The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-28


nant race What intend TO do Is TO give
probabilities Of team strength based upon
tho form of each nine as it appears at this
early stage In the race.
There is, besides luck and accidents,
another material feature governing the
playing of every team--namely, confidence
and lock OF confidence. There Is no better
illustration of tho operation Of these ele-
ments of strength and weakness than Is
found In tho Baltimore and Philadelphia
teams. Confidence pervndes tho ranks OF
the Baltimoros TO such an oxtont that the
dullest mind among the spectators must
recognize It. On the contrary, the Phillios
are notorious "woakeners." Ope or two
defeats take away from them every grain
OF self reliance, and they are whipped be-
fore they 60 upon tho field.
The old Chicago team, In which Anson,
Kelley, Williamson, Flint, Burns, Gore,
Dalrymple and Corcoran were stars, proba-
bly, possessed tho virtue Of confidence In
larger degree than any team that ever
played ball. A defeat or two never de-
pressed them. They looked upon a lost
gamo moro as q freak than as an evidence
of their inferiorlty as nine. Then there
was the Boston team of few years ago.
They, too, came In for fair share of self
assurance tc A,olp along each season. But
the present toam does not seem 20 possess
as much Of tho leavon of faith as did the
teams Of 1892 and 1898. am inclined TO
believe that Nash and Mccarthy took
away tho major part of Boston's confidence
when they went TO other clubs.
The Baltimores believe In themselves
as team. When they lose, 1t appears to
them TO be nuke. When they win, 1t
seems to DO but the natural result of their
superiority. Pbis ogotism--if one may call
IL that--causes the players on the nine to
make wonderful plays and attempts which
other mines would consider foolhardy. In
recent game at Chicago between tho Bal
timores and Anson's men n crisis seemed
to have arisen in tho contest The bases
were full Of Colts, with none out. Ryan
sent up a foul fly opposite third base. The
rooters drew sigh Of relief when they
saw that tho ball would fall ten feet back
among tho spectators. A moment later
this sigh Of relief was replaced by MUIR
murs of surprise when jennings jumped
into the spectators midst and caught the
ball over their heads The man on third
made dash for home, but jennings cut
him off By splendid throw. In a few
moments the Chicagos' smell of victory
was turned into tho odor of defeat, for the
next man went out and no runs crossed
the plate. That was confidence In ninety
nine cases out of hundred the fielder
would have stopped on the edge OF tho hos
tile crowd and let the ball fall. The result
would likely have been defeat.
To have this confidence n team must be
well supplied with effective pitchers. A
knowledge that tho opponents will not be
allowed to make many runs gives assur-
anco that the runs which are made can be
offset. Ii was the New Yorks' strong
pitching form in 1894 which sent them to
the front so rapidly. The Cleyelands last
year pro1ted In the samo way This year
Cleveland, Baltimore, Cincinnati and Bos-
ton appear Co bo the best supplied with
successful pitchers, and they should keep
woll up i'm tho front so long as their pitch
ers retain tho present form. Philadelphia,
Now York and Brooklyn are weak Sin the
box" and the handicap has losing ap-
poaranoo.
For three years tho Philadolphias have
been trying 10 strengthen this fatal weak
ness Money cannot do IL. From 50. 900
TO $40, coo is ready TO bo paid for pitcher
like Nichols, Clarke, Young, Breitonstein
or Mercer. Philadelphia, New York or
Brooklyn would pay IL. Tho article is not
in the market. AS said before, first class
pitchers are raror than royal rubios Base
ball pitchers of the first magnitude are
born, not mndo.
Meanwhile there arc few youngsters
who promise wcll. Cleveland has two In
Wilson and Wallace, Baltimore has one in
Pond New York has ono i'm Dohcny, Pitts.
burg has ono in Hughey Louisville has
two In Hill and McCrcary and Boston has
another In Mainos. But not one Of them,
excepting perhaps Wallace, has been sufli-
ciently tested 90 bo placed permanently
among tho class A pitchers
The evenly matched race among seven
or eight OF Che clubs gives tho National
league ncs a very widespread interest, and
the large crowds that have witnessed re.
cent games in tho west testify Co the grow.
ing hold the sport has upon tho people
Many predictions have boon made that
bicycling wor.d injuro baseball this year
There Is rs yet no evidence that the propho.
cy was we'll founded
The ScoDe of operations has now changed
90 the east and it VIII Not be surprising -
see some Of tho leading western teams fall
back before they rtilrn home ON juno 10.
one of the latest sensations In baseball
IL young man. possCssor In his own
rights OF s.. OOO. 600, who Is playing bali
with an Ohio Interstate club lie didn't
make bis money playing bali but follows
the game bCcnrso hoenioys it am of tke
opinion that bali tho mon now playing
ball professionally. should they Suddenly
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