Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-31
THE DIAMOND.
Comparison of the Strength OF
Boston and Pittsburg.

Boston and Pittsburg.
The American League Team the Equal
If Not the Master of the National
League-No Games in State Or ANA
taur Ieagues-Changes in the
Schadule-Other Baseball News.
Possibly the baseball cranks are
counting their chickens before the
Matching in figuring how the Boston
Americans and Pittsburg Nationals will
come out in the wocid's championship
series. Neither has won this years
remnant in their respective leagues as
vet but the outlook that each will do
so is altogether favorable, and any
way, speculation affords all sorts of In
teresting conjecture. Probably in most
of the guesses deductions will be
drawn in which the wish will have
fathered the thought. The teams on
paper and compared individually pre-
sent such a difficult question to de-
termine beforehand that one is quite
excusab1e for arriving at conclusion
in accordance with his sympathles.
That is as good a way as any OF
settling the question in advance. Base
ball-especially in a short series--is so
largely determined by unforeseen hap
pennings that arise on the field that
speculation is useless save as a harm
less occupation.
The pitching strength and batting
strength and fielding strength of the
two teams have been reviewed by diff
ferent critics with unsatisfactory re-
suits. There has been tendency to
rate Lachance much below Bransf1eld
as a first baseman, but In reality there
is little disparity. Lachance is no
wooden image at first base, particular
~ when he partakes of the speed of the
rest of the team. On low throws he is
hard to beat and can make as many
effective plays as his rival, though man
for man he does not impress one as
favorabIy as the other man, most no.
tally probably, in stick work. The
speed and clocklike precision of the
rest of the Boston infield has been
shown by the Pittsburg infield. In
the outf1eld the Pittsburg trio appears
to be one that covers more ground
than the Boston trio. Where Boston
has. one Stahl Pittsburg has a Beau
monte and Clarke and in getting the
ball back from the outer garden, nail
ing men at the plate and preventing
the annexation of extra bases Pitts
burg looks to be more proficient.
Philippe Lever and Doheny on one
side would probably oppose Young, Di.
neen and Hughes on the other. There
is more speed on the Boston side, but
no more brains or pitching craftiness.
As a second string, for emergencies,
Gibson and Winters look to be more re-
liable than Veil. Falkenburg, &c They
are more seasoned. Hard and skillful
batters are to be found on both sides
to call out all the cunning of the pitch
ers. In distance hitting, often an i'm
portant factor. the teams are about
equal with the Wagners, teaches,
Beaumonts Freemans, Doughertys
Parents and Collinses In bunting and
beating the ball to first Pittsburg looks
the spryer. There is also base running
to be considered. Here. the catcher
comes into prominence and SO far as
personal observation counts Criger of
Boston, with his quick and. accurate
throwing, turns runners back oftener
than the Pittsburg backstops.
1t is worthy of note that in it's re-
spective company each team has done
more in producing low scoring by OPP
ponents than has any of it's associate
teams. To date each has won more
shut-out games than any other associ-
ate team. The Bostons have white
washed opponents seventeen times and
the Pittsburgs fifteen times This
gives an idea of how strong each ia,
compared to other teams in each league
In pitching and fielding. Yet, owing
to the uncertainty of the game there is
no more assurance of one-sided series
than of close series of contests.
This weeks schedule is as follows: