New Britain herald., 1928-01-23

burgh PirateA defending titishsld- |ers. Donie Bush. seeking his secend pannant in e many years at the helm Of the Corsair crew. probably will hnd chief opposition coming from tho St. Louis, Chicago and New York clubs. Cincinnati. on the strength of fine 1927 finish and Boston with Hornsby. also are con- sidered in the running by observers. Brooklyn and Philadelphia, on the basis of their rscords last year and their present paper power" seem slated for second division berths. although both are strengthened.
 4 month ago tho New York Giants were conceded as good chance to win the tag as any of their rivals but the Hernsby trade has upset these calculations. The deal which sent McGraw's field leader to Boston in exchange for Hogan and Welsh. strengthened the Giants behind the bat and in the outdeld but left gaping hole at second base with Andy Cohen. an untried minor leaguer. as the only stcp-gap in sight
 The Pirates completed only. one trade of importance but that one brought "Sparky" Adams. crack sec ond baseman of the Chicago Cubs. to Pittsburgh to solve Bush's intield worries. The loss of Kikt Cuyler. leaves Bush with the same outfeld that won the pennant last year. Pete Scott who came with Adams in the Cuyler deal, now can take Kiki's place Ion the wood" if he fails to land . regular assignment.
 Barely nosed out in the fight for tho nag last summer, the St. Louis Cardinals, led by their new manager. Bill Mckechnie, have high hopes of beating the field to the wire in 1928. Cardinal fans feel that Bob O.Far- rell. untroubled by managerial wor. ries. will return to form behind the bat and that the infield, with Theve. TOW back. again will compare fav- orably with any in the circuit. The pitching stan needs to do no better than 1t did last year. when it out shone all rivals.
 The Cubs, sensations for a time last year. appear to have added strength in one spot only to take it from another With the addition of |Cuyler. Joe McCarthy's hy-chasers should compile many base hits but the loss of Adams has weakened . none too strong infield. Mccarthy is banking on Freddy Mcguire, Toledo star, to i'll the hole.
 Jack Hendricks stands pat on his Cincinnati lineup. which closed the season in 1927 with a fine brand of baseball. If the club gets of the right foot. Hendricks feels that he will be in the thick of the fight all year.
 The fans up Boston way are hop ing for another miracle team." un. der the Braves new manager. Jack slattery. with Hornsby to supply the spark in the offensive and steady the infleld at the same time the Braves figure to be tho dark horse" of the pennant struggle. Strength needs to be added. however. in tho outfield and in the receiving depart menta
 Brooklyn has gathered together some minor league stars and Dave Bancroft, former Braves' manager. to back up tho superlative work of Wuhert Robinson's mound staff but the Robins probably will have 2 tough row to hoe 10 finish higher !, than sixth. '.
 Burt Shottop. who starts the first year of two-year contract as man. ager Of the Philadelphia Nationals. apparently is foretloomed to the sec- ond division and perhaps the cellar position. Numerous recruits will make the trip to the Phils' training quarters but 1t remains to be seen whether they can enable the club to climb out of the depths.