The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-08-07
AN AWFUL SLUMP
Topeka Players Have Made 81
Errors This Week.
Team Average in Fielding Shows
Drop of Nine Points.
NOT so BAD.
COOIeys0x Percentage for Season
Is Only Four Lower.
Better Defense Work Would
Equalize Weak Pitching.

| Inc present slump OF the 1cpcAa team
isn't had to account for when the fans
take glance at the records of the
team dur1 g the past week and then
make a comparison or rather a con-
trast wish the records as they stood a
week ago. During the past week the
team has taken an awful slump, as the
figures show. the biggest slump is in
the fielding. Since the averages were
printed a week ago today, the team has
II ade 81 errors. This g an average of
4.43 errors for eacn game. No team
that is putting up that kind of de-
tense can long expect to retain any
position in the remnant race. This Is
positively the worst fielding Which the
Il ague has seen this Scason, and it is
some poor fielding. A team can occd-
sionally be excused for errors, but it
is mighty monOtonOus to have them
cccurr IN clusters as large as seven
game, such as happened twice within
one week. Many of the games have
leer lost throl gh poor pitching-this
,+uCa is true. Cut better fielding could
have saved the pitchers. For instance
the game in Wichita Sunday. In the
second inning of that game, two errors
started the inning, either of which
should have been an out as neither
was an exceptionally hard chance. Al
ter that Kaufman was hit to all cor
rers of the lot. Five scores were made
in. that one inning, when had the team
helded perfectly, the scores might have
been forestalled OF at least held to
II minimum. The team on the whole has
fallen off rine points in the seasons
fielding average, during the past week
The batting Of the team might have
been some better. But 1t hasn't been
so bad barring the one game in which
rhe locals complied but two hits off
Ad Brennan. There has been slump
of four points. A lot better fielding
and a little better batting-not consld-
eTiT IaifPninR-WOuId
immensely.
individually, the hitting of the play
ers nan't been so bad. although a few
have taken a slump. Kahl seems to
have slumped the worst A few Gays
ago Bobbie was lowering around the
290 mark. Now he is below the $50
mark 4 slump of so points. the way
he was hitting for awhile was the sub
ject of delightful conversation among
the circles of fans. Fenlon maintains
his leadership, with but single point
less. Anderson has cropped in close
to the top, but he is hitting some bet |
te. than he lid with Wichita. Geier
remains about the same, and so does
Butcher Kerns. The fans like Butch |
ard would like TO see him land inside |
the elite above the BOG mark. And he |
may do it. The remainder of the aV-
erages haven't fiUctuated over five points |
either way. Fenlon and Geier have the
distinction Of getting over the century |
mark ir the number of hits. There are
" hip up if they get that number before
the season is over.
In run getting the same trio stands
at the head of the list-Geier, Fenlon
and Wooley. Wooley also claims dis
t;nction OF being at bat the greatest
plumber of times but this is not re-
markabie from the fact that Elijah has
been leading off all season.
The greatest nialefactors in the field
ing line are pownie. hsahl and Kunkel
Downia had the hardest position of any
1f the infelders. and shortstops are al
t;ays expected to contribute more than
a1y other players. KahPs errors were
nany of them hard ones, but Bob falls
iown on more easy chances than any
ther player in the league. Many OF
<Unkel's averages were gained at first
Ease. where he played a number OF
yannes. During the past week the out
7eIders have been making number OF
errors. probably as many as they have
made during the entire previous portion
= the season. The average of Geier,
does rot do him justice as
most Of his errors were made while fill
ng i'll at second base. The official aver
,ges Of the league will have the av-
.ra ges of the players in the different
position ir which they have played
several of the players have worked in
aore shan one position this season and
l?ary of them have played out of their
egular petitions.
The work OF the season inclusive of
his weeks games is as follows: