The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-21
BY .rY, COBB.


/ Copyright. 1911. the Press Company
| in:.aueipnia. Pa, october 2U.-Three
days ram and the consequent post
nave practically started the .Athleucs.
! OF the American League. and New
DIRK Giants. VI lie National League,
est tile winch baseball team can
win. vi course, the Athletics have Il
| big shade, IN tnat they have won two
of the three games played. but other
Wise II VIII nc Just ike beginning
the series.
Last tuesday afternoon, when the
Atnlelcs defeated thc Sieat Ma thew
son III New YORK. they nuu prucucuiiy
won the 1911 series, IN the opinion OF
the writer. Manager McGraw nad used
ms big, strong card. anu Tor the hrst
lIne IN Datt,e Tor the WORLDS cham
plonship "Matty' hau l0een defeated
The Giants were disheartened and dlS-
couraged. anu must have felt that the
odds We're about IL to against them
winning the three games necessary To
| annex The title The Athletics. on the
other hand. were Jubiiant Ihey hud
downcu the wonderful MathcWson, and
had Il Shade the best Of the New York
crs. They were IN II position where
tncy could say, well, We have won
two games. nave licked your star
pitcher, and have you on the run, we'll
show YOU what we really can do III
the next two games
Any man who has played baseball or
amy other game Will understand just
what an advantage the Athletics had
over their rivals. Now, want TO say
that so far as the Athletics are con
cerncd they still possess the nuFantasc
OF having won two games. Ihey nave
the ace In the hole" but, AS SAID
in yesterdays story. tne rest mas
surely benented the Giants. While the
game may be played tomorrow after
noon, Tor the Two teams and the Ma
tiunai Commission realize that delay
is robbing the series OF interest, l be-
iievc 1t unlikely that the fourth con
test will be staged before Monday
afternoon. The diamond and outheid
at Shibe Park must be so tnoFouehis
soaked that the players would ioe SINK
ing In mud up TO their a h.rI, ,,.n a,id
be difficult and fast running on the
base lines would be Impossible:
This would De an equal handicap 10
both teams, but nevertheless handi
cap which l do not believe the Ma.
tional Commission will permit during
II series for the championship of tho
say that the game will not be played
to morrow. for the rain might stop and
the sun and wind dry the ground at
Shibe lurk nicely. But l believe the
odds are against 1t
situation In nutshell.
Here is the situation in nutshell.
McGraw has Mathcwson, who has been
rested since Tuesday. four full days.
ton than he was when the Mackmen
defeated MIN. Marquard has rested
five days and should be fit. AmeS, Gran
dali and Wiltse are just as much
problem for McGraw TO solve hs they
were on Wednesday. The big point
is that McGraw can send "Mutty" or
Marpuard in tomorrow or Monday,
feeling certain that they have been
rested sufficiently to be physically
strong. Had the game been played
Wednesday,, 1t would have been suicide
to have used Mathcwson, who had
weakened his arm by constant use of a
| curve ball. And Marquard. while not
so tired, was cosnizant of the fact
that the Athletics had the Giant: on
| the run, and would not have been as
| elective as he might be ii used to-
| morrow Monday.
l learned to-day that the Giants had
! been practicinG on the Phillies'
grounds. so they could be limbcred up
They will not go on the field when they
play the Athletics laboring under the
additional handicap of having been
forced TO loaf around hotel for four
| bat. There is lot of satisfaction in
| simply tossing a few balls. finding
! out that your arm is right and your
eyes good.
! 1t might appear that am trying
! 10 favor the Giants in the next game
! played but that is far from my in :
tention. ! merely want to show why
| tho rain has helped New York and has
1 lifted them for the next two games
important ones in the result OF the
series. For the sake of argument let
us suppose that the Giants Will win
the next game, whether 1t is played
make the series a tie. each team hav-