Evening star., 1927-06-01
SCHALK DESERVES CREDIT
FOR SHOWING OF CHISOX
Cubs Regarded More Likely to Stay Up in the Flag
Hunt, However-Criffmen Displaying I'M
prOvement, But Tigers Dsappoint
BY FREDERICK G. LIEB.

waged by the two Chicago
clubs. the Cubs and White
Sox. have added an uneXpect
ed kick to the major league
races. 1 rather expected the Cubs
10 kick up a furry this year and
picked them second, ahead of such
highly regarded clubs as the Giants
and Cardinals However, III admit l
did not think much of the White SoX' $
chances. and Schalk deserves unlimited
credit for the start that he is makinA.
A few years ago Chicago was in
the base ball doldrums. For great
ball town. ii was in rather sorry
Might. The White SoX We're American
League. tailenders in 1924 and the
cubs finished eighth in the National
League during the following year.
But base ball conditions in Cook
County have changed substantially
for the better.
Great pitching by Al Thomas, Ted
Lyons and Ted Blankenship is largely
responsible for the fine showing of the
White SoX, though Faber came
through with an eXtra-inning victory
last week. With warmer weather
this old veteran also may prove of
considerable service.
1t is too bad that Comiskey traded
Sox a few years ago and who now
is doing splendidly with Washington.
The SoX gave up Thurston and Man
gum for Peckinpaugh, but Roger has
had little to do with the clubs ad-
vance.
McCurdy and MetZler Star.
The White Sox haven't hit much.
hut it has been enough. McCurdy,
whom the SoX tried to force on Hug
gins last Summer, has developed into
a hating star and has been placed
in the cleanup position. Metzler, cast
aside by the Athletics after short
trial, has filled in nicely in center
field for the unfortunate Mostil. On
paper, Hunnefield and Ward do not
appear to be world beaters around
second base. yet this pair really has
held up nobly.
1t still is my opinion that the White
Sox cannot stand their present pace.
] gave the White SoX another big boost
in the pennant chances percentage
figures this week, advancing them to
third place with a .375 percentage.
They should do far better than the
seventh position ] picked for them.
but they are not likely to be i'll the
pennant swim in September.
On the other hand. the Cubs may
give the Pirates quite a tussle. Nc
Carthy has fighting. hustling team,
with a fine group of young pitchers.
/ regard the Cubs a better balanced
team than the White SoX, and a club
which is likely to wear better over the
long five-and-a-h -halfmonth grind than
their plucky American League rivals.
Pirates Chances Better.
Considerable revision has been made
this week in the pennant chances
figures. The Pirates, as the result
of their recent sensational winning
streak, have been pushed up TO .575.
Before the season started. I said this
club was 10 per cent stronger than
any other club in the National League.
Quite a few of the brethren failed to
agree with that statement and some
differed quite emphatically. However,
before the season is over that predic-
ton may not be so far out of the way.
The Cardinals remain second, though
they, too, are wabbling. O'Farrell's
inability to catch is bound to injure
the chances of this team. Snyder is
hitting next to nothing, and he can
not hold up pitchers like Bob.
The Pirates started the Giants on
the downgrade when they bowled the
McGraw tribe over in that four-game
series some 10 days back. The Giants
have been reeling from that blow ever
since. Brooklyn maltreated them after
the Pirates series McGraw's catch
ing is daily becoming more of a prob
lem, while Lindstrom's lame back also
is source Of worry. The Giants are