The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-04-10
PR: DIG s
Bis SEAS(|N
FOR LEA1NN
By Babe Ruth

NEW YORK, April 10. The
dark horse club Of the National
League as 4 see it, ism i the
Giants and it ism t the Cubs.
It's the Cincinnati Reds.
when the Reds were IN st. Pet
arsburg recently had good
chance 70 see them perform ana
that evening had q long chat with
Jack Hendricks and my old friend
Tom Swope. the sports writer. Il
was funny sort Of conversation.
Tom would ask me questions ana
Jack would answer them before
had chance
As i see il the Reds are the big
eff club Of the National League.
They're the sort Of club that may
finish clear down or they may be
right up there in the fight. T don T
think they have a chance AT the
pennant but they're not tail-eIad-
ers either Next to the Pirates and
the Cardinals they have the great
est potential strength In the league.
The question Is whether or not they
can bring e out.
Much vim depend on their
pitclling. I'm not getting mixed
~ IA any salary arguments OF
club affairs of that sort but
cant see how they can SO
through the season without
Pete DanOhne. Jack told me
about Rete's case md the att
kmae Sc the club In the matter.
4HsNterlls SS1SanNss nnrNT
Buk from baseball standpoint
they certainly need Pete > lot.
AdolfO Luque looks like he would
have great year. D0lf worked
against us and never saw him
have more stuff or more perfect
confrcl nan ne showed that day.
Enpa Rixev Is more Of problem.
only fair He cot BY for i've nice
innings but just the same he
wasn't the same Rixey who showed
against rs last year and the yssf
pitchSnr IL seems 10 me. win be
the sirst big '.if'' in Jacks playing
The fnfieId looks good. Hughey
Critz - one 0f the best second base
men In the business. now or ever
and naturally he is the pepper-shot
" the infield I always considered
Horace Ford only an average short
sten. but working alongside OF Cr1fz
has improved FOrd's play great
deal Against ms he looked mighty
good.
FIRST base ID problem. With
an respect TO both Jack Hend-
riclks and George Kelly, still
have = huncll that Waffle Pipp
win BE- playing first base reg
palarly before the season Is half
ever. WaIIie isn't q spectacular
performer, but he's dependable.
And his batting punch viii be
mighty valuable to team which
may be . little weak IN the hitting
denartment. Kelly, IL I'm any
judge. hasn't yet recovered from
tire illness which kept him on the
hench most of last year-and unless
ne RECEIVERS soon Hendricks is apt
70 fIrld himself handicapped at first
After all it just comes down to
the old, old story.
ssIf Pete Donohue signs and gets
into shape quickly"
sIf Carl Mays can come back
again this year and Rixey finds
himself again"
II Kelly RECEIVERS his health or
Pfpp has another good season"
s.IR." and those ifs turn out
the way Hendricks hopes then the
Reds have a corkfng chance to
finish In the first division.
III they don't. then they look like
= fifth or sixth place club-strong
enough to make a lot OF trouble
in any given series. but not quite
strong enough TO hold a place in
the race. Last year, admit frankly,
they fooled me. I thought they
were a great team-but they got
away to a bad start and wera
handicapped by illness and injury.
This, year 1t may be different
H,fE"
Downright, 1928 by the Christy
Walsh Syndicate)