The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-08-25
By cHRIsrY MATHEwsoN,


Star Pitcher of the Giants
Taking II on the whole, II was not
such bad week for the Giants. In st
Louis the Giants cleaned up. while
Philadelphia did as well against the
Cubs as we expected or hoped for. and
we did about as well In Pittsburg as we
had anticipated. We swung into Pitts
burg feeling lot more clipper than we
did when we left Chicago. and the
weeks events In the Smoky City left us
still holding to the idea that the Giants
are going to win the pennant.
But the Cubs are going to give US a
battle all the way. In the article one
week ago I showed that the question
Of the pennant race had now narrowed
down to a question of pitchers, with a
great deal depending on Teareau. big
Jefr' has demonstrated that this de-
pendence has not been misplaced. Will.
a great deal of relief was visible In
McGraw's face after Marquard turned
In his victory In st. Louis. Tesreau
was beaten in Chicago on Wednesday
because the club made no runs behind
him.
I have had several persons complain
to me that never take myself into the
equation when expressing opinions for
publication about the Giants pitchers
under my signature.
I would rather not discuss myself.
but as l am member of the stan MIN
under the microscope. and, therefore.
enter into the question, I am going to
drop a few words of a personal nature
in this week Fans often wonder how
a twirler feels and whether he is i'm
mune to comment from the outside. In
a certain sense. II makes no difference
to me what criticism is made by spec
tators of my work. but I have over
heard persons who do not know me on
the bali field say frequently this year
that I am getting old Therefore lit
tie introspection.
Arm Is Strong.
In the last month my arm has never
felt better or stronger. and. while they
beat me in Chicago. 1t took extra in
nings to do 1t. Therefore, i expect to
be able to support Tesreau and Mar
guard from now to the end of the sea-
son. at least, In spite of the gravedig-
gers who are insisting on writing my
obituary.
Leaving the discussion of myself right
there. 1t seems to me that the Giants
pitching staff is at present very much
healthier than Chances. and the New
York twiriers are liable to improve from
now to the end Of the season. Two men
on McGraw's staff are much better COO
weather pitchers than hot day twirlers-
These are Ames and Marquard. II was
in the early months OF the season that
"Rube" got his great start toward his
record, and II was the hot weather which
finally wore him down and broke him.
Ames has been an ''ice box" twirler ever
since he Joined the club.
RED" il troubled some with catarrh,
and Is q mouth breather. The warm
weather appears to exhaust him. and that
is the reason that he blows so quickly
In q game when he once starts to go.
He lets loose all at once. But possibly
fans will recall the splendid pitching
Of the New York stan when the club
swung through the West on the sensa-
tional and victorious trip at the end Of
last season It was the sudden recov-
cry OF Ames' that did as much toward
that victorious session as anything else
In spite of the fact that a newspaper
man blamed Ames' fine pitching In his
stories on the acquisition by Red" of
a many-colored necktie, which he in
sisted on wearing until he lost. because
he said It was lucky. II was really a
cool spell. Now, with Marquard and
Ames In form, there should be nothing
to interfere with the race.
On the other hand, Chances STAN
seems to be fading with the exception Of
Richie. and the sensational pitching Of
Lavender is now more a matter Of his
tory than Of contemporaneous gossip. He
has not started against the Giants and
stayed throughout the game since tse
time he beat Marquard and broke
'Rubes string for him. It was then
that McGraw said of him:
He Is not a great pitcher. You ought
not to have let him get away with that
one. McGraw proved that he Is q