The Washington times., 1930-04-17
Braves Reject Cubs and Cards Secure Grimes
APRIL GAMES
COUNT MUCH
LATERON
BY BABE RUTH

BY BABE RUTH
PHILADELPHIA, April IT,
The American League pennant
won't be won or lost in the next
four weeks, but the club that gets
away to a good start will have a
long step toward the pennant. A
lot of managers contend that
spring games don't mean much.
swat until the hot days come
and my pitchers get started and
We'll show our real stuff" mana
gers say-and some Of them be-
lieve it.
Personally I've always figured
that a game won in April is just
as valuable as a game won IN
September, and it has been my
experience that the teams that
get away to a good start In the
spring are the ones that nine
times out of ten are fighting for
the pennant in September.
In that connection I always
think Of Miller Higgins and
some of the things he used to
say about those April games.
Hug always took the attitude
that the early games counted.
I'll never forget the start OF the
1925 season and meeting we
had in the clubhouse before the
first game.
81 know that our pitching
isn't as good as it should be"
Hug said. Later on in the
season when the other clubs
get going we'll have some
tough times. But just remem-
Der this: We're in great
shape right now. And the
games we win now will be
games that the other fellows
will have to make up later.
Let's go out there and get
'em and not worry about July
or August"
If you look over the records
you'll see that the Yankees won
pennants in 1926, 1927 and 1928,
and in each of those three years
the thing that won for them was
that squirt at the start Of the
season. We started fast and kept
., going and by the time the other
" fellows had rounded into shape
we were so far out front that
they couldn't catch US. All Of
which is just another reason why
I say the next four weeks are tn
most important of the whole
season.
Naturally, it's too early to tell
yet just which clubs are in shape
for an early start and which ones
will have to come along slowly.
But it isn't too ealy to judge OF
Improvement in the clubs, and
when you're talking of improved
clubs don't overlook the Chicago
White Sox. DOME Bush has a
fighting, scrapping team this
season-one that will be in there
battling every minute. The i'm
provement hasn't been through
any injection of new blood but
rather because of improved
morale.
Don't misunderstood me. I
don't think the White Sox will
win any pennants, and I doubt
If they even finish in the first
division. But they'll be trouble
makers for the leaders all the
way. They have good pitching,
good fielding and fine spirit.
They lack the batting punch that
other clubs have but they still
have enough of wallop to score
runs now and then. I'm very
anxious to get a look at this fell
low Jolley. From what hear
hes a great natural hitter who
can be counted on to drive in
runs.
His fielding, 1 understand,
isn't so hot and he's a bit
slow. That's likely to be
quite a handicap, particu-
Iarly in that Chicago park
with its long fences and wide
stretches of Outfield. Most
any other park In the league
is better suited for a slow
man than the White Sox
orchard. If JOlley can make
good in that park he'll go
anywhere.
Another GLIB which has shown
decided signs of improvement
this season is the Detroit Tigers.
Bucky Harris is a fine manager
and this year he has eliminated
o lot of the clanniShnesS that
hurt the club last season. Unlike
the White Sox, the Tigers have
plenty of punch but no pitching
strength. That has always been
0 funny thing to me.
The Tigers year after year
come up with lot of sluggers
who can pound the ball out of
the lot, but somehow they just
can't seem to find pitching
strength anywhere. And the
White Sox, with constantly good
pitching, can't seem to find hit
ting power. I guess that's what
you call the breaks of baseball.
But anyhow keep your eye on
mi