New Britain herald., 1929-04-15
CRITICS UNABLE TO DOPE
 NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAMS
Many Say Race Won't Be Decided Much Before Closing ~ Day - Circuit is One of Best-Balanced m Recent Years - Figure Four Clubs are Outstanding Con- tenders-Gants and Cubs Receiving Most Support -McGraw Has Powerful Attack.

New York. April IS CI1-The Na- tlona! league starts d fight tomorro" that won't be decided one way or an- other fer SIX months or SO. some critics contend that the LH-t pen uant won't he cljnched definitely much before the closing ot rh" sca- ~on. October t.
 In a league as v'!l-ba'ancvd as fhe National. Nperts forecast the eventual result only ar their own rsk. Most ot rlcm have con'vnt"d themselves with stutiDg that tour cnihs-The New York Giants, Chlca- 70 Cubs. St Louis Cardinals and pittsburgh Pjrares-are the out standing coucyuiers, So closely matched that no ono Q. them oan be selected as savoritr. This quartet is almost unanimously pick yd to take the ar.t four plares. plf- f,renres Of opmou ,r.,p In when an attempt Is made 10 predict in what order they'll srIsh-
 CT tho -four, Inc Glan's and C.hs have received the most preseason support. John MCGraW has a w"Il- rounded team of Giants with good pitching s,ri a powerful attack. Sec ond base may prov" to he the Giants undorng unless Andy Ec"S" or Andy cohen can hold down the sack acceptahly,
 Win Joe Mccarthy ar th" helm and Rogers Hornshr. iea-ga batting champlon at second base, the Cubs are looking for their u"st p'nnant since 14lN, and many observers think they are going 10 got I. Mach depends on whether CharN" Root crack right handvr, ran perform as le did in 1927.
 Billy Southworth and Douie Bush, managers respectively Of the Card- Inals and Pirates. are in somewhat Similar positions. Sowhworth has new infeld confirmation 10 work out and so has Bush.
 - The Cardinals plan 10 play Bot tomlcy. Frisch Gelhvrt and Hanoy in their inhald If thls solves tn" problem Southworth's only worry Will be his aging pitching staff,
 Al Pittsburgh Bush has SheelE Bartcll. Adams and Trayuor for an nfeId and worry. Outside ot that the Pirates look extremely good They have an unprecedented batting punch and as strong pitching staff us there is in the league, " These four, then seemingly should fight it out for The ponnant unless the dope Is all wrong, as il sometimes is.
 Of the remaining four members Jack Hendrick' $ Cincinnati Reds ap- pear much the strongest. Although several Of his rockies have played nassablv well, Hendricks plans 10 start out with veteran team little changed from last year. r the Reds can escape tb" injury Jnx they make it unpleasant for the big rour.'
 Until Glenn Wright can got into the lineup, the Brooklyn Robins may ind themselves hard to keep ahead Of the PhillIes and Boston Braves, With Jess Petty gone WiIDort Rob- insons pitching will not be as strong as usual although it will be good
 Burt Shotton has hopes that his phlllies will show considerable inn provement over their usual form despite the loss Of Tommy Theve- now. injured in an auto accident
 The Boston Braves will have one Of the oldest iuneIds n baseball with Sisler. Mcguire, MaTanville and Dugan Whatever the Braves gam in wisdom them seem destined to lose in agility.