Show PLAYING BETTER BElIER BRAND OF BASEBALL Yankees Continue To T Climb in American League Chase BY GEORGE 1923 l 23 by The Standard Standard- Standard Examiner Examiner NEW YORK May Hay 19 H Two club or ot of the National league leafu were playIng b ball bail at the end of t the tint first halt half of ot May 1122 1922 The clubs ere ere Cincinnati and Bo Boston Boton ton In 1922 the Reds were at the th mark when hen hen rolled around ThIs year they were New York was wa but bui a x mite better off In 1923 1922 than In 1922 but the difference was negligible be- be because because be cause the Giants were ere poInts ahead last st season eason This year they US points ahead A matter ot of fh e points means mean little litti with such euch sucha eucha ucha a preponderance of ot strength In sight both seasons season Both St Louis and Pittsburg tailed failed to play pisy na ns well In 1923 1823 as ns In 1922 set let In spite spit of ot the th bad start ot of St Louis its ita It pl placers ers hold had dran up in the tho race by sheer strength at second in the tight St L St Louis was second last season eaon at the same time tim May sho show showed ed Boston Boton JI s a better team than last May and Philadelphia a worse team The fitful boosts ot of good luck Juck that were ere ero given riven to Fletcher when shen hen ho assumed the management of the might have made him a first division fac factor ac toe tor In other circumstances but this team never can mike make it for tor him DODGERS DODGER WEAK WEAH Brooklyn BrooklIn n is not so much worse than last season In percentage but butha s butha-s has ha no future The team will nut the but It will III live a gloomy life wrap strap strapped wrapped Happed ped up in the mist that blows In from Crom the sea sta ea ot of o defeat If It mid May standing Is a finger ot of destiny it points right along alone the same Mme old road that undulated up- up up hill uphill and down In 1922 New York hasn't been checked In the tho American league In mId mId- mid May May 1923 1 22 every ery team was cas playIng better ball than in 1922 St StLouis Louis and Boston Doton The Th Yanks were better by 34 points and they earned some of them in the west where It was hoped they would be eaten alise Th Tho Yanks missed that stern anti amI unrelenting battle of ot the season seabon lea previous when St Louis Louts was 12 points point of ot them and always ays a athorn athorn athorn thorn with Ith its sharp pointed New NewYork NewYork NewYork York wa Va Why hy should the orry orry bollt Babe Ruths Ruth's lack k ot of home runs run when the team as a champIonshIp contender could gain cain gainso caino so 80 o many net points in percentage J I is TIThE CLASS SS Cleveland has haa made a treat great gaIn over over 1922 1922 which puts Cle Cland r In the class of ot the championship con con- contenders contenders con contenders tenders in the American league leacu It if Its pia placers ers are ar not Injured The Athletics by bv May mid this er ear gained 64 04 points o over Oder er a lear ear ago It Is the th gain cain of ot a team that thatIs thatIs thatIs Is more substantial than the Ath- Ath Athletics Ath Athletics of 1922 1 22 Yet It Is not enough to defeat New Now York because at the I pace paco the Yanks will pull away Detroit was wait a trifle better betler this year than last May Cobbs Cobb's men started at a fast tast clip but their pitchers who has Ita have e done their prettiest prettiest prettiest est in 1922 have be been n slow In get get- getting ret retting ting around Detroit and Washington Washing have Im- Im Improved improved Im Improved proved as the canal boat Improves when one on mule Is la changed chanced for tor another Assuming that figures speak the truth there ther Isn't one thing In the baseball arithmetic to indicate that both New Ne York teams will not wm win the championshIps championship again |