Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04
BY J. ED GRuIo.

Notwithstanding the fact that the
Athletics took two OF the three games
played here. the coming champions oid
not make q favorable impression here.
There is, perhaps, no city OUTSIDE OF
Philadelphia where Mack's team has as
many well-w1shers as right here In WASH
ington. This, perhaps, for the reason that
there are many fans here that want 10
witness some of the worlds series games.
and therefore wanted to have them play
ed as near home as possible.
However, the three games the Athletics
played here have turned many patrons
Of the game to tho opinion that Mack's
team will find It q hard matter to score
victories over the Chicago Cubs when the
worlds title IL at stake. There II no
question that tho Athletics are q strong
ball team Their record In the present
campaign proves this. but for all that It
Is not an impresstve-lookingt team.
Though out Of the race for tho pennant
when6 here. Detroit looked moro Ike q
championship team than did tho Athletics.
True, It might be argued that there Is
no Incentive for Mack's men to put forth
their best efforts. but that does not hold
good. Tho team played the best It knew
how against the Nationals. Tho players
want every game they can get, and are
hustling as II their position was in dam
ger. yet were one who did not know the
relative standing OF the teams to see
Detroit and Philadelphia in action. the
Tigers would be picked as the better
looking ball team.
To begin with, the pitching Of Mack's
star twtrlers in the games here was not
OF the kind that would beat q ball team
which has itself won q flag. It was err
ratio and weak twirling. Notwithstanding
the fact that two of the games were VIC
tories for the visitors. What is more.
there appears to be q lack Of aggressive
ness. and Last, but not least, the Athletics
do not vary their play.
1t Is the same game day In and day out
When the team Is hitting 1t gets q lot Of
runs. but when a pitcher stops IT they are
helpless. having no other resources 1t is
just good. steady team. well balanced,
and when backed up by high-class pitch
Ing will give any team a hard fight. But
let the pitching be about even and Mack
team Is not hard one to beat. There is
little or no cunning displayed. There Is
no Cobb or Evers to pull off q sensational
play at critical period.
1t may be. Of course. that the coming
champions were not going at their best
here. but for q team which has q flag
cinched 1t did not make a very good
showing pitted against one which is
barely hanging on to fifth place after
having passed lot OF second-rate ag-
gregatons.
BY adding the eight strikeouts which
Walter johnson scored yesterday ii
brings his total up to 265 for the season.
Waddell holds the record for one season
with 3Ol. Johnson should pitch at least
eight more games this season. and II he
can average five strikeouts to game,
which should not be a difficult task. If
he keeps his present form. he will easily
beat Waddelrs record. There Is not a
possible chance for any pitcher to catch
MIN this year in the matter OF strikeouts.
He already leads them by SO large a
margin that he cannot be caught, and
as he is right now displaying the best
form OF his career here there Is every
reason for believing that he will add at
least forty more strikeouts before the
season comes to an end.
Connie Mack has an idea, and Il Is
based on past performances. that Chief
Bender is going to be a most effective
pitcher against the Cubs. Last fall when
the Athletics took that transforming trip
through the west they played a game at
Chicago against the Cubs. Bender op-
posed Reulbach and the Athletics won 3
to o. but one hit being made or of BEN
der. Evers and Chance were not In the
lineup. but all the rest OF the team was
in the game and they could do little or
nothing with the Indian.
That game gave me q pretty good line
on Bender when facing the Cubs
III he Is right they won't do anything
with them, and he will work In at least
two and maybe more of the games,
He will have to be at his best, OF course
but the Chief usually is at critical times
and we hope to be in such a position by
October as to give him plenty of rest
and have him At and ready for the big
SERIES"
When Walter Johnson appeared on the
bench before the game he told Manager
MoAleer that he was not sure whether
he could pitch or not. Walter had been
sick tho night before. with Q cold and
he felt all tied up. He started 20 warm
up half an hour before the game and felt