The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-04-05
Detroit, Dark Horse, Likely
to CompIiCate Standings
Considerably.
BY Billy Evans


the American League race is a far
more difficult task than the Ma
tional
1t would surprise me if, at various
times during the summer, the stand
ing of the American League showed
some decidedly unusual complica-
tions, due to unexpected strength
from certain quarters.
This despite the fact that every
National League manager with
whom I have talked, considers the
Philadelphia Athletics as the hot
choice in the American League, the
one best bet of the majors.
1t is hard to get big league man.
ager definitely commit himself on
the race in his own league, yet he
will discuss the strength and weak
ness of the rival organization with
out the slightest hesitation.
THE Athletics are in now" was
the way 1 heard John McGraw greet
kid" Gleason. IT don't see how any
team has chance to beat your club
IL 10 lOO GNl OllS CNCAy Cpell
Of play"
Five other National League man.
ayers expressed q similar opinion to
me when l put the query as to
whom they liked in the American
League.
Last season, while the experts were
ridiculing the Yankees as the joke
club of the American League, I made
this prediction in summing up the
strength and the weakness of the
various clubs.
1.-THE Yankees form pretty good
ball club. The team is far from be-
ing as weak as some of the scribes
are painting it. The Yanks will be as
good as they want to be, for the club
is potentially strong. Spirit will de-
termine the standing of the club
more than any other factor"
Decided Matter Early
The Yanks early decided they
wanted to be a very good club, so
they went out and won the pennant.
Babe Ruth, in fine condition, eager
for a big year so as to command a
fancy contract for 1927. came
through. His spirit was the teams
inspiration.
The same holds good for the Yam
KEGS this year. The club can be
just as good as it wants to be. The
spirit shown by Ruth will have
much to do in molding the showing
of the club.
Washington in the American
League is much like New York in
the National, a great club that pre-
sents much uncertainty as to it's
pitching.
Boosting great infield, the best
outfleld in the majors and superior
catching staff, Washington will
prove a whale of a team if 1t gets
the pitching. / don't like it's chances.
on that score any too we'll, all the
more so since the club Is to be han
dicapped by the loss of Walter John
son for perhaps two months.
/ doubt if Cleveland will be as
strong as last year. / cannot see
how any club can lose so brilliant a
performer as iris Speaker and not
suffer. VIII George Burns repeat
his big year, and can George UhIe
again come through with twenty
five or more games?
Detroit strikes me as the club
that is going to be the dark horse
of the American League. 1t is
much better team than it showed
last season. No doubt a lot of the
players will be out to prove that
fact. 1t wouldn't surprise me If De-
troit complicated the standing of the
junior league considerably between
April and October.
Looking Into Future
Dan Howley, in his first year as
manager of the st. Louis Browns, is
looking into the future. l do not
rate the Browns a strong pennant
contender, neither does Dan, but it
is a club that will make trouble.
Howley is now building for the flu
ture.
The loss of Johnny MostiI will be
severely felt by Chicago. Despite
this the Sox, under Ray Schalk,
should present strong front and
make a most respectable showing.
It's a smart ball club and should get
good pitching.
The Boston Red Sox seem to be
the only club that can he passed
over briefly. Bill Carrisan, great
manager that he is, must do much
experimenting before he can figure
on making any great upward strides
on the pennant ladder.
Philadelphia, New York, Cleve-
land and Washington get the call for
the first four; Detroit, Chicago and
st. Louis are strong possibilities,
with Boston trailing.