New-York tribune., 1911-10-22
ONE MORE BODY BLOW
FOR BASEBALL SERIES
Umpires Take Sounding and
Find Diamond Ready
for Water Polo.
GIANTS HOME FOR SUNDAY
Field at Shibe Park So Soggy
That Much Postponed Fourth
Game May Go Over
to Tuesday.
[Py Telegraph 10 The Tribune. J

BHlla0clDfla.
GAYS are come. and all the Joy which the
lusty bat Of Home Run" Frank Baker
broueh, to the slumberng inhabitants Of
this town has been transmogrifed into the
deepest gloom. To-day rain again IN
terfered with the playing Of the fourth
game I'm the worlds baseball series be-
tween the Giants and the Athletics. and
the teams have disbanded until Monday.
Unless it dawns bright and clear to-mor-
row. for drying out purposes. there will be
no game until Tuesday. Shibe Park has
never been in worse condition since it was
laid out The longer It rains the longer
Il will take 10 dry off the field, and such
large quantity of water has fallen that
It will be almost impossible to have it right
without a full day Of sunshine.
The three Bils-Klem, Brennan and D-
neen-with Tom Connolly as a bodyguard.
got an early start in calling off to-day's
game The National Commission ordered
them 10 set their alarm clocks for O'Clock
and to get up an appetite for breakfast by
prospecting An early decision was de-
sired so that the fans Of New York and
other Eastern cities might be saved an un-
necessary trip to "Slowtown." The UNI
pires were up with the sparrows. When
they saw the rain coming down in torrents
they decided before leaving the hotel that
there could be no game However. they
were willing TO give the diamond the bene-
,--9
out 10 the parade grounds Of the Athletics
After taking a few soundings around the
home plate and in the outheld. they were
unanimous in the opinion that conditions
were ideal for water polo. but that a base
ball game had best be omitted AS might
be expected. the decisions of the umpires
are not proving popular here. but II is felt
that they are the best that can be rem
dered under the circumstances.
Connie Mack was not at the field when
the umpires handed down their verdict. He
arrived later. however. and after he had
taken a look al the field he said it ap
peared 10 him that It was doubtful IL
game could be played on Monday unless the
rain ceased More water fell to-day than
on any day since the storm began.
The wet weather is giving the manager
catch up in his correspondence which has
been unusually heavy since the Athletics
won the second game from the Giants.
Among the telegrams which he has received
were invitations TO play the remaining
games in Tacoma. Wash. and in Au-
rUsta. Ca.
The members Of the Philadelphia nine re-
rorted at the field at 10 o'clock. according
Hai nd
until Monday morning. when they will at
tempt 10 get a much needed workout II
the weather permits "Rube" Oldring, the
centre fielder. returned % Mount Vernon
u y, where his sister will be buried to-
morrow. He expects TO rejoin the team on
Nonday. Oldring said that his mother is
very fl.
So soon as the game was officially post
poned to-day. John ]. McGraw gave the
high sig1 10 the members Of his team and
told them that their time was their own
until Monday morning They Immediately
stamped the mud Of Philadelphia off their
feet, as there was no dust around TO shake
off. and scattered in all directions The
order 70 dsband was a welcome one. and
most Of the players took the first train 10
New York. leaving here at II O'Clock this
morning
Philadelphia fans" are puzzled at the
eagerness with which everybody leaves
the city at the earliest opportunity The
National Commission cannot see its way
clear 10 staying in Philadelphia any longer
than is needed 10 see the game. Then they
take the first train TO New York The
same IS true of most of the out-of-town
players and fans" The restful spirit
which pervades the atmosphere here does
not seem 10 be 10 their liking.
Visitors from other sections OF the coun-
try who made plans for sotourn Of only
a week. have in many instances been un-
able 10 stay longer, and have departed
without hope OF seeing the remainder Of
the series The players and those in au-
thority are anxious 10 have the whole af-
fair over with in the shortest possible
order
The vacation has not been conducive TO
the best interests Of either team While
the Giants welcomed the rain for day or
two. they now feel that all the advantage
accruing 10 them BY a short rest has been
mitigated by the long delay. and they are
fearful Of not being able 10 show any bet
tsr stick work In the succeeding contests
than they did I'm the first three games II
n generally conceded that the pitchers and
not the batters are the ones 10 profit most
By laying off Mathewson and Marquard
have been able 10 recuperate sufficiently
10 give a good account Of themselves. The
same is true OF Bender and Plank Coombs
probably would he much better of by
working every other day.
The fourth game. IL il is played before
rrow flies. may not be so closely contested
as the previous encounters. Unless a
chance is afforded for practice, the fielding
is liable TO fall off considerably. While the
pitching should be as good as ever, errors
may play a prominent part in the next
conflict
The odds on the Athletics to win the
next game were quoted a. 10 three days
ago. but a decided falling off has been
noticed recently. II is felt that since
Mathewson has had an opportunity TO rest
he will be as hard 10 beat as before,
and 10 IS the best that the supporters
OF the Athletics will give on the next con-
test counting that Matty will pitch
1t looks as II the fans" would be right
in this respect. as McGraw has now a
more stratezical position than last Wednes-
day Matty no doubt will be used on Mon
day If the game IS played. which will make
IL possible for Marquard 10 pitch the fifth
game in New York before a more friendly
crowd II the Giants win both games,
Matty on a pinch could pitch the all inn
portant sixth contest I'm this city next