The Washington times., 1931-04-22
WANTS D D Pc.
On OTHER
TEAMS
BY BABE RUTH

NEW YORK, April 22.-For sew
eral years have tried doping out
the pennant races. I figured as
best l could the possibilities OF
each team and finished up by
naming two clubs as pennant win
ners. at the same time predicting
how the others should finish. This
spring I decided to make change
and wait until the season was
about a month old before express
ing my views on the outcome.
Within the past ten days have
received number of letters from
fans, asking me if I had given up
the plan. I want to say that I
have no such idea. Nor have I
studied the clubs enough to make
any predictions now. In the years
when I gave out these selections
before the season opened I had to
get all my dope from the training
camps while l was working out
with my own club. This year
thought it would be better to wait
and see what the teams were able
to do in the first months play
against other major league teams.
Injuries Mar Chances
am glad now that I waited.
Some players who were tipped off
as pretty good during the training
season, and likely to stick all sea-
son, are already in the minors.
We will know. too, in another
month how many youngsters will
be able to win their way into the
regular lineup. Injuries may
give a truer line on this or that
team.
About May Is, will predict
the finish of the clubs in each
major league. feel that this
first month will definitely
prove if the pitchers are helped
by the raised seams in the ball,
and if the ball will go as far
as it would before thev began
the campaign TO make it less
lively.
There are manv other things
which l should have better
line on by that time. Take that kid
outfield which Bucky Harris
started with. He had Walker.
Shiver and Doljack playing from
left field to right and not one
of them was in the big leagues
until the last few days Of last
season. I don't recall any other
manager using an entirely recruit
outfield or infield to start a
season since I have been follow
ing big league baseball. It is
interesting to see what they will
do.
Question Marks
Take Johnny Vergez of the
Giants. A month will tell
whether he is to be the regular
third baseman or if Lindstrom
is coming back to third. Cleve-
land has a new outfielder in Vos-
mix, and he may mean as much
to the Indians as Averill did in
his first year in the outfield.
DOME Bush seems to think that
Appling, his new shortstop, will
end his worries about this posi-
tion, and you know that one
player often makes a lot of diff
ference. See what Joe Cronln
meant to washington last year.
A year ago they were not giving
Joe much of a tumble but at the
end of the season everybody was
singing his praises.
II those youngsters with Bill
KiIlefer's Browns are as good
as some of the critics believe
it will make some difference
in rating the second division
clubs Of the American League.
You know the White SOx and
Browns were close together last
year. Then again if these
youngsters fizzle the Red Sox
may step out and grab better
place. Nobody knows what
young players can or will do
until the season Is actually
under way.
It sometimes happens that o
player has an unusually good
season, playing. far beyond what
he had shown in the past. In
such cases it usually means a
flying start for that player. .
! (Copyrght 1871. ny the Christy
Walsh Syndlcatel