The Washington times., 1929-07-12
CLAIMS AS
DUE FOR
SLUMP
BY Babe Ruth

BY Babe Ruth
CHICAGO, July 12.-I've
got a hunch that the next three
weeks will see q decided
tightening in the American
League race. And, then, II
ever, the Yankees and Browns
will have to make their pen
nant bid.
And here's why | think so.
In the first place it is baseball
history that every club undergoes
slump during the season when for
. time. they let down, and lose a
lot of ball games that they should
have won. The slump with the
Athletics Is overdue and 1t seemed
to me that / saw some signs OF 1t
the last time we met the AS. The
signs weren't much but they were
there. Just little bit of a let
down on the part OF the pitchers,
suggestion of tightness on the part
of the infielders--a falling off on
the part Of the hitters.
In the past seven days the
As have made more errors than
they have had in a similar NUM-
Der of games all season. And IL
you watch the box score you
will see that they have had an
increased number of men left
, on bases, tOO-shOwing that the
old punch isn't quite what II I
was. But don't misunderstood
me. I'm not trying to belittle
the Athletics nor whistle up
fight by talking about Yankee
chances.
The point I'm making is simply
this. To every team. no matter
how good, there comes sometime
during the season let down period.
And the AS are showing signs that
their slump is here now. How
serious 1t may be remains to be
seen. don't know that it will be
long enough to give the other teams
chance.
And even though it's a long one
don't know what the Yankees or
any other club will be strong
enough to take advantage of It.
That still remains to be seen. But
the point is that IL any American
League club is even going to give
the AS a battle they'll have to do
1t within the next three or four
weeks. After that it will be too
late.
Speaking of the Athletics reminds
me of a little bag punching that;
went on down on the bench the
other day. A lot of our fellows
were sitting around, and Bill Terry.
of the Giants, who had an off, dav
was paying us visit. The con
versation turned to the AS, and
Terry expressed the opinion that
perhaps the Giants would meet the
Athletics in the world series. He
was curious as to the sort of club
the AS had.
Listen. Bill" Bob Meusel told
him. They're pretty tough. II
you fellows get into the series
with them there's only one
thing to do. That's dig in at
the plate. say prayer and
start swinging-fOr II Grove and
Walberg are right you won't
even see the ball. You'll have
to hit by guess"
"what about this fellow Sim.
mons?" Bill asked. What's his
weakness?''
"The only weakness he has is
weakness for hitting into the left
field stands" Herb Pennock put in.
"ThatIs a real weakness"
The boys went on discussing AL.
..No kidding, Bill" Pennock told
Terry, "this fellow Simmons is the
most improved hitter ] ever saw.
Last year he had two or three
weaknesses. This season he has
corrected most of them. Now and
then you can fool him with a high
fast one inside, but even that one
gets shellached once in a while"
Waite Hoyt, though, gave Terry
the best dope.
"There's just one way for any
team to whip the AS" Waite
declared. eff you can stop
COchrane. Simmons and FOxx
you'll win. If you can't you're
sunk. Those three guys pack
twO-thirds Of the dynamite for
the whole club, and when they're
hitting the AS win. II you
stop them, then the AS are Just
q ball club
And that's about the way size
lt up. too.
But that's little away from my
subject. What / started out to say
was the AS are due for slump
and think it's coming soon. And
If the American League race is
going ito be anything more than one
leading club and seven trailers it's
up to the others to make their bid
within the next month.
copyright, 1929, by the Christy Walsh
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