Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-10
MAY MEET PIRATES AGAIN
FOR WORLD TITLE IN FALL
Macks Picked for Second Place, With Tigers Third
and Yankees Fonrth-Cards and Reds Favored
to Nose Out Ciants-Cubs May Upset Dope.
ny pENMAN THOMPSON.

paign next Tuesday.
Plight here it should be set forth
that il is customary at TINS time OF
.s;e year to present for the approval,
or otherwise, of base BARS huge army
of followers, a forecast OF how the Dig
league races will finish.
n is largely for this reason that
fine chore is being essayed herewith,
for the role OF prophet is thankless
one at best. If the self-constituted
see,, happens to guess correctly tand
guess is the proper world It's
ease of you win, but there's no
prize" and il he proves TO be wrong
as usually is the case, he finds what
comfort he can in the fact that he IS
running true TO form.
1t is so obviously impossible Tor any
person. no matter how well versed IN
base ball to designate in advance
with any degree Of assurance Where
> single team will finish, that the
futility of attempting to place l6 OF
'em must be apparent.
Pastime is SeasonabIe.
IT'S a popular pastime, however, and
reasonable Everybody's doing u, as
thew say in our set. That's justifica-
ton enough in itself for this 1eepie
effort to peer into the future. L. mas
the additional advantage OF giving
the hugs whose selections pan out
better than the alleged experts a
chance to indulge in a bit Of gloaung,
q circumstance affording the above
referred to bugs a lot Of satisfaction
and which doesn't mean thing in the
lives Of the afore-mentioned experts.
Furthermore the chances are about
100 TO | that % weeks hence no one
win remember what you foretold. Il
ANYTHING. and if they do they won't
care. Summed UP the thing will re-
solve itself into condition with an
answer akin to what Of it?' where
upon we will proceed TO elaborate
up0n this wholly unnecessary, but
pleasantly dlverting business OF tread-
ing the stars with as much profundity
as possible under the circumstances.
We are constrained to break down
and confess ait the outset that the
wish is father to the thought in plac-
ing washington at the top OF the
keep in the American League.
Fans Pessinism Natural.
tn view Of the showing made to date
A, Spring exhibitions Of the rising
Young business men on Clark Griffith 8
payroll, degree OF pessimism is IN
dersta ndable, and considering the
large number who have been the OBJ
1ects of clinical interest for dyspepsia,
rheumatism, broken bones, strained
tendons or what-not, including plain
inertia, a standardization berth would
seem not far wide Of the mark. ~
beafish tone also is lent by the fact
that the pitchers who have remained
available have not been doing much
pitching-as that term is distinguished
from mere throwing and that young
Charles Solomon Myer is struggling
fl the throes Of trying to convince
himself as we'll az his employers that
he can field efficiently on the far side
or the diamond
But don't be misled by superficial
indications that the Grifiithian ma
chine resembles a Wheezy model of
early vintage, that there are too many
hands on the steering wheel, or that
Eratuitous advice from the back seat
Is going to prevent the steering Of a
straight course.
Griffs Always Slow Starters.
The Nationals never have been an
impressive outfit in the Spring. They
always have been slow starters and
this year have been particularly I'M
fortunate due to eventuslities which
for time will deprive them of the
services of their pitching ace and reg
ular second-sacker, as well as make
doubtful the adequacy Of defensive
work in the shortstopping sector.
Harris viii be on the job TO boss
the outfit right from the jump, how
ever. and probably viii not have to
miss active participation in more than
q very few games. Johnson will be
ready for effective service again with
IN two or three weeks after the cur
tain rises, and il Myer fails 70 make
the grade at short, now that he mas
been shifted back there, there is avail
able in Reeves fielding phenom VINO
ran fill the bill satisfactorily for
club of the offensive strength Of the
Nationals.
with an outfield unsurpassed IN all
round worth, an snfield requiring only
Advancement. a bokssered catching stan
and a wealth of reserve material the
Fate of the team viii hinge on its
pitching-and spirit.
stan Numerically Strong.
The hurting corps Is numerically
strong. and with The brand of relief
pifching that will be on tap the young
sters should have an even chance OF
winning any time they start until such
finae as they acquire sufficient conf
dence TO go il alone.
AS for the morale OF the aggrega-
fion. the elements which have shown
signs of proving disturbing factors
are susceptible to treatment Those
in charge Of the club are fully cogni-
zant of conditions and the wherefore
az them. and It is safe TO assume that
trivial considerations will not be per-
nitted 10 interfere with the big job
at hand once the gong sounds.
To our way of thinking, the Ath-
letics viii have too many generals with
tendencies toward brittleness hamper
ing the husky privates i'm the ranks
10 do more than land them just shy
OF the pinnacle, while Il is doubtful If
the Yankees aging fingers will enable
them to beat out the Tigers, greatly
strengthened by the acquisition OF Nc
Manus for second base, and a harmony
inducer in the person Of George MORT
Arty at the helm in place Of the nag
sing Ty Cobb
But for the loss OF iris Speaker the
Indians, with probably the best pitch
ing STAFF IN the majors. would rate
higher than fifth. and Dan Howley,
with Sisler in better condition than he
has been for years. may kid his
Browns into nosing ahead of the White
Sex, who will have Ray Schaik hold
ing the reins for the FIRST time, but il
IL doubtful If even Bill Carrigans
strong personality can boost his az,
gregation out Of the cellar.
Pirates Class Of Old League.
Pittsburgh splendidly equipped in
every department. and with no division
of authority in it's direction. appears
80 be the class OF the National League
although the Cardinals may be ex'
pected to make determined bid TO
retan their championship laurelF.
CtneiAaAs4'G admittedly straaR hAAv'