Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-14
NATIONALS SECOND
TO CHAMPS is PICK
Nanks Assigned to Lower
Division-Cards Appear
Old Loops Best.
by JOHN B. KELLER.

n TOW that the major clubs,
M primed to the limit-they
4 Y should be, at least-are en-
tering the two big base ball
campaigns today there seems little
20 say about them other than how
they may finish. That which fol-
Aows is merely a guess, but guess
based upon the talent possessed
by the various clubs and what this
talent has done in other cam
paigns, as well as in the training
season recently completed.
Right OF the reel finishing places are
picked for the clubs contending in base
balls national inaugural here this after
noon. 1t seems safe to say that those
attending Washington,s opening game
will see in action the winner of this
years American League championship.
It may not be so safe to say here that
the wearers Of the loop laurels at the
end of September again viii be the
Athletics. That's our guess, however,
and Wen stick to 1t until proved wrong,
II ever.
This washington ball club looks
ultkuby kQO2 III lI11l1y ways. GCIu8p9 ~
- q tride stronger than 1t was last sea-
tnon, but despite all this, 1t looks TO us
rs though they viii tran the AS once
emore at the finish. Not so long ago the
!9critics were looking aSkance at the wab-
bly, Athletics, beaten and buffeted about
rs they were in exhibition games. But
the AS had neither their star batter
and fielder, al Simmons, nor their great
hight-hand hurler, George Earnshaw,
then.
with these two once more in the fold
and apparently in splendid form, the
Mackian horde appears to be as strong
rs ever, and even though the Nationals
very probably are improved, they still
do not measure UP to their Philadel-
phia rivals in our opinion. Only time
win tell. Of course. But again we say,
that's our guess, and wen stick to 1t.
DACK Of the Athletics and the Ma
- ttonais, look for the Indians and
the Tigers to complete the first
division. How about the Yankees?
Wen, despite their early squirt in exc
hibition games and the supposedly fine
form the slamming Babe Ruth has at
troubles. Both Cleveland and Detroit
average younger in years than the New
York club, and each Of the Western out
htS this season promises to have more
speed than the big town aggregation.
The Indians can hit, they are not
poor afleld even though they were err
ratio early In their exhibitions and they
have Wesley Ferrell That boy Is q
pitching star in himself. The Tigers
have worked wonderfully well in their
exhibitions, their defense appears to be
vastly improving, their pitching seems
smarter and they can wallop. The
Yankees with an uncertain defense and
an 4n-and-ont pitching star lack bal
ance. They can pound the ball, but
back Of that. what? Let's put them at
the head OF the second division.
The White Sox ought to prove the
class Of the three remaining clubs.
DOME Bush seems TO have rounded out
q good defensive outfit, something he
did not have last year, and he has sew.
eraI clever hl1rlers. Then, too, the White
fSox include in their lineup some dam
Rigorous hitters. As to the Browns and
zthe Red Sox, they should make fine
fight for the cellar position.