The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-07-07
WAS 6. 0'LEARY A
] MASCOT FOR THE
TIGER TEAM?
Tigers Have Lost Three Out OF Four
Since Hughie Jennings Broke
Up His Winning Com
bination.
One More Game in Cleveland and
Then the Bengals Return To Ben
nett Park for Long Series.
BY PAUL Il. sRUsKE.


Three times out of the four oCca-
sions on which the Tigers have TAX
en- the field on as many days they
have been forced 10 bite the dust.
The enemy hits the Tiger pitchers anu
the batters whose names once struck
terror 10 the hearts OF ,he hostile
beavers now assail the sphere With
puny blows which recall the sound
made by "a weary man pa!aoorsng a
carpet.
And the wise ones-or those VINO
think they are wise-are pointing ON.
inously TO the fact that the change IN
the Tiger fortunes dates from the day
when Hughie Jennings committed
that cardinal sin OF breaking up his
winning combination. benching Char
lie OIeary and sending out George
Moriarty with the announcement that
here again was his regular team
Wise Change, But
There Is no purpose To question the
relative merits OF these two grand III
fielders. OLeary never claimed 10 be
a third baseman, though he had per
formed In sensational style at Il posi-
ton strange 10 him before this spTiug.
Moriarty is a seasoned performer at
the difficult sack and has always been
regarded as a harder hitter than the
little Chicagoan. The latter Is badly
wanted as reserve power and his
versatility enables him 10 shine in
any .of the three infeld positions. All
Of this would make IL seem that the
change was q wise one. but
The team was winning, and had
been eating up the rival western clubs
with avidity and excellent digestion.
Undoubtedly IT will do so again and
the present slump Is bat temporary.
However. this breaking Up a winning
combination, even TO strengthen, how
eyer, is a brand-new piece OF baseball
tactics and those who shake their
heads do so with precedent and the
actions OF thousands OF managers al
their support.
rHughie Jennings has defed super
sutton and. from appearance. supersti-
zion is winning the argument
TIges Helpless Yesterday.
Yesterdays result at Cleveland
ma the Tigers look outclassed. Ed
die Summers was drubbed without
mercy. The Maps secured total OF
Is hits, as will be seen by reference
10 the box score, Hinchman, Bradley
and Young getting nine between them.
Cid Cy held the Tigers 80 safe that
the game was really not in doubt after
the fifth inning Five safe drives, OF
which Schaefer and Cobb secured four
evenly divided. was the limit OF the
Champions smuggling and five hits
against Is makes but sorry showing.
Jennings left Summers in 10 take his
medicine. The Tigers veteran right
handlers have been getting theirs IN
punches these days and he simply had
nobody In reserve who looked better.
Philadelphia and Boston are pic
ricking with New York and Washin>-
ton and have cut down the Tigers
lead until II is now but SO points and
the Athletics may find The Tigers
within striking distance when they hit
this neck OF woods.
Today Mullin and Joss are due 70
take UP the burden at Cleveland, and
tomorrow the Tiges are back on their
native heath to open their long series
against the east.
There Is no denying the fact that
the other western teams are now in
far better condition To help the Tiges
In their fight against the two leading
eastern invaders. Cleveland. while not
particularly dangerous herself just
yet, is a remarkably strong ball club
that Is at last working in the form
which critics conceded she should
show at the start Of the league race
The Soxs and Browns are getting
pitching OF the highest class and the
way is sure TO be a thorny one.
As for the Tigers. they must be
doped fro mpjrecedent as being mere
ly on one OF the rearward swings OF
the pendulum in which they period
ically indulge. The regularity OF their
alternate backward and forward pro
gress has been a remarkably regular
feature. A lead OF 100 points consti-
tutes the danger sign. When they
have once acquired 1t. they promptly
proceed TO lose a bunch of games,
bringing them back to the other ex
treme which may be a shade lowe-
than IL IS now before the Champs pull
themselves together. pepper up and
proceed to grab-ten out OF eleven or
some other such absurd proportion Il
their games.
Yankees Regain Cup.