Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-25
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

That good pitchers are essential to
gain base hall fame has been proven by
the series Just completed between the
Athletics and cubs Though there is
no doubt that the Amerie an leaGuers out
PLAYED their rivals at every end OF the
game their victory can he directly at
trihuted to the brilliant work of their
pichers. Coombs and Bender II be-
cause their proves proved a surprise to
the cubs at the very outset of the series
that the former worlds champions be-
came demoralized and proved easy game
for the Athletics.
ON the other hand the work of the
pitchers gave the Athletics confidence.
They realized after the first game. when
Bender performed so brilliantly, that they
had an advantage. and when in the sec
ond game they smothered Mordecai
Brown with base hits there was no
longer any doubt as to the final outcome
of the series.
II was on Brown that the Cubs pinned
their faith. and when he proved himself
incapable of stopping the Athletic bats
men the cubs gave up in despair
chances team was a beaten one the
night it left Philadelphia. after its
second defeat The players acted and
showed II en- route to Chicago. and while
the encoura cement given them there by
q
spir:t. IL wa hut temporary.
Where the pitching unequal
II was in this series. the only wonder is
that the Athletics did not take four
straight. The game they lost should have
been won in a Canter.
Tho team which went down before the
Athletics was not the same that twice
humbled the Detroit Tigers in worlds
series There was as much difference as
there is i'm day and night The Cubs
lacked about everything that goes to
make VI really great ball team. There
vas no evidence of speed. nor was the
'aiting strong at times when it would
have done harm II was in this respect
lat the Cubs differed most from their
rivals. for the Athletics did their best
hitting when hits meant runs.
As 10 playing highly scientific game
ere was not single instance when the
Ubs doomed up in this respect. Not
nee did they show signs of having
system superior TO that of their rivals
aAd so far as execution was concerned
is'ey were badly outclassed.
Had the Cubs been no better ball team
'Eainst the Tigers than thev were against
J'e Athletics they would never have
won the title of worlds champions
That the series with the An-star team
80" week previous 10 the big series was
TIC greatest benefit 10 the Athletics is
9neraily conceded That series put the
ackmen on edge To face pitching such
w
~ure to he the best kind of practice for
. en- facing pitchers of ordinary. speed
Athletics found them the easiest kind
! game
.tchers after facing Johnson and Walsh
Ter four days should prove lesson to
.sm McAleer.-'- The system of batting
Practice In vogue these days is anything
hut beneficial: Pitchers of mediocre abH-
ity are usually used to pitch~to the bat
ters before the game and vet. when the
"a me starts they usually find themselves
~, against A much tougher PROPOSITION
For instance. one never finds Walter
jchnson pitching 70 the batters before a
game. II he were put on the rubber
the players wouldn't want to indulge In
fatting practice because they can't hit
Johnson But they should take into con-
Sideration the practice they would de-
rive in this way would be more yalu-
able than long drives they might get
on OF some novice in practice.
There is no doubt that the Nationals
hating could be greatly improved If
Walter Johnson for about five or ten
minutes and let him cut loose at top
speed. There would be days when
Johnson would not he available. bit
this course should be pursued when
ever IT is possible.
The benefit of facing terrific speed
in practice and then going against
ordinary pitching in a game are easily
heing the stickwork of the Athletics
against the Gun pitchers after having
laced Johnson and Walsh during the
previous week -----------
Perhaps the greatest disappointment
was the work of Johnny King in the
series King, touted as the most won
derful catcher the game has ever pro-
duced. the man to whom was credited
the victories over the Tigers in two
worlds series, proved anything but the
star he was heralded. The Athletics
made him look ike a novice rather than
star They stole bases on him more
ca SLY than they would on any of the
Washington catchers. and. what is more
they seemed BILE to anticipate his every
move. 1t asserted by those who
ought to know that after the third in
Ming of the first game last Monday the
Athletics knew beforehand what kind of
q ball the pitcher was going to pitch.
Opinions differ as to how this was &C
romplished. but no device such was
discotered the New York grounds
few wears ago was used.
Bill Donovan Of the Detroit team in