Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-14
BY j. ED GRILLo.

NEW YORK October LIT seems to
be the consensus of opinion that which
ever one of the contestants in the world S
series wins the first game will be the VIC
tor in the series. Even McGraw ana
Mack seem to labor under this impression.
and while at the time of filing this story
il is too early to make definite state
ment as to what selections the two great
managers will make. so far as their
pitchers are concerned. it seems to stand
to reason that both will use the best they
have in their stables. which means that
Mathewson and Bender will clash in the
opener.
If confidence counts for anything Nc
Graw will win the series. He is not doing
any boasting, but there is something
about his manner that indicates that he
fears nothing from the American League
champions. My players are all in good
TRIM" said he this morning. LOT course
the wear and tear of a long season has
told on all of them, but there are no
weak legs or sore arms on the team, and
that counts for much. l think We will
be able 70 give a good account of our
selves
Connie Mack is the same conservative
individual as ever. The fact that he was
on the verge of pIunging into one of the
most important series of his base bal,
career did not seem TO have the slightest
effect on his disposition this morning. He
processes to know how good team the
Giants were, but he felt certain that he
had d good ball team himself and he ad-
mitted that he labored under the i'm
preston that it would take a better one
to beat him. But so far as making any
predictions was concerned the head of the
Athletics was decidedly conservative.
There is just one flaw in the Giants
stronghold, and that is that no one has
any confidence in the ability of Mar
guard to pitch winning ball away from
home.
Of course McGraw is not talking. but it
Is understood that he has no intention of
working Marquard anywhere but in New
York. He will not work him in Phi .adel-
pha. but MathewsOn is better on the
road than he is at home he may use him
in as many games as he may be COM
pell ed to play in MaCks town and use
Vanguard at home exclusively. For this
reason it was rumOred this morning that
McGraw would upset all the dope and
predictions by pitching Marquard in the
first game this afternoon. Such a move
would undoubtedly be surprising and yet
il would be strategic. for If he has no
confidence in Marquard on the road and
intends to use him right here is the only
place to do it. There is no doubt, on the
other hand, about Mathewson. He is at
his best when the pinch is highest, and
the fact that he is pitching on foreign
grounds does not have the slightest eff
feet on him, OF course opinions differ as
to the ability of Marquard when facing
the Athletics, but all the National League
players that the writer's have met here
contend that on his good days it is sim
ply impossible to hit him, and his good
days with decidedly few exceptions, have
all been on the home grounds.
There is doubt in the world that
Goth Mack and McGraw. though they are
conceded to be about as wise as you
make them in base ball. were none too
certain of their ground this morning. 1t
IS much like two fighters of experience
entering the ring and yet being nervous
for the first round until each can feel
out the other. While, of course these
worlds series do not d fer from other
ball games. artistically speaking, yet the
Importance of the outcome has its effect
IN the managers. and it is not draw ng on
ones imagination to say that if the truth
were known both McGraw and Mack
were under a stra today. Both have
been given the reputation of being gen.
erals and one expects the other to give
some sort of strategic demonstration on
the opening day that may give him the
advantage III the series. The chances
are. of course, that nothing of the sort
VIII happen and that when the series
is over every one will realize that moth
ng but the same old game has been wit
messed.
pc because he considers him better man
disabled than Davis is in good condition
There was disposition to make any
dennite announcement on this matter this
morning. Mack seemed to feel that there
was time enough to make decision just
before the game. but the impression was
out that Mclnnis would not play and
hat Davis would cover first. The gam
bling element was particularly anxious
TO know which il would be. Davis or
McInnis, for IL Davis is to play the
Giants are sure to be favorites of greater
magnitude than they have been TO date.
No one seems to believe that Davis is
equal to the emergency. In the first
place. he has been in but few games this
season, and can hardly be figured as
being in condition to do himself justice,
and If he We're in condition he has
reached that stage Of his career where
nothing brilliant is to be expected.
Bill Murray, scout for the Pittsburgh
club. and undoubtedly one of the best
posted base ball men in the country, is
not picking the winner for the reason
that he has not seen enough of the
Athletics to be able to judge their
strength. but, in speaking OF the Giants
ne gave it as his opinion that McGraw's
team is one OF the best on the bases
that he has ever seen in his many years
experience.
a row, but the seventh one that gets on
will try To steal. and that has really
been the secret OF their success If
course | am not predicting that the
Giants Will run away from the Athletics
on the bases. but what / meant to
make plain is that they worry their OPP
ponents by their persistency on the paths
and that has an effect on the other team
no matter what the result OF their efforts
may be-
AS was to be expected. there are the
usual complaints being registered by those
VINO nave been unable 10 get the tickets for
Inc games they desired. Though the ac-
commodations here are far greater than
those OF any other park in the country the
demand for seats is also greater and nat
uraily a lot of folks are going to be dis
appointed But. Of course those who did
. not get what they wanted are register
ing long and healthy howls Accusations
are being made that the tickets have
shipped into the hands of SPECTATORS and
all that sort of thing and while that
may be true to a certain extent for IL
Is impossible 10 prevent this practice
notwithstanding all precautions ON the
whole the New York club has done the
best IL could II is no easy matter ~
satisfy several million people DESTROYS OF
witnessing ball games with plant that
holds at the outside but J0.OOO and vet
that is a condition with which the club
has to contend.
Speaking of the new Polo Grounds and
the prediction that there will be 5000
attendance on opening day. that is, of
nyt of h.s1