Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-08

IL games with the tailenderS and
second division teams which
win pennants. The leading contenders
usually fight each other to a stand
still"
As John has won 10 pennants he
should know something about that
Usually his remarks hold good. but
they are not true of the situation in
the American League this Spring. The
Yankees owe their big lead over the
Athletics, their most dangerous con-
tenders, almost entirely to their own
ability to beat the Philadelphians.
Thirteen games have been played
between these two teams, of which
the Yankees have taken nine and
tenth resulted in a tie. The Mackmen
have landed only three. Oddly enough
last year Philadelphia won its years
series the American League
champic : l3 games to 9, and at one
stretch has season the AS won 10 out
of II games from the Hugmen.
The Athletics made rather a sad
fzZle of their Memorial day series with
the Yanks, but have another chance
TO hack down the New York lead late
in the month. when they meet the
Yankees in three successive double
headers at the stadium. If the Ath-
teIlc pitchers uO llOl lillu
by that time the American League
race will be a breeze for the Yankees
after Fourth of July.
Lazzeri Playing Third.
At present Miller Higgins is trying
out an interesting experiment. He has
Tony LaZZeri, last years second base
man, at third base, and Ray Merchant,
the former White SoX utility player,
at second. Dugan is out with bad
ankle. but he wasn't fielding like the
old Joe Dugan before he was hurt.
There is quite a possibility that this
move will be permanent. Lazzeri,
shortstop in the minors, has made
quite a success of his thirdbase play.
The Yanks continue to get splendid
pitching. Myles Thomas recently has
stepped out to help the veteran four,
Pennock. Shocker, Hoyt and Ruether,
while Wiley Moore remains one Of the
finds of the year.
The Athletics have been doing some
what better since the Yankees shot up
Shibe Park, but the AS still have a
lot of lost ground to regain. The
White Sox stick to the coattails of the
Yankees, and refuse to be shaken off.
The American League should give the
SoX vote of thanks for their strong
Spring squirt, as they have prevented
the race from becoming a Yankee run
away.
However, l still cannot see the Sox
as dangerous contenders. The team
ran in the first division for some four
and a half months in both 1926 and
1926. only to fold up in the early Au.
tumn. OF course, in each year the big
slump followed an injury to the teams
former playing manager, Eddie Col
Inns. The SoX still are getting great
pitching. but / do not think men like
McCurdy. Metzler and Clancy can
keep up their present batting pace.
Metzler, however, has all the appear
ance of a find.5 and it looks as though
Mack pulled a bone when he let this
boy get away.
Expects Griffs to Improve.
With johnson again taking his
pitching turn. Washington should
show up better. The Senators still are
a fighting, swapping team.
If all the alleged Cleveland pitching
aces did as well as young Willis Hud-
lin, the Ohio team again would be q
strong contender this season. but both
Uhle and Shaute have given only &C.
casional flashes of their former abil-
ity. Hudlin has won six out of seven
starts.
Detroit continues in the rut and
George Moriarty is trying all sorts
of combinations to give his club more
batting power. He sent Johnny Neun
and Charley Gehringer into the infield
to try to pep it up. and even has taken
Heilmann out of the game against GER
tain pitchers. The club had one re-
cent stretch in which it scored only
two runs in three games. Even the
best pitching can't win with that kind
ofscoring. Boston still is firmly in
trenched in the cellar.
If my American League pennant
picks, the Athletics, are falling down,
my National League selection. the
Pirates continue to fortify their posi-
Kremer, the clubs star pitcher, and
Xxi" Cuyler, the fleet center fielder.
out Of commission the Pirates con-
tinue to step on the gas. The Phillies
finally managed to break Lee
Meadows winning streak and handed
MIN his first defeat. but, on the whole,
the Pirate mound work is picking up.
However, the club has developed such
a spirited attack that It is in the posi-
ton of the old Orioles of McGraw's
playing days. They can win despite
mediocre pitching.
The Cardinals have braced on their
own lot. which predicted they would.
Ever since they moved to Sportsmen's
Park they have been a tough club on
the ST. Louis green. Bob McGraw,
former Dodger, checked in with Ito
0 shut-out last week. showing that
another capable sharpshooter has been
added to st. Louis already strong
pitching staff. Schultz, a hard-hit.
ting young catcher. has been called
to the colors from st. Louis farm in