Show MACKS MACK'S TEAM HAS SHADE THIS YEAR YEARBy By J. J ED GRILLO CHA March farch 26 G.- G. Notwithstanding the fact that thal there I Is some doubt as to the strength of the Athletics Athletics' pitching staff Macks Mack's team seems to bo be the tho one which will have ve to tobe tobe tobe be beater beaten b by an any club that tont hopes hope to win tl-ie tl pennant this year car That tho the Mack Mack- men arc the tue favorites In the race Is II but hut natural Tho rho comparatively easy c al manner man mun I f ner tIel In which they theyon won on the pennant last I year eur and their victory victor In the tile I worlds world's series make th the team cant appear to outclass Its rivals Yet It U mn may inny find It Itself itself it- it self leI In one ono of or the tho most moat strenuous gics of or it Its Ih r Washington ton and Boston arc are sure sur to b be contenders though l it IL Is la not likely that any of the tile other teams trams will Mill be nent On last years year's performance Cleveland would Mould ha have hac c to be con considered but the 10 loss R u of who virtually held the Naps up In tho the last laRt race Is sure suro to prove provo a u serious handicap for Cor there is I no reason to believe e that Birmingham JJ ht J i I team tc has been strengthened in sonic some other othel department sufficiently to offset I th the absence of or the tall tail twirler Hut But Boston Hoston Is sure to show Iho to better advantage than lust last Rea season on There ha has never or been airy any question about the Red fled Sox's strength n th but hut accidents and ad adverse wl- wl ver verse e conditions last season caused It to tobe be he a u dl disappointment rho Tho Nationals thou though h greatly handicapped handi capped In Iii the thc last campaign finished a good second and anh by their five straight ht victories over Cleveland during the closIng closing clos cbs ing weeks o of the season undoubtedly made It po for tor the Athletics to win viii I the pennant and the Ule worlds world's series The lead which the downfall of tho the Naps gave save the tue champions enabled them to prepare themselves for fOI the clash with the Giants It gave Plank and Bender Beneler a chance for much needed rest and they regaIned their form In time to prove Invincible against the Illness s and accidents may again befall the lie Nationals this year but If they dont don't there is every everT reason for Cor or believing the team will make a better hetter showing than It Il did last season and if IC It does dor the team which wins the lie flag will have to togo togo togo go at a t faster aster pace than did the Athletics Athletics Ath Athi- in the 1913 campaign |