The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-05-02
ANE. RICAN
LOOP NO
St T-lJP
BY Babe Ruth

The next two weeks will
give Us 4 pretty good line on
the pennant fight in the two
big leagues. In the National
League the Eastern clubs will
be playing in the West and in
our league the Western clubs
are making their first trip
East.
And once every club has
net every other club we II
lave i pretty good line on
what to expect.
IN the National League the
strength seems pretty much in the
West with Pittsburgh, Chicago and
81. Louis All very much in the race,
which means that the Giants, con-
sidered by most experts as q real
contender, will have their work cut
out for them en- their swing around
the circuit.
incidentally notice that Mr..
Me(sfaw Is Of the opinion that
the American League ID Eetmp:
that the Yankees are the only
real bali club In the league, and
that the Giants would breeze
through n they were In our
league. I've got 2 LOT of respect
for MIR. McGraW and his opinion,
but when he makes . statement
like that he's certainly covering
lot Of territory.
don't think the Giants or any
otFer National League club would
breeze through the American League.
The Giants certainly haven't breezed
very much against American League.
clubs in their world series games.
As d matter OF fact, / am willing to
grant that there are not ~ many
closely matched clubs in our league.
right now as in the National League.
But when Mr.. McGraw or any one
else talks OF taking the Giants and
breezing through the American
League he's got another guess COM
& ing. He'd find the going there just
~ tough IS 1t IS in the national cir
cult.
The worst break that the big
leagues have had this year has
been the Weather, and 1 think Il
has been q little bit worse in the
East than in the West. I guess
there isn't club in either league
but has two or three men ON the
hospital Iist--and will continue to
lhave. until We get some really
warm weather.
The thing that has surprised me
more than anything else has been
the unexpected number of we'll
pitched games, despite most annoy
ing weather. Beginning with the
st. Louis Browns, who weren't
supposed to have any pitching at
all, and going down the list to the
Cleveland Indians and the Brooklyn
Dodgers. who rate the best pitching
ataffg in the two leagues, the pitch
ing has been of high order.
don't remember a season In
long time where there has been so
many early season shutOuts--and
that despite the fact that the extra
base swatting has been pretty COM
mon, too.
Whether IT is because the pitch
ers are ahead of the hitters. or
whether 1t is that pitching on the
whole has improved, / don't know.
Time alone will tell that. but I'm
inclined to believe that pitching has
improved throughout the two
leagues.
Certainly the old fellows have
been coming through In great
shape. Old Alex, Dazzy Vance, Her
bic Pennock, George Uhle, and the
rest OF the veterans have been
showing real form every time out.
used to marvel at the way these
fellows could go in there and pitch
season after season. but / don't
any more. For I'm convinced now
that pitching is rs per cent ex-
perielce and knowledge and smart.
ness. And these fellows have that,
even II they haven't a curve ball
any more.
Copyright, 1928 by the Christy
Walsh Syndicate)