The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-10-09

ter ball club must win. In 1906, ana
In 1909. at least. the stronger team
was not the victor. The only TWO
races that We're absolutely TO form
were those OF 1908, when the cubs mad
the best team that ever went into -
worlds series. and that of 1910, Wneh
the next strongest lineup to that
showed how a young and fast set OF
champions can overpower an older ag
gregation that has turned the corner
and started down the hill. Put Giants
and Athletics into the same league,
and Mack's men must beat out those
of McGraw. The latter, unable TO rely
on two pitchers, could not stand the
strain, and would die away as did
Jennings Tigers, once their pitchers
went wrong.
This is what the American League
has to fear--that the Giants, with the
advantage of an opening at home, with
Il Sunday intervening after the first
game to give Mathewson an extra day
Of rest before his comeback III the
third number and with the possibility
OF a rainy day or two helping out
further, may be- able to come through
with victory simply on the work OF
two pitchers. The Athletics have the
same chance, of course. But, on pa
per, Mack has no two twirlers who
match up with the New York pair.
Mathewson and MarQuard. Bender is
a high class workman, but lie can
not repeat without long rest. Coombs
has not looked good at any time this
season and must improve wonderfully
to be an effective pitcher in the series,
What the pitchers do VIII decide
the outcome. and YOU cannot Inquire
pitchers in advance. The Giants
y ~ I,s.S Rlf
it will have to be considerably supe-
rior, because of the greater batting
strength of the Athletics. Mack has
smarter ball club, a better hitting
club, and one that will take quicker
advantage OF any breaks As las been
said before in these columns, the
Giants supposedly superior base run
ming cannot count for great deal.
They steal more sacks than the Ath
letics, but at base running. in the is
sue sense. they have little, II any
thing. on the American Leaguers. If
the actual strength of the two teams
We're to be figured the Athletics
should be fayorites An even money
bet Is the right price. as 1t stands.
Mack is bound to open with Bender,
and then to hope for rain. Last year
he started with the Indian on Mon
day, came back with Coombs on Tues
day, and pitched the latter again in
the third game, with one days rest,
while the team was travelling West,
SO that Bender, with rain on Friday,
had from Monday To Saturday to rest.
He lost the Saturday game. IL he
opens, he cannot possibly repeat be-
for the fourth contest. Who will
pitched the third game is guess.
McGraw Will put Morgan on top of
l,.. dime hat. IiFSy tn, tutn ~ ity Z
he is started. 1t looks like Plank,
who was third choice last fall. but
was never started.
Ii must be remembered that the ac-
tual comparative strength of two
teams counts so little In worlds
series that one pitcher can win the
title for his team, This has happened
twice, for in Two different years Il
pitcher has brought home three vic
tories. That is all that is necessary
for the* law of percentage VIII give
sin the needed rubber game. with
the chances for any one man of your
entire staff. in four guesses. to prove
to he the one who is right.
Mathewson. In 1905. shut out the
Athletics three times McGinnity got
the other game for them, after being
beaten once. Adams, in 1909, won
three times for Pitsburg. No other
Pirate pitcher could do anything with
Detroit but Pitsburg got eight runs
for Maddox one day, and he won his
game, to 6. That was all that was
needed.
II Will he Mathew son and Bender
In the opener, and II Matty Is good
enough to win three games, II doesn
matter much about Marquard. ms
either he or some one else should win
once