Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-04-17
Nv NORMAN z. BROWN

CLEVELAND, Ohio, April IT.
This looks to me like John Nc
Graws year.
There you are. Laugh now or
wait until the end of the season.
I'm never right at home, SO 7 may
be here.
I pick the Giants to nose out a
field that should furnish another
one of the thrlilin races for which
the National league is noted. ! be-
lieve that the Giants not only nave
to carry through, but their chances
are improved by conditions exist
ing in the Pittsburgh and Chicago
clubs, apart from the playing
strength of each.
Hornsby has been a disintegrat-
ing influence with the st. Louis
Cardinals, and the Giants. The
Braves let him go after signing him
up to manage the team for a long
period of years.
The Pirates have been handicap
ped at all times by the interference
of Sam Dreyfuss, which extends
from the actual play OF the team
(by the second guess route) to d.
recting the views Of newspaper men.
The st. Louis Cardinals, under a
new pilot, lack the punch needed
to carry through the Cubs. Giants
and Pirates to the pennant.
Here are the main points for ana
against the various clubs, as I see
them, finishing in this order:
New York
Pittsburgh
Chicago
st. Louis
Cincinnati
Brooklyn
Philadelphia
Boston
The New York Giants
The addition of the veteran Fred
Leach to the outfield eliminates the
possibility of a weakness there
should Eddie Roush fail to carry
on. Roushs condition is better
than it was last season. Bob O'Far-
rel, former Cardinal manager,
whose usefulness behind the plate
last season was cut down by a
sore arm, is in shape. This alone
will have a beneficial effect because
of OFarrell's ability in handling
McGraw'S young pitchers, which
are neither coming or going. They
have ARRIVED. The Giants have
biting power as well.
The Brooklyn Dodgers
A hopeless looking team outside
nf fh0 r>rnc0Nnn IF nnuyxy TJo~nG
The injury to the shoulder OF
Glenn Wright. star shortstop.
makes him an uncertain issue. The
outstanding star of the team right
now, apart from Vance, is Johnny
Frederick, rookie outfielder, who
may prove the batting sensation Of
the Season-and be a world of help
to Robinson. However, Robinson's
ability as a pilot always has added
an unexpected punch to the team
and may this year.
Philadelphia
The injury to Tommy Theve-
now, shortstop acquired from the
Cardinals, ruins the chances of
Burt Shotton, who frankly admit
ted that he depended upon Theve-
llOW W IldkG Lie CGdIIl. LIE
pitching staff still lacks strength
and consistency. Shotton's main
hope is on the young infield he has
s~elected-an infield bolstered by
the addition of Hurst at first base.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Loss of Jim Stroner, young third
base star, through illness, was a
blow to Manager Bush's plans and
the holding out of the Waner
brothers not only handicapped the
general development of the team
but hurt the general morale, which
was none too good last fall. How
ever, the team has a tremendous
punch at bat. If Woz Kremer and
Burleigh Grimes can carry through
another year, the Pirates will be
as dangerous as ever.
The Chicago Cubs
The consensus of opinion among
baseball men who can view the
matter impartially is that Rogers
Hornsby's ability as a slugger and
his individual worth to the team
will be offset, before m~id-season, by
his trouble making propensities.