1t means
exactly what it says: that they are
the most improved club in the league.
A team that finished seventh last
season and is considered this year as
a pennant contender must have i'm
proved lot. The Yankees principal
Improvement has been at the bat.
As they stand today. less than a
week before the season opens. they
look as powerful with the ash as any
club in the league.
AS Next Most Improved.
The Athletics are the second most
improved club in the league. Re-
member, all this is based on their con-
dition at present. Injuries or other
eventualities may upset the dope"
later.
The Athletics chief improvement is
in their team work. But they also
are better at bat, they are using more
celerity and judgment in base running
and they are better in pitching. That
should be enough to help a team go
from second place to first place If the
team will only persevere on hot days.
The worst trouble with the Athletics
is their proneness to worry. Kid Glea-
son is trying TO cure them of the
habit
As TO the second group. the principal
question is how much these clubs can
do to spoil the peace Of mind of three
teams in the first. group. It's hard
10 say 1eHnlLSlN, put II IL tei tiiii thdt
Detroit, Chicago and St. Louis all
have strength enough to upset the
race If the preseason leaders falter
under the midsummer sun.
Detroit is like the Yankees in the
ferocity of it's batting attack.
Chicag go's greatest threat to It's
rivals lies in its pitching staff.
St. Louis has fine elements, both of
attack and of defense-but, oh, how
it needs inspiration!
Tigers Have Slight Edge.
The difference between Detroit, Chi
cago and st. Louis may be so little
at the end of the season that it will
take microscope to find it. AS
nearly as figures can tell the story
Detroit may he game and a half
better on the season than Chicago
and Chicago may he three and half
games better than st. Louis.
The winner. then. according to all
advance indications. should be found
among the Washington, Philadelphia
and New York clubs
If the Washington team can forget
its memories. wipe off the slate and
play A little better base ball from
the start, they can win.
But if they falter the smoothly
operating base ball machine of Connie
Mack and the fierce slugging tribe of
Miller Higgins will be ready to grind
them into the earth.