The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-09-02
Home Stretch Of Nationaly Race
ss~@ 4WM Be Real dest Of Gameness(
Slumps in Play Erase Big
Margins Quickly, Evans
Points Out - WashingtOn's
Sudden Slip Given as Elk.
ample-Close Battle Up TO
Last Is Assured
BY BILLY EVANS

The home stretch Of the National
League race, scheduled for the Yves
during the month Of September, will
be a real test Of the gameness Of the
four cOntenders. As | write these
lines in late August the first four
clubs in the senior organization are
separated by the rather narrow mar
Igin Of three and one.half games,
Chicago, in first place, leads New
York. in fourth place. BY that scant
margin.
That seems hardly enough of d lead
to warrant u prediction that the Cubs
are in.
The st. Louis Cardinals, Of the
four teams, have more games to play
down the home stretch. The Cubs
have approximately seven games less
to play during the remainder of the
season than the Cards have, so what
ever advantage that angle of. the pres
ent standing has, muat rest with the
Cards.
Chicago. with two and one half
game lead over the second place
Cardinals. rules favorite, but It
doesn't take much OF slump to
Recently the Washington club Of
the American League showed how
quickly slump in play can erase
twice Us big margin as the Cubs
now enjoy. ga
During July and early August.
Washington played better bail than
any club in the American League.
II wasn't any mere flash either, be.
cause consider Washington mighty
fine ball club, welt managed.
Just before coming west for the
final invasion Of that sector, Wash
ington was scheduled to play New
York in o f0ur-game series at home.
At that time the Yanks were about
IL games out in front. y
know for fact that Washington
had visions Of winning four straight.
That would have cut the New York
lead to seven games, thrown the
Yankees off their stride and prob
ably paved . way to a pennant dash
for the Nationals.
The air castles fizxled, New York
won three Of the four and left WASH
ington with lead two games better
than at the start of the so-called
The result Of he serie. proved
directly contrary to the pre-battle
dope: Instead Of putting New York
on the skids, it had just shat effect
on Washington.
Leaving for the west in second
place, with something like six
game lead over the highest club,
Washington. after winning the first
game in St. Louis, dropped the next
three. then four in row to the De-
troit Tigers. three to Cleveland and
twp to Chicago. matter Of IL
straight defeats.
II any one would have told me in
July that the three second division
clubs, St. Louis. Cleveland and Chi
cago. could have treated Washington
so roughly. would have insisted on
an investigation as to their sanity.
Yet that is what has happened.
y washington. in second place. en-.
.joyed six-game lead, inside Of two
weeks lost IL straight bali games. to
supposedly inferior teams and
, dropped from q proud second to a
poor fourth.
Those who are counting Chicago
in. because of the margin Of from
three to five games that the club has
held Tor some time, need only glance
at Washington's record to learn 9TH
erwise.
The remainder Of the National
League schedule favors the Pirates.
Pittsburgh's inability to beat Bos-
ton. since the Smith Bancroft battle,
! has played havoc with its chances.
Pittsburgh has only Il more games
with the three other contenders.
while Chicago has III such contests.
: New York and st. Louis both play is
games with the other three leaders.
y New York has much the wd(M al
1t as Tar as playing away from Home
u concerned. being on the road iiost
OF the time. However, that r. no
longer regarded a. : j aerious hsndi-
!, Looks as if the National League
race would surely go down to the
final week Of tie season. perhaps
the final day. before the pennant
!; winner is determined.