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Show COMMENT ON SPORTS By Ed Sims BASEBALL ... The American league flag race in 1942 may be closer but if it is, it'll probably be because the Yankees Yan-kees slipped a bit. At the present time, no American league club seems strong enough to oust the world champions in 1942. Of course, if spring or winter trades of enough significance occur, the situation may be altered. I Take the Boston Red Sox, for instance. The Red Sox have the sluggers, but no pitchers. Boston has been scanning the horizon for many, many moons in a quest to locate a free, independent and winning win-ning pitcher or a club that is willing to part with one reasonably. reason-ably. They have found neither. They have won no pennant. And since the once-generous Mr. Yawkey has suggested the possi- bility that the Red Sox will get along as best they can with what they've got for a while, future hope is already diminishing. Ted Williams Wil-liams has been placed in Class 1-A and may marry Miss Springfield (the army) as early as February or March. Thus, Boston prospects for 1942 aren't any brighter than usual this year they're much dimmer. Whereas Boston used to possess pos-sess the deadliest two-man hitting attack in the league Foxx and Williams. If young Ted joins the army, the Red Sox will be without their star duet. Even if Foxx remains, re-mains, his ability is steadily on the downgrade. Jimmy is troubled by more than his share of illness, including sinus trouble. Under such handicaps as Foxx has labored in the past years, his records seem even more remarkable than ever. A quick glance at Cleveland: The Indians without Bob Feller aren't the pennant contenders of yesteryear. yester-year. Even Clevelanders are not getting very excited this year about the Indians. Something must be lacking and it is Feller all right. The Indians, under their new manager, need to begin building build-ing on a nine-man team. Detroit the next to be given consideration. The Tigers are an up-and-down ball club. Had Green-berg Green-berg gotten back into uniform, they would have probably been up. But with Hank concentrating on the Japs, the line-up won't be as powerful as had once been thought. York will be in there swinging again and the infield with Blood-worth Blood-worth should have pep. But the pitching is still doubtful. Newsom must have another big year to put the Tigers in the fight. The White Sox will be strong, as usual but not quite strong enough, also as usual. A final conclusion puts the Yanks on top easily. If they win another world's championship ' in '42, that will be six in the last seven years which should entitle them to a trip to the Philippines and a series with the Japs. |