New-York tribune., 1911-02-05
PICK THE GIANTS TC WIN
Much Respect for Pennant Win
ming Possibilities of Nine.
WILL DEPEND ON PITCHERS
McGraw Can Boast OF a Stronger
Staff than Either Chance
or Clarke.

In the big leagues grows in importance.
A lot Of wholesome respect for the Giants
IS. being expressed all around the National
League circuit whenever such a topic is up
for discussion. Some critics openly pick
the New York club to win the race. while
many confne themselves to saying that the
team that beats McGraw's Line will be the
one TO capture the pennant.
other things being equal. it is the team
that has the pitchers whicI wins the fiag'
so old baseball men says. Here is where
McGraw appears to have he edge on his
chief rivals Chicago and Pit;sburg. These
three teams have finished in the first fight
for some years. and the fight for the flag
has generally narrowed down TO the three.
iMcGraw's pitching staff at the present
writing outclasses anything Fred Clarke or
Frank Chance can show.
Mathewson. naturally IS a bigger asset
than any other manager in the league can
boast. Bat the brilliant record Of Crandah
last season gives promise Of his being a
star OF almost equal magnitude this year.
Next i'm order is Drucke, whom Frank
Chance at the time of ;he worlds series
last fall declared was better pitcher
than Bender. Drucke admittedly has
everything a tWirler should have I'm the
way Of curves. even 10 a fadeaway of no
little merit. Last year ne lacked expert
ence. and this accounted for a number Of
his defeats, but with a wears seasoning
he ought 10 rank with the best
With these three as a foundation for the
pitching staff. there remain among others
Witse and Ames. both OF whom played IN
hard luck last year, sustaining injuries
which diminished their effectiveness Both,
however, are twirlers of proved worth.
Then comes Bugs" Raymond. whom
critics declare would be the best pitcher of
all time e he would keep i'm condition. lie
has already made a good start. and there Is
a chance that he will make name for
himself among the leading twirlers OF the
diamond.
Marquard has yet TO show what he can
DO. but McGraw has not hung on 10 nm
for nothing for three years, and he Is u
able to come into his own al any time. WIN
these veterans on hand, McGraw has seven
brilliant recruits. three Of whom. jenkins
who led the Illinois Missouri League pitch
ers last year; Rudolph, of Toronto ana
hendricks, are expected TO make good.
The weakness Of Frank Chances pitching
staff was suspected for the greater part OF
last season. but it was not until II raced
the Athletics that IL caved in and feH 10
the ground. The incMectiveness Of the plch-
ers in that series reflected ON the great
Chicago machine. which was almost intact
hut could not get under way So Tar as
can be seen at present. Chance VIII nave
about the same team next season. No
change Is looked for in the outheld ana
Harry steinfeldt is the only doubtful man
ot tire great inheld. Steinfeldt is fairly
certain of playing, but at any rate TINKER
,Tv.rs and Chance Will be on the Joo.
Rut where are the pitchers? MordecA
Brown was overworked last year because
Of the illness Of other members OF the
staff. lie pitched ,hirty-nine games ana
failed 20 return a card Of his usual orlh-
fancy. losing fourteen games. Ihe Dlah's
Knocked him out of the box several times
and he could do nothing with the Athleucs'
Overall had bad season and was AeIpIeSs
before Connie Macks men. He pltcheu
only eighteen games during the year ana
lost six. Reulbach, another great tWlrIer
in his time. was able 10 enter only twenty
eames. losing eight Of these. PhesteT went
10 pieces completely, pitching only nine
games and losing three. King Cole was
lifesayer for Chance. and around him the
| Chicago manager must build a new stan
N McIntire and Richie We're effective against
the second division teams, but were OF
little use anywhere else. There is possi-
bility that some of these great tWirIers
who have made baseball history VIII get
into form again, but they have been going
at top speed for a number OF years, and the
prospect IS anything but bright for CHI
cago.
Pittsburg's pitchers are still deeper In the
ruck Babe Adams, who won fame in
the worlds series Of 1909, failed 10 come up
20 expectations last season. Camnitz, the
Mathewson Of the Pirates, lost more games
than he won, and his relations with the
club are strained. Leideld won fifteen and
lost thirteen, and White won ten and lost
nine Philippe made the best record, but
pitched only sixteen games winning four
teen.
In fielding the Cubs and Pirates have an
edge perhaps on the Giants. but I'm hitting
the New York team led the league last
year. and hitting wins games Devore,
Doyle Merkle and Meyers are good for big
fhings this year il remains 10 be seen
what Snodgrass will do. but Devlin and
Bridwell can be depended upon for timely
wallop. and "Red" Murray for an Occa-
sional clean up.
One Of the best posted baseball men on
the Western end of the circuit has the fol-
lowing 10 say in regard 10 the chances OF
she Giants the coming season:
Leaving our boys out Of the account for
fear that a prejudicod opinion might be
given. the Giants look like the flag win
ners I'm the old league this season. This
club. considered a joke at the start OF last
seasons campaign, PLAYED consistent ball
Throughout and wound uD with a rush that
handed them in second place. John Nc
Graw is one Of the brainiest men In the
profession. and he has the knack Of keep
1ng poor ball club playing at a little bet
ter than it's top speed all the way, so Gong
as there is hope for II.
when 1t comes 10 insuuing a fighting
Spirit into his men McGraw is a wonder
He has been in the National League for
eight years and his club has never been
in the second division when the curtain
rang down. Many experts figured the
Giants as a second division club last season,
but McGraw worked his club TO the limit.
never allowing the team 20 let up for a
moment; made lot OF thick skulls play
intelligent ball and fought so hard that he
beat out the champion Pirates and did not
lack so much Of defeating the Cubs for the
gag. .
ball players must be accepted as very keen.
Many a manager. after Fred Merkle had
tossed off the pennant for the Giants IN
1903. would have discarded the young fellow
as a hopeless bonehead, but McGraw stuck
20 him, and Merkle is now one Of the best
l.