The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-03-29
B NJ BINO
SEESB(JCS
SECOND
BY Babe Ruth

OLE ELlERODOhU, q
March 90. OF all the ball clubs
I have seen during my stay in
the south, the Boston Braves
appear to be the furthest adj
Tanced, the Cardinals are play
ing the best all-around base
ball, the Yankees appear to
have the most power, and the
Dodgers and Athletics a"e
getting the best pitching.
That about sizes up the situa-
ton.
Naturally I've seen more of the
American League clubs and have
paid most attention to their play.
But i've watched the National
Leaguers too, every chance I got,
and 1t looks to me like the Card
inals would be the pennant winners
in the National League this season.
Understand I'm not underestimate
ing Pittsburgh any. DOME Bush
has 4 powerful club and one that
ought to be in the race right from
the start.
But here's the way / figure it.
The Cardinals carried the fight
right to the last game last
season, when they were handi-
capped by cripples. This season
Tommy Thevenow is back
would be able to play. Bob
O'FarreII worked against us i'm
our game with the Cardinals
and to me he looks like he's i'm
great shape.
Andy High is out to give good
account OF himself at third base
and Flint Rhem appears to be bet
ter right now than he was at any
time last season. I can't see where
the added strength the Pirates may
have by reason of getting Sparky
Adams for second, can overcome
ali that.
So / pick the Cardinals to finish
first with the Pirates second. For
third place I pick the Giants, de-
AOSC
know what McGraw will do about
a second baseman but I've got a.
lot of faith in his ability to come
I'M with a capable man. figure
the Giants stronger behind the bat
and in the outfield than they were
last year. The pitching ought to
be just as good and perhaps better.
The Cubs look like a fourth
uIace outfit to me, though Guy.
Ter will help them q lot. But
it's a tough thing making a PEN
nant contender when you have
kids playing at second and short
stop. That's what Joe Mccarthy
is up against this year.
The second division I pick with
Cincinnati, Boston, Brooklyn and
Philadelphia in that order. A lot
of the boys tell me I'm all wrong
on Brooklyn. Some mighty smart
baseball men are of the opinion that
Uncle Robbie has just enough added
hitting strength this year to put
the Dodgers right up there in the
thick of the fight. Maybe they're
right, but I can't see it. I admit
they have some corking pitching
material, but in my judgment, that
about lets them out. Maybe I'm
wrong. l hope for Robbie's sake
that I am. But right now Brooklyn
looks to me like a seventh place
club.
To my mind the club that may
fool us all in the National League
is the Boston Braves. Hornsby will
help them a lot. but it isn't of
Hornsby that I'm thinking now.
It's the pitchers. In the games
we played against the Braves this
year SIattery showed us as good
pitching as I've seen in a long time.
Genewich, Brandt, Edwards, Smith,
wertz and Greenfield look pretty
good, and if the club can hit they'll
make trouble.
Another good move for the Braves
was putting Eddie Moore in to the
outfield. / never could see Eddie as
an infielder, but out there in left
field he looks great. He can get
'em with the best in the business
and playing alongside Brown and
Richbourg gives the Braves about
as good an infield as you'll find
anywhere.
Copyright, 1928. by the Christy Walsh