New-York tribune., 1912-01-22
COMMENT On ? SPORTS
No Fear of Davis Cup Being Laid
Away on a Shelf.
A PROBLEM IN BASEBALL
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

Oh buS LAY, oOVh
and Professional.
As published in The Tribune on Wednes-
dav Billy Larned. seven times hoioer VI
The United States national lawn TENNIS
championship. had a valid excuse LOT "h"'
on this side of the world appeared to be
his poor showing against Tod Heath IN the
international match for the DAVIS CUP III
Now Zealand A letter received here le"
davs ago and mailed before the matche"
said that he had been suffering from rheu-
matism No doubt he felt equal 10 'ahiie
the court when the day came, out rhe"ii'"
tism Is an insidous afiiiction ana su1KeS
hard when least expected. II is not hno"' u
as vel whether he was hampered from inns
cause in the match I'm which he was deIed'-
cd but Il fully explains the report oy cdoie
that he defaulted in the second match uo-
cause If a strain Rheumatism just loves
TO Jump 10 slightly twisted knee or some
other Joint. and slight strain Whlch uhuer
ordinary circumstances would be overcome
in few hours is Immediately eXaggeraltu'
Emphasis is laid on this because OF the
fact that Larned was accused or 'Qulttins
bv some persons in this country IN the gen
sraI criticism OF the team following defeat
which. as pointed out in this column was
unfair until full details had been heard
This subject calls to mind a statement
saw published a few days ago that an ell
fort would be made to have the Austrahan
team come TO this country another year 10
defend the now famous trophy. Ihe sus-
sestion is 20 unsportsmanlike. one may
saw absurd that II seems waste OF
words 10 dignity it with any comment
II aroused some discussion, however, anu
in view Of this, almost feel constrained 10
assume authority for complete dehiai.
have no such authority. but am sausneo
that those in control of the United states
National Lawn Tennis Association VIII
scout the suggestion If IT is ever mace III
an official way which I doubt The Aus
tralian team won the cup in England on
foreign courts, and stands ready TO delehu
q against all corners. That anybody III
this country should presume so far as 10
ask Australia to relinquish whatever au-
vantage there may be in playing on nome
courts is beyond understanding. the sus-
gestion is not only unsportsmanlike, Dut' III
my opinion, insulting. No fair and worth!
onnonent should be forced into position
nj refusing a request that there was not
sonne good reason to consider. AS SAID DC
fore. there is no occasion to fear such an
unhappy situation. but it seems pity tnat
il should have had publicity enough TO get
70 the ears of the players and governing
body in Australia.
To those calamity howlers who insist tIat
the cnn is safely lodged on the other side
of the world and that the national asso
ciation will not issue another challenge II
IL.
ble II bv any chance the players here give
In the quest il will not be dropped by Ins-
Ind which is quite as keen TO regain the
,rnnbv as this country. The English play
ors nave hoeu handicapped under their last
ivo' challenges by being forced to play Tue
nrelirnipsry tics iu this country. They WI
n, ipstifed this year I'm demanding thaI
the preliminary matches, if necessary p'
ntaved IN England or else in Australia
Inn d,sposed 10 feel that the team Wllcf
made such "A good if losing fight on the
West Side courts here last September WoulC
have made a better showing than our owr
IN New Zealand because Of greater famil
iarity with the style of the defending
players.
"Ilow old IS Ann?" is as nothing IN th'
way of a problem TO the one onered by
reader who signs himself Baseball STU
dent" One thing is surc-the query opens
the way to a discussion which could laS'
indefinitely. 1t follows:
"A" reviews the official baseball records
for 1911, and notes that more Ddse hlts
were made off the pitching OF MathSWsoI,
of the Giants. last season, thah OIL dny
nitcher in the National League, though
there were various pitchers IN thal ledsu ~ &c
who took part in more games anu ,IirIt,s oCiI,
who pitched q greater number OF lhhllSs
than did MatheWsOn last year, the latIel
allowing about one base mt an minus y.
SG3 hits in 3O7 innings, being nearly the
same average allowed by MN ,oqo 9urI"s '"'
two previous seasons, l%5 ana LSIV'
"A" after carefully examining tHe Ltc-
ords' states that for six years pdsl-45yo
u-Mathewson, OF the Hlants, MAJ srCJn mUr The tt,
taii-end clubs of the National League suCl
as Boston, Brooklyn, Cincinnati am 81,
Louis. and "A" further adds that during
the last three years-l909, 1910 and 1911
Mathewson has been called on 10 pitch
against said second division CiuDs vi 'ho he
National League more frequently that t9H., ,n' ne
has been matched against lne hls' oi''''
contenders in the race. .,.,,,,r,0 @
presented by a seeming 10 tnIaH ba%a 't,f'. nP
served the coincidence and Woulu IaSS .LsS
commented thereon, and both a ana 10, -
agree with Father Chadwlck S.o,ing WOIrTy
Clinton, that the true criterion OF pitcmns
eb;iitv Is reckoned by taking into consld-
arst;on the comparative showing made
against first division cluos IN Ine Pe,'i'I, pc " 49,
race each year. Which is correct, . VI
10 I'm the matters above referred to!
r,ust confess TO being too busy to make
s,udv Of the records for six years with
enough care to decide the question tairly'
PoughIv speaking, A is right in contendinG
that Matty, or for that matter any other
leading pitcher, wins more games from the
so.called tail-end clubs, for the simple rea-
son that the opposition is not so strong
u ,s true also I'm a measure that Matty or
any other leading pitcher works ottener
against the second division clubs. as ne
has four i'm that class TO meet 10 only
three in the other. 1t is not true, however
that Natty has been favored In any way III
the last few years so far as taking his reg
ular turn in the box is concerned. Neither
ne nor McGraw has ever shirked the
stronger teams and while, as said before
have not time to delve into the subject
closely / would be willing 20 assert on
hand that big Six has pitched as many
games against the Cubs and the Pirates in
the last four years as he has against
Brooklyn and Boston.
II As purpose is to show that Mathew
son does not deserve the credit for being
one Of the greatest pitchers. II not the
greatest. in the history Of baseball, he will
not lack for those willing TO take up the
cudges. In my opinion no pitcher who
ever lived has been more valuable TO his
team year in and year out. Mattys won
dcrful skill lies IN his ability To- tighten up
at critical moments and 10 prevent base
hits being converted into runs. 1t is rot the