Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-03-23
NO Seen
FOR NATIONAL
REMNANT RACE
-Four Teams and Posi-
bly, Five i'm Running
For Flag, Declares
Brian Bell
BY BRIAN BELL

ID nHHAN nGAA
ASSOCIATED Press Sports WRITER
NEW YORK, March 23.-There will
be no odds on favorites In the Ma
tionaI league as the eight clubs start
along the trail leading to a pennant
at the end Of September.
AT least half Of the entries are
conceded chances to make il a race
and as close an observer Of things
baseball as John McGraw has called
the contest 'open" to five bidders.
The defending champions, the
Pittsburgh Pirates. may expect stern
opposition from ST. Louis, Chicago.
Cincinnati and New York. On the
face Of the early spring returns. sub
ject to confirmation in the autumn.
The other three places will be divid-
ed between Brooklyn, Boston and
Philadelphia.
Pirates Better
Many forecasters, who have made
the pilgrimage to Avon Park TO look
over the Cardinals, expect Bill Nc
KechEie's team to resume the fight
with the bold Buccaneers where the
same outfit. under Bob 0fFarrelI,
left off last year.
The Pirates are conceded to be in
better position 20 beat back the op-
position in 1928 but rooters for the
other clubs insist there is more
strength in the a~ssaulting forces.
The Cardinal supporters have been
in particularly good voice in Flori-
da in March.
The addition Of Earl Adams to do
Pitts burgh's second basing and the
resultant switch OF George Grantham
TO first base has plugged the Pitts
burgh weakness in the middle Of the
infield. Burleigh Grimes crafty arm
may also be expected to help the
Pittsburghers and last years pitch
ers are back again. with the excep-
ton Of Vic Aldridge, the Indiana
sc~hoolniaster. who may or may not
help the Giants.
Giant Strength Doubted
The Cards, too. have been strength
cned, not BY the addition OF new
players, but in improved physical
condition Of the stock on the shelves.
Offarrell promises 10 do the catch
ing without the handicap or a balky
thumb. Hafey's eyes have responded
70 treatment and two bad legs. divid-
ed between T~hevenow and Blades.
are believed to be whole again.
Flint Rhem will he able 20 pitch M
NV NkA@RA NWENHiAk AAtAAHUtT
seesus more than ever a living illus
~tration Of the brook which was said
TO have gone on forever. The mass
ing Of Lester Bell, who was far be-
low his 1926 form last season. may
leave the Cardinals a third base
problem.
Skcptics are found who refuse 10
believe that the Giants, who finished
third last season with Hornsby at
second base, can do better with the
hard hitter doing his hitting for an
other club. Frank Hogan TO take care
Of the bulk Of the catching, ANDY
Cohen as Hornsby's successor AZ see
ond and Jim Welsh and Frank O'Doul
added TO the outficld complement
mark the major changes in Nc
Graw's team.
Reds As Dark Horse
The Chicago Cubs have added
strongly TO their offensive power bv
the acquisition Of Hazen Cuvler.
who will not be called on 10 hit sec
ond in the batting order. and in
Gabby Hartnett they have n catcher
who will run one-two in any ballot
ting for the best in the league. The
Cubs worries. If any. center about
the infield. Mcguire, Mcmillan. Eng
lish and Butler may hold the clubs
ultimate fate in the hollow or their
gloves.
Jack Hendricks, Of Gin
c%innati, regards his team a. a dark
horse with red legs. Hendricks pins
his hopes as a contender on improv-
al physical condition Of Long George
Kelly, an appendicitis victim last
year, and added speed in the out
field 70 be contributed by fast
youngsters who have been carefully
brought along and are now announc-
"a ready. He II standing pat on his
pitchers.
Brooklyn and Boston may have a
race all their own. Rogers Hornsbv
viii add a punch to the Braves vi
fensive It has not known in years and
the Boston entry should strengthen
the infield and should mate well with
Hornsby and Farrell. The Redskin
pitching is a doubt equation. A
catching crisis was solved BY the re-
turn Of the hard working TavIor
from New York. Manager Jack Stat
terry has other problems in his inficId
and outfield which may or may not
work themselves out.
Long Fight Looms
The Brooklyn situation is in rom
trast 10 that Of Boston. MANAGE
Robinson has no pitching trouble
but has yet TO find if he will be able
70 u~nscramble a lineup from his new
crop with enough power 10 give the
pitchers some runs tn work on. The
Robins will introduce some new
races TO the Flatbush fans. the rotund
pilot hoping all the while that thev
Will say il with bats.
The Phillies. introducing A new
manager working hard with limited
material. will give some of tho
young fellows a chance and hope for
the best. Bill Kelley, a big first
baseman, has shown n disposition "a
hit the ball and "Pinkyv Whitnev
seems 70 know what it is all about
around third base.
The National league
promises to be long drawn out and
may not be settled until the football
season Is just around the corner.