Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-24
BY J. ED aR1LLo.

About all there is to figure on IN this
base hall campaign is the outcome of the
worlds series New York, it would SEEM
will make the Giants the favorites more
because they represent New York than
that their class warrants it. 1t is but
natural for New Workers to figure that
the Giants are invincible Having won
the National League pennant and hum
bled both Cubs and Pirates, New ork
will not be able to see any other team
But, Of course, all lovers OF base pan
will not share this belief. There is a
team over in Philadelphia over which a
long lean gentleman Of quiet demeanor
presides that will also have following
It may not have as many noisy adher-
ents as it's prospective rival. nor Will the
claims for it be as extravaganza but when
those games are played 1t is very apt
to be very much in evidence.
In rubbing elbows with ball players.
magnares and base ball men in general, it
seems to be the opinion of those who give
the game much study that when the
smoke has cleared away Connie Mack
team will have another world cnain-
pionship to it's credit
A prominent base ball man gave II as
his opinion the other day that the Glants
would be no more troublesome than were
the Cubs This, of course. seems IKE a
precariOus prediction, but it was sincerely
given The belief was based on the fact
that the Athletics are much better hit
ting team than the Giants and that. bar
ring Marquard. there is no other pitcher
McGraw can send to the sian VINO Will
prove troublesome.
Though the very mentioning of his
name would be believed to bring fear to
the hearts of the average batsman. it is
said that the Athletics are looking for
ward with pleasure to the games that
Mathewson is to pitch. They feel conf
dent that they will beat him, for. accord
ing to their way of thinking, Mathewson
of today is not the pitcher he was a lew
years ago, and that his winning nova
days is more the result OF strategy than
speed or curves. and that when he is up
against hitting team like the Athletics
he will be unable to hold it in check.
Be that as it may. the fact remains
that Mack has a great ball team. There
may be nothing flashy about it, In fact.
there are other teams which furnish bet
ter entertainment and diversion. but when
it comes to playing the game and hav-
ing every position in the hands of COM
petent,s hard-hitting man. there is no bet
ter team than the Athletics.
Go through the batting order of the
champions and you do not strike single
man who is not dangerous with the
stick. even down to the pitchers. That
sort of team is sure to get runs and
when 1t has pitching such as Bender
and Coombs are expected to do it must at
least be given a chance. even though 1t
be pitted against the Giants
But hitting is not all the Athletics can
do. 1t is generally conceded that Mack's
infield consisting of Baker Barry. Collins
and McInnes, is the fastest and best
hitting that any team has had in many
years And it's outfield looms up pretty
well when the hitting ability of Murphy
and Oidring: not to speak OF Lord, is
taken into consideration.
1t is argued that McGraw is a great
base ball general. Granted; but is there
any one better qualified to outline a de-
Tense or attack than Cornelius McGilli-
cuddyo There is no trick Of the game. no
science of the sport that Mack is not
familiar with. MANY of the plays and
strategic moves are of his invention, and
If 1t comes down to battle in which
heads are to count Mack will not finish
second to McGraw.
Strangely enough. both McGraw and
Mack have teams Of their own making.
Every man on them was made good
ball player under their direction, barring
Mathewson of course, who was recog-
niZed great pitcher Wren McGraW
took hold of the team
Neither has a player who was develop
ed by any one else. Mack's infield is
made up OF youngsters ne picked up on
| the lots. The same IS true of Nc
Graw's He schooled Herzos, Fletcher.
DOYLE and Merkle. and he made his out
| field too He changed Snodgrass from a
catcher to an outfielder, and he brought
all the good to>the surface that there
was in Murray and Devore.
But in this respect he does not differ
| from Mack. who in two years tore down
| an infield that was good enough to make
| his team a contender in the race. and
supplanted 1t with lot of kids who now
have the reputation of being the fastest
| infield in either league Great men. in
deed. are the heads of these two cham
pionship teams, and if their machinery
! is all oiled and intact there ought to be
some great battles in Philadelphia and
New York in October
Seeing players in action in some OF the
small minor leagues does not give an op-
| portunitv to get a good line on their
| ability, which probably accounts Tor the
coming up of some players VINO 1aii ap.
solutely in fast company. Win skinned
diamonds. short fences and inferior
pitching and catching to contend with
| the scout may see what strikes MN as
| a likely youngster. and yet when that
same player comes into the Dig easue
he finds everything so different ana the
game PLAYED on so much higher plane