Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-13

NEW YORK, October 1s.-Here in New
York, where everybody knows everything
except some Of the triviaiities connect
ed with the accomplishments and emo
tons OF those benighted beings who re-
side in that unimportant portion Of the
United States outside Of Manhattan Is
land; here In New York, to resume, the
fans are figuring the worlds series as
good as 'in." with the Giants. of course,
victorious, because the Athletics never
have batted against any real high-ciass
pitchers" It may be news to those who
are lost in the abyssmal darkness Of Chi
caso. Detroit. Cleveland. Boston and
other obscure hamlets to learn that this
Is fact Some Of the regular patrons
of base ball in those frontier settlements,
In their unenlightened way, had harbored
the delusion that Messrs. Ed Walsh,
Walter; Johnson, Joseph Wood, George
Mulln. w. E. Donovan, Vean Gregg
men who, atHtheir best, might be worthy
place on the roster OF almost any Big
league team.
Yes, We've Seen Walsh!
Out in Detroit, for instance, there have
been days when the well-knit frame of
Mr.. Walsh poised on the mound at Ben
nett Park did not inspire any great
amount OF haste on the part of the
Tigers adherents to dash madly about
offering odds against the White Sox.
From time to time also, Johnson's name,
when murmered in the dulcet tones OF
the, umpire as he announced the days
toilers, failed to inaugurate a line of
reasoning as to whether they would be
able to get twenty-seven Tigers out be-
fore sunset. The same argument applies
Hat d nd to mo
| names will suggest themselves instantly
to- all who follow the game.
Yet New York, which takes the alien
! seriously only in matters concerning his
printed by Uncle Sam, says that there
are no good pitchers in the American
League; at least none who can compare
| with the peerless Mathewson and the
wry-necked Marquard.
Far be It from any one who loves base
ball to take anything from Matty or the
"Rube." The former, In the opinion of
many close followers Of the game. is as
great a pitcher as ever lived when right.
That is to say, Marty at the top of his
form IS as good as the best man who
ever asked for q wide strike.
The question that seems more pertinent
to the worlds series argument, however.
Is whether Christopher's form In the COM
better than the normal Of Walsh. john
son and others. Past performances gath
er no moss, so to speak, and the fact that
Matty can point with pride to some no.
goes in against the Mack murder associa-
ton with nothing but his record. Speed,
curves and control will beat the Athletics
sometimes, providing they are garnished
with q bit Of luck and supplemented by
some hitting. but reputation never both
cred them yet and probably will not this
time.
Others Just as Good.
The record OF this seasons work
shows that Mathewson, though he has
been winning a lot of, games, has been
hit hard. getting away many times be-
cause he had team behind him which
could get a lot OF runs by one means or
another. Also. he has been forced to re-
tire under hre a number Of times. Now
consider Walter Johnson, with a low
comedy team supporting him. and You
will find that the big Swede's record
looms up very favorably alongside that Of
the peerless Matty. who is with flag
winner.
The same thing holds good with Ed
Walsh II one cares to go back few
years The Sox this season have been
hitting well and making a fair number
of runs. but for the three OF four sea-
sons preceding their attack was about the
weakest in either big league, putting
everything up. to the pitcher. Yet, in
spite of all this, Big Ed has been going
along and winning steadily. While neither
Johnson nor Walsh has shown any great
er ability than Mathewson at his best
both have been far more consistent this
season in holding down their opponents
| to few runs and few hits. They have
been lifted from the mound less often,
| too.
| II the Athletics have been moderately
successful against these two pitchers, II
| is hard to figure where they can fare any
| worse against Mc0raw's pride. unless he
has one of his phenomenal days. in which
| case q nine composed entirely OF Ty
| Cobbs would have its troubles.
| Coming right down to cases, 1t looks
as though the American League really
| had more great pitchers than the older
circuit. Some of the stars among the
Ban Johnson moundmen are hiding their
| light under q bushel in being members of
poor clubs, where they really are pitching
much better ball than some men who
| smaller number Of defeats due to being
on clubs that can go out and get the
| tallies.
| Tying to dope out pitchers for a short
| series Is the riskiest sort Of guesswork at
| best, because nobody on earth can tell
Just how any individual twirler 10 to per-
form on any particular day. When men
| Marquard are going well they are likely
| to beat any pitcher who doesn't shut them
out: when they are having a bad day the
Jackson nine Of the South Michigan
| League might hammer them to a jelly.
| Aside from the twirling. which, 1t has
| been pointed out. Is hard to figure on.
| the Athletics seem to have the advantage
over their coming opponents In every de-
partment Of the game except base run