The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1912-10-08
Smoky Joe Woods Master of Pitching
Art While Tesreau Blows Up
Halts Campaign Probe

and take your choice" when the New
York Giants and the Boston Red So,
met this afternoon to play the openins
game of the 1912 Worlds Champion
ship Series. Experts who had beer
figuring on the comparative strength
of the two teams since it became ap-
parent weeks ago that they would
fight for the title, arrived at the con-
clusion finally that only two points
were left on which to base the Sc
lecting of a favorite. One point OF
vantage was allotted to each team
The Giants possessed the confidence
gained by participation in last years
world series. The Red Sox were fa-
vored because they outgamed the
Giant-killing Athletics through a long,
hard season. Aside from these two
points, there was though to be little
choice. the two teams generally being
regarded as evenly matched.
Examining the two teams through
their records and through scientific
study failed to produce balance in
favor of either. The Giants, according
to averages, possessed superior hit
ting, base-running and scoring ability
and the Red SoX, according to aver
ages, were stronger afield, but the diff
ference between the two was in each
instance hardly appreciable. Boston
70, fo, IN
Giants superiority in batting aver
age is mentioned, that the Red Sox
were up against better pitching than
the Giants encountered. A more salts
factory method of comparison was
found in a close scrutiny of the play
of individual members of the teams.
Here again an even break resulted.
Carrigan of Boston, is usually rated
a better backstop than Big Chief
Meyers, but Cady, who invariably
catches when Smoky Joe Wood works
obtains there. Wood and Matty in
speed and skill. were thought to be
about evenly matched. Collins, through
not so brilliant as Marquard, was re-
garded as more steady and reliable
Bedient, like Tesreau, spitball pitch
er, was thought to be more seasoned |
if not so flashy as Big Jeff.
Merkle and Doyle, at first and sec
ond were conceded to be as much |
better than Stahl and Yerkes, as Wag- |
ner and Gardner were reckoned su-
perior to fletcher and Herzog. The |
Boston infield as whole was thought |
o possess greater defensive strength,
being steadier than the Giant four,
md the quartet being a more smoothly |
machine. But the New York
nfielders possess higher batting aver
lges than their Boston rivals Again.
| toss up.
AS for outfielders, Boston was gen
rally given the preference. Lewis,
speaker and Hooper from one of the
most wonderful fielding trios that has
ver played the game, according to all
rites. In addition they are a good
itting bunch, Speaker especially being
terrific swatter. Opposed to them
,ere to be Murray, Snodgrass and
'ecker. Red John Murray, at times
sensational fielder and vicious hitter,
yas not to be heavily banked on be-
ause of his tendency to be erratic.
t that he stands head and shoulders
bove Becker and Snodgrass. Man for
ian and as a combination the Giant
rank below the Red Sox
ardeners.
Any advantage that Boston might .
ave in actual playing strength was q
bought to be counterbalanced by the
lanagerical ability Of John McGraw, :,
lie Giant boss His generalship has
nd critics ranked him above Jake
tahl Although Stahl, aided and
3etted by McAleer, was recognized =
an able general, and one who
,uld produce results.
Summing it all up, the two teams n
ere regarded as about evenly match !
as to real, game-winning ability. G
'itics compiled statistics and reckon +,
individual merit without reaching
decision for either team. The ques :
IN was an open one, and guess I
ork availed nothing. The whole
oblem seemed to be one of how the
ans would act under fire. The
ants. having been through one
,rld's series, were confident. The
ID Sox, having defeated the team
at won the championship from the
ants, were likewise confident.
Tomorrow's game will be played at
ston, the two teams spending to-
,ht in New York and travelling to VI
: Hub tomorrow morning. A big VI
,eption awaits them. "
VI
The Current Events club and the tn
storical club will hold rummage