The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-21

- appointments IN baseball history the
Chicago Cubs in the present series
have been the greatest to date They
may come back and win. but with
three games against them their
chances are exceedingly remote.
The Cubs have not shown a soil
tary one OF the traits whicI made
them famous and favorites before the
series began. Now that they have
fallen physically in competition they
appear TO have collapsed mentally.
and give indications Of a team will
ing 20 acknowledge defeat without furth-
er contention. This is truly surpris-
Ing. for the very best trick of the
Cubs was supposed to be displaying
gameness. while learned gents innu-
merable have taken them in hand to
demonstrate that the Athletics are
yellow.
But. the Cubs should not be roast
ed too severely for their show In the
hrst three games. Their pitchers
have been absolute failures. and no
matter what the rest Of the team
might accomplish il was Offset by mis-
cradle twirling. The series has been
entirely a question of pitchers and
hitting and the reams Of paper de-
voted 10 the intelligence and inside
play of the Contenders have been
wasted.
When you can't hit the fellows slab
men, and the other fellows are walIop-
Ing your very best sIabbists for some
such total as fifteen hits. mostly for
extra bases. you don't have much moral
courage. You know you are up against
it. and your fielding and batting VIII
show the state OF your mind. That was
day. After Reulbach exploded they were
done. And when McIntire passed into
the upper air in his little fit in the
same round, the show was over right
there.
Two Stars Angry.
Joe Tinker made two errors yesterday
and Steinfeldt made one. It is entirely
hkeIy that had they been in a close
game they would have had clean records.
Both OF these stars were undoubtedly
careless in handling the ball. They were
not yellow. Not that we could notice,
but they were angry and ratified over
the way the game was going. and acted
with poor judgment
The Cub who showed the best spirit
was Pfiester. He was reached plenti-
fully for hits and runs while on the
mound, but he was trying every min
ute. He kept his eve on the bases.
worked the batters TO the best Of his
ability, and did not cease his efforts TO
end the slaughter. With two out in
the seventh inning Steinfeldt and Tinker
made errors on men going TO first. Had
HIS support been what he had a right
10 expect he would have not been scored
against in that round. 4
Winning TuvO games in
great moral effect on the Athletics. !
They took it for granted they had
already beaten the best the Cubs had
In stock, and that they need not worry
about tho pitching. They slammed away (
in most discOncerting manner, and
soon got the goat of every man they
facHd.,
Singles by Collins and Baker and
home run by Murphy in the third in /.
ming practically ended the game 4 !
man with brains enough to frame a
tariff bill satisfactory to the whole I.
country could not have saved the Cubs I
after that They were done.
Work of Collins.
Collins did not shine so brightly as in
the first two games, but he did not have
much opportunity to break into the pro- I
ceedings. His one hit was a scratchy F.
affair in the third inning. and he had
but two fielding chances. The inffeIder
who turned the best trick was Barry. +
In the fourth inning he got in front Of 4
particularly vicious drive from King
and started a double play. II was "a
furious blow that went straight at
Barry and bounded up TO his chest He
" as driven backward by the impact but /
held the ball and threw to Collins at
second Collins got Il on the run.
wheeled and heaved to Davis, Tinker
nnu king being eXterminated by the
feat. It was just the kind OF a play
that George Mcbride would probably
nave missed, for George is not strong
on chances that he does not take on the
right or left side.
Jack Coombs did not pitch a great ball
game. His team won and not Jack. he
started very badly. His control was
mostly poor and his principal asset was
speed He was constantly getting into
uSnt places because of Witness ar the /
start. He would have to nut the hall
over 70 prevent walk, and the Cubs
would smash it. They made three runs
ana three hits off him in the first tvcO
innings and that should come pretty
near beng enough In a game between
nrst-class teams, but the Athletics gave
MIN grand support and relieved his mind
by their terrific batting
AFTER the Athletics runs in the third
inning the only recourse fos- Lhe Cubs
swing al the ball with all their might /
They were precluded from attempting
any fancy stun, for nothing could help
them except extra base hits IN large |
doses. Coombs' task was made easier
by this. for the Cubs were distracted !
and began TO hit at bad balls.
Good In Pinches.
Still. Coombs was not bad bv any
I1eans As In the PHILADELPHIA game
be could tighten up in emergencies, so
that t was hard 20 tell just how well
he could have pitched IN a pinch.
Shecki-rd opened the fifth inning by
reaching first on Steinfeldt's error.
Coombs famed Schultz. which was no
childish feat He famed Archer in the
eighth inning when the Cubs had made
Two runs and began to act uppish
after Tinker had singled and stolen in
the ninth with one out, Coonlbs whitfield
king. Schultz drove in two runs in
tho second inning with two out and
men were on second and third. Coombs
took brace and famed Artie Hof-
nan at that critical stage when the
score was tied. His wild pitch in the
eighth inning let in two runs. He was
not impressively reliable at any stage
and the costly bad heaVe caused no