Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-16
QUESTION MARK FOR MATS
ISM THE PITCHING STAFF
Lieb Believes Harrismen Should Be Strong First
Division Contender, But Doubts if They Can
Regain Top With Uncertain Box Corps.

| he has experimental with for several
years, fellows like Pipgras, Beall
| Thomas, Johnson and Chesterfield,
than with the new ma terial.
OF this group. | look for big things
from Pipgras. Higgins has been very
patient with this young man. lie car
, ried him in both 1928 and 1924 and
! farmed him out in 1925 and 1925. II
he ever is to show anything, this
should be the year. 1t is Higgins
intention to work him regularly. and
he is slated to succeed Sam Jones.
Gard, the former Brown, also has
Ruth I'm Great Shape.
Ruth Is in great shape right now.
When he came to the St. Petersburg
training camp he actually wanted to
put on weight He got down to 217.
which he says is too light for him. as
he thinks he is at his best around
223. He is pleased with himself, the
club and the world in general. and
there is no reason why he should not
duplicate his splendid year OF 1926.
The Yanks may be as good as they
were last season, but the opposition
this year should be sitter. They won
with a percentage OF .591, and they
owed their flag to the ease with which
they downed the White Sox, Browns
and Red Sox. Forty.seven of their 81
victories were won from these three
clubs. All three should furnish
sturdier opposition this year.
AS the Tigers are training in San
Antonio l haven't seen them yet.
Nevertheless. I know the club which
Moriarty has taken over and have
wholesome respect for it. In talking
n ~
players l was interested to know that
they regarded the Tigers as highly as
| do. Detroit finished sixth last sea-
son, but they won four more games
than they lost. The gap between first
and sixth place was only a dozen
games. In 1928, when Detroit was sec.
ond, the Yankees had q greater mar
gin over the Tigers.
Tigers Pack a Punch.
There is a terrific punch in that
Tiger outfield with Fothergill. Manush
and Heilmann playing the regular
positions and AL Wingo in reserve.
McManus adds batting strength to the
infield. Gehringer is coming player,
and, next to Sewell, Jackie Tavener Is
the best shortstop in his league. Don't
make the mistake of putting the
Tigers too low. I'll have more to say
about them later on.
Rogers Hornsby's prediction that
the Cardinals. his former hustling ag.
gregation, will do no better than
fourth has kicked up lot of feeling
at the. Cardinal camp, at Avon Park.
That Is one of the amusing things
about picking winners or trying to
line up clubs. If you place a club too
low some of the owners and managers
take 1t personally.
In 1925 a National League club of.
fetal met me, and said a little stiffiy,
II see you don't rate our club very
highly. I've clipped out your stand.
ing. and I'll mail 1t back to you in
the Fall"
He didn't, as his club finished one
position lower than the niche picked
1t In.
On paper strength both the Giants
and Pirates should beat out the Car
dinals. I do not look for the Reds to
be as formidable as they were last
season. also believe the Cardinals
think they are better than they really
are. They won their 1926 champion.
ship with a ridiculousiy low percent.
age, .578. 1t was the lowest percent
age for a champion in major league
history, and only the second National
League champion in 81 years to finish
with percentage lower than 900.
tCopyright 1927