Evening star., 1929-05-16


- way home with record of five
wins in twelve engagements
i since leaving Washington last
month, the Nationals are much
more chipper than they were at the be-
ginning of their tour. In fact, after
looking over all their rivals in the cir
cult the Nationals opine they are going
to be very much in the American League
race this year.
They will go into the four-game series
with the Athletics starting tomorrow
afternoon in Washington with spirit
aplenty, quite ready to carry the fight
to one OF the four clubs they figure
their toughest foes in the struggle for
the pennant. Their poor start is not
worrying them any more. They are
quite optimistic these days and full OF
fight.
There's reason for the Washington
clubs optimism, too. It's a good ball
club, much better than its present rec
ord might indicate and the other clubs
in the league are not likely to run over
it roughshod. There is no club in the
circuit that stands out at present From
whit the various outfits have shown in
q base ball way to date, this American
League scrap is apt to be merry one
among the Nationals. Yankees. Ath-
letics, Tigers and Browns, with the In
dianS. White Sox and Red Sox occa-
sionally horning in for punch at their
stronger rivals.
In the East the Nationals evidently
are going to get their toughest tus-
sling Both the Yankees and the Ath-
letics are powerful extensively, yet this
power in attack does not make them
great enough to keep the flag fight be-
themselves handicapped by a lack Of
effective pitching. And the AS ar,
not so strong defensively. Connie
Mack's club is so prone to make mis-
plays at critical moments that much
of its power at bat is wasted.
In the West, the Tigers look much
better than any other club of that
sector. Detroit has great strength at
bat, and should pound its way around
the base paths often. But the Tigers
are not 50 good on the pitching slab
and none too good on defense. Neither
Heinie Soluble at short nor Dale Alex
ander at first base was impressive afield
during the Nationals three-game series
in Detroit. But Alexander is savage
swinger, and probably will make enough
long hits to compensate for his slug
gish play around the initial sack.
The Tigers seem to have picked up
good outfielder in Roy johnson. He
hits we'll and covers a deal of territory
in the left garden. But outside of john
son. Charley Gehringer and Harry Rice
there is little speed in the Tigers.
They'll need their hard hitting to get
runs. 1t is not a club that will annoy
the oppesition's catchers.
Back of the Tigers the Browns de-
serve to be ranked. 1t is fair hitting
combination Dan Howley has, and he
has good pitching, too. Sam Gray, Al
Crowder and Jack Ogden are fine lot
of hight-hand hurlers, and Walter
Stewart is no slouch of left-hander.
The Browns are fine defensively, and
are fast on the bases. It's club with
plenty of fight, too One that never
knows when it is licked. Howley's bunch
will make deal of trouble for all foes.
There's little good to be said of the
1nGians and White Sbx. At Cleveland
Billy Evans has not been able to coll
lect much material of class for Roger
Peckiupaugh. Excepting Averill in
center Gardner at short stop and Falk
in right, the Tribe is about the same
good hitter and he is a fine hyhawk.
Gardner was good enough to beat Jack
Tavener in the battle for the short
field job, but he has not set the world
aflre by any means. Falk does not
seem to be playing any more spiritedly
with the Tribe than he did with the
White Sox. The Indians are not par
ticularly strong at bat and are rather
weak around the middle base on de-
tense. Lind is not playing the fine
second base he did last season. OF the
pitchers at Peck's command only Hud-
lin and Miller are consistently good
The White Sox will get nowhere
until there is discipline in the club.
Now the players do about as they please
and apparently care little about the
ball game. It is rumored Lena Black
burne is not being given a free hand
in running the Sox and the clubs looks
as though it has no responsible head.
There's no hope for the White Sox
unless they soon get ruler who will
brandish the iron rod.