The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-23
CHANCES OF GAME
TO-DAY DOUBTFUL
Delay Caused by Rain Puts
New Complexion on Worlds
Series.
NEXT CONTEST is CRUCIAL
Victory for Athletics Means
Title, Defeat Might Be
Disastrous.
ny TY COBB.

Copyright. 1911, The Press Company
Especial to The Times Dispatchl
Philadelphia, Pa. October :2.-"Good
morning. Is II raining?"
That is the query the average man
asks hears when nc arises these
days, and it IL only natural since four
days We have awakened TO find it rain
ing and baseball impossible. and the
NTH. to-day, it would have been impus-
sible to play even had the rain stopped
completely and The sun been shining
brightly. Neither of these happened.
While the National Commission and
the contepdinS teams III the 1871
WORLDS series, the Athletics and New
York Giants. VIII play the fourth game
tomorrow If ii is possible. l must say
the outlook is gloomy. Folks VINO
have visited ShiDe Park tell me the
mud is ankle deep. 1t Will bee ALMOST d
miracle II the iniield ana outteld dry
sufficiently by o'clock tomorrow at
ternoon TO make baseball possible.
Remember. though, am not the
weather forecasicr and don't know
what is in store for US tomorrow.
trust the series Will be renewed at
the earliest possible moment, Tor in
Ierest has been Tagged. and the play
ers OF the Athletics and Giants harmed,
by the long period OF Inactivity.
New Complexion on series
Every baseball man l have talked TO
agrees with me that the rain has put
& new complexion on the worlds series.
w hattver chance the Giants have
and II is by no means remote one
hinges on the game which will he
played in Philadelphia tomorrow af-
,ernoon. or some me day soon. when
the weather permits. II New York
should win, they will PROBABLY feel
that they have a least an even chance,
II not better, to capture the title. In
deed. where the series would nobably
have been completed in iive games, or
six at the most, with the Athletics
winners. now it may require the sew
enth contest.
l am basng the dope" entirely on
the rest that Mathewson has gained
lie is grand pitcher. and from what
1 have seen OF MIN, is hard TO beat
when he is right. With him pitching
the next game. ihe American LeaEuers
are going TO have to fight hard to gain
the verdict l am OF the opinion that
since they have defeated "Mutty" once,
the Athletics will not fall down in
their next attempt But there is Just
a chance.
Believe me. to-morrow's game is
crucial one for the Athletics. Victory
Will assure them the title. Defeat
might be DISASTROUS for IT would give
New York second wind" and no man
could foresee Just what the outcome
would be. McGraw wants to win. for
he knows just what the situation Is
He Will overlook no opportunity to an
mex the next contest.
Pitching selection Doubtful.
still think that Manager NIack's mir r n
ing selection is doubtful. lie has Ben
der and Coomos. two wonderful right
handlers ready to go into the box The
one which looks best just prior 10 the
start OF the game Will be chosen No
man can tell who that win be.
If, as reported, "StufIy" McInnis Is
fit TO play again, he may be found at
hrst That is not question OF grave
Importance, simply because Davis has
played jam-up ball in the three games
completed, and would not be taken out
unless Manager Mack was sure that
the hard hitting McInnis would
strengthen the team extensively. or
course. Mcinniss fielding has been
remarkable fh easan, but Davis's was
good. too. =
There has been a general discussion
about the failure OF the Giants to hit.
That is easily explained. They were
up against superb pitching, and when
] say that l will admit that / do not
know anything about some of the Ma
1ional League stars, who batted hard
during the regular season.
Unless the Giants do bat more in tho
next games, however, they have Il
small chance OF winning Even the
wonderful twirling OF "Matty" must
be backed UP by some base hits
Base running probably VIII be a neg
ative quantity in the game played to-
morrow or Tuesday. The base paths at
Shibe Park are undoubtedly so heavy
that the fastest men will nave trouble
taking extra bases on anything except
lorg drive. AS for stolen bases.
they viii be almost impossible, barring
an unusual start BY the runner and a
bad throw by the catcher.
When these battles are renewed IL
should not take long to revive the in
terest. For believe we have in store
come more wonderful pitching duels.
Already the series has been the best
pitched in the history OF baseball, and
with such stars as Bender. Coombs and
Plank, OF the Athletics. and Mathewson
and Marquard. OF The Giants, rested.
they should do just as brilliant work
when they meet again.