Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-09

The Cubs seemingly had little
with which to begin their race ex-
cept q capital pitching staff and two
catchers. Both catchers were de-
pendable, which helped the twirlers
nightly. At first it was q question
whether Grimm, formerly Of Pitts
burgh, would pull through at first
base. Adams on second seemed Ike
the good player he always has been,
but shortstop was al up In the air
and Freigau was lighting the bail
1T third base inOan effort to play
the bag as he should.
The Cubs outfield had nothing Of
particular promise except Wilson
and he was playing his head on to
make the team. OF the youngsters
SCOTT seemed to be the best. Heath
cote had been In the league for some
time but never had got beyond an
outfielder of average skill.
Never Lower Than Fifth.
Manager Mccarthy has taken this
team and carried 1t through the sea I
son thus far never lower than NTH
J. place 81 the week END ana twice has
been as high as second and at least
once actually threatened to assume
the lead.
If the new manager Of the Cubs
does. nothing more than that from
now until the end OF the race he
has made q name for himself In the
National League. With players who
were not given serious considera-
ton he has led Boston, Philadelphia,
New York and Brooklyn at times
and has almost led them all once
or twice.
Before the season opened It gem
orally was figured that the Cubs
would be fortunate to keep out OF
last place. They never have been.
in much danger of dropping back
to last place and today stand only
games from the top. and 10 n
from the bottom. In other words,
they are two weeks away from last
place and within week Of frst
place.
Root Has EnviabIe Record.
OF their pitchers, Root has a most
enviable record against the West
ern teams, for he has won four
games ffonn Cincinnati without losing
once and has won three out OF four
from ST. Louis He has poor success
against the Pirates. losing three, and
winning one Seemingly his old COM
panions from California who now are
with the Pirates know how to direct
the batting operations of their team.
In q way Root has been the main
stay or the Cubs, although Alexander
and Cooper were expected to do great
things under Mccarthy, Both Of these
vets are Of the Cubs, roster now be-
cause they couldn't win for the team
Cooper went to Detroit because no
National League team wanted him.
Alexander was dropped because Me-
Carthy had made up his mind to es-
tablish a new order of things on the
club. He told his players early in the
Spring that they might as well cut
out poker and certain other things.
and he saw to II. that they did. There
IL no one left now of the old regime
except Adams and Grimm, and the
latter has been dropperd from the bat
ting at times to slip Tolson I'M
Cubs WIN Bear Watching.
The Cubs could win the pennant if
they rot q toe hold. 1t isn't likely
that they will. although they have
done their share of cracking the whip
over the Reds. The pitchers are good
enough to help pull the Cubs through
The players are hitting second best in
the league. If they get a big bite
in the next series against the East
and pick up three or four games,
they win bear watching
IConyri aflts 1920 20