Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-05


or stahI at Crucial Moment Likely to
Win Championship For the Team.
Former Best Baseball General.
By TOMMY CLARK.
Red hot arguments are now in order
over the outcome OF the worlds Sc
ries. AS usual In such cases. it is very
difficult TO find two men who agree on
the result. Partisans OF both teams
cannot see how their favorites can lose
1t is interesting to follow the line OF
dope those not directly interested in
either team hand out.
OF course there is always a Iikcli-
hood OF sentiment influencing judg-
ment as much as ever. although
strnighter dope seems TO be offered
this year than ever before According
20 the table Of percentage the BOstons
are n stronger team this year than the
Athletics were last. That should give
them the edge IN the argument, but IL
is good betting that the dopesicrs
with New York affiliations will be able
to prove that the Giants are far strong
or this year than they were last and
the chances are that outside of Ma
thewsOn they are. but Tesreau. who
was the Giants savior when Marquard
broke down in midsensOn. may he able
to take the place of Big Six
While discussing the strength Of the
Boston and New York club, a compari-
son OF the individuals Of the two teams
is very Interesting Catchers Mcy-
%
edge on Carrigan. Cady and Nunamak
er OF the Red Sox. The former two
are better peggers and batsmcn than
the Boston trio. CarriEan's arm is not
as good as Il used 10 be. but he has n
great baseball head. Cady has not
had much experience. while Nuna
maker is slow. The Giants have the
better infeld Merkle AT first base IS
better all around man than Stahl.
Doyle at second base puts it MI over
Yerkes Of the Sox At short Wagner
of Boston Is steadier than Fletcher Of
the Giants. It's tOssup between Her
zog OF the Giants and Gardner OF the
SoX at third
In the outfeld Speaker. Lewis and
Hooper OF the Red Sox outclass Muir
ray. Devore and SnOdCrasS Of the
Giants in every way. In the pitching
department Boston has the edge. The
Sox have FIVE good ones In Wood. Be
dent. Hall. O'Bricu and Collins. while
the Giants will have to depend on Ma
thewsOn. Tesreau. Wiltse. Marquard
and Crandall The writer wishes 70 GO
on record as saying that Matty and
Tesreau will prove equal 10 the task
OF stopping the speed boys despite the
fact that Manager Stahl intends TO use
Joe Wood I'm three OF the games. II pos
sible. Tesreau has beer twiriiug great
ball OF late. and Big six" will be able
20 hold up his end as usual. even
though he has been in harness many
years. believe that in TeSreau the
Sox viii run up against II hig snag. one
that will prove to be their undoing
The Sox have the best bunch Of hit
tiers and have much better fielding
club than the Giants. hut the latter has
the best base runners and are more
aggressive than the SoS.
Granting that the Red Sox have the
better pitching staff. the claSsier out
field and the better batting and de
fensive aggregation. there is one big
advantage that the Giants have, aud
that r. the managerial side.
Many times during the series Johnny
McGraw and Jake Stahl will match
their wits and baseball knowledge
The winner Of the worlds title may
depend upon which leader H. the more
clever baseball general History tells
us that the worlds honors have been
decided before by the sudden shifting
OF one player at a crucial moaent In
an important battle. Once team IL
thrown or its balance when things
are apparently going its way its stead
mess can seldom be restored. Then
the other team sweeps through the
balance Of the series
Thsre Is no quicker thinker in base
ball than Johnny McGraw. He is al
ways there on the coaching line. ready
TO take advantage OF an opportunity
10 win. He has shown this many
times by clever jockeying ~ men when
a situation looked hopeless and has
pulled his team on; u winner
He is ore OF the greatest managers
In the history OF the game. He will
force his players 10 overcome any nat
ural handicap under which they may
labor during the series.
With all due respect 20 Stahl and the
manner In which he handled the Sox
this season. ii must be stated that he
has yet to prove the equal OF the Giants
leader.
Pitcher Wood Uses Few Curves.
Pitcher Joe Wood has relied on