Evening star., 1938-04-11
National League.
American League


The odds-on price against the
Yankees to l0--is as short as any in
the history of baseball. Spring trouble
or no spring trouble. DR.. Doyle be-
lieves they outclass all rivals.
As Doyle Sees It.
Last years pennant- winner is al
most always this years favorite," says
the scientist, scratching his sun-baked
scalp but, with the Yankees, it's more
than that. They won by 13 games last
season, didn't they? And by even more
the year before? And they don't look
any weaker on paper. do they? Well,
who's going to knock 'em down."
If any one attends to this detail at
all, DR.. Doyle expects it will be Detroit
or Cleveland, which clubs he rates on
par in the runner-up position.
Cleveland, as usual, is the dark
horse that can burn up the league if
1t ever gets going he says. With
Allen, Harder and Feller, the Indians
have the strongest front-line pitching
IN the business. They have a sensa-
tional rookie in the place where it will
do them the most good, third base, and
their catching is improved by Hemsley,
with Pytlak around to help him.
Detroit has the power, nearly as
much as the Yankees. I don't know
how Cochrane will manage from the
bench, but, with York, Greenberg and
Gehrlnger, he can match Gehrig,
Dickey and Di Maggie for straight
away blasting at the plate That's why
you have to figure Detroit-power,
Their pitching is doubtful, and I hear
the Tigers have couple of problems
In the inf1eld.
Chicago has chance to be up
there too, in spite of Appling's broken
leg. The Red Sox just possibly might
get TO clicking, and, if they do, they'll
ne hard to stop. But, in that league.
It's the Yankees on top. with Detroit
and Cleveland making the race.
1hat's how it looks to me, SON."
National Causes Headache.
When he comes to consider the
National League, a look of variness
settles upon the doctors honest face
In the days when he worked with
Elnsteln. investigating graft and cor
ruption in the square root of ri. DR.
Doyle used to get headaches pretty
regularly. The National League has
the same effect on him.
IT'S tough layout for the price
MAKER he says. People sometimes
scream to me that I make the prices
too short, but what are you going to
40 when you have three or four clubs
punched together with any one of
them capable of coming through and
running you? At that. am laying
6 to l against Pittsburgh. the same
club that nearly scared me to death
last year when it was winning all
those games"
On paper, the Giants and Cubs
look best, They have balance
pitching, defense, enough hitting to
get by. I put the Giants first because
they won last year in pretty much
the same competition and because of
the extra defensive tightness that
makes so much difference in a tight
league. But the cubs are just about
as good.
Cardinals Worry Him.
"St. Louis has some pretty fair
power lying around loose, and the
Cards worry me. They look awkward
and unsettled, but, if they get to-
gether. and the big fella DEAN is
back in form, they might take it all.
Pittsburgh seems to be the same old
Pittsburgh Plenty of class, no win,
Il know am going to get quite a
lot OF play from the citizens or Gin
clnnati and Boston to finish in the
money. The Reds were the cellar
club last year, but they got a great
new manager and they seem to be
smoothed out. Boston is always up
there, ball players or no ball PLAYERS"
DR.. Doyle expects the betting to be
heaviest in the Detroit, Cleveland and
Chicago sectors.
There are always lots of people in
those towns, American League people.
who figure this is the year the Yankees
will get it in the throat. And maybe
they're right this time. I only hope I
don't get it along with the Yankees"
tCopyright, 1898. by the North America an