New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-07
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Reasons for Climbing Oft the
Baseball Fence.
GIANTS PICKED TO WIN
News and Views on Live Topics
Of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

and frOIeSSlOudl'
rosore to-morrow's sun is set either the
cunts or the Red Sox will boast hrs'
.ood I'm what promises to be Keen anu
s,,,er struggle for the baseball cham
.,o,,st IN of the world. II has ever been
rm,zls TO me why the word world is
',sod inasmuch as no other country is
.,rvolyed. except these United States put
SO that as 1t may. the all important series
between the champions of the two major
,ssgpes will begin at o'clock to-morro"
of,arroon AT the Polo Grounds, where
o,ose 10 forty thousand persons VIII shout
IL glee or sit in gloomy silence as the
gao nj hattie Gibbs or flows. l have al
ready said in this column, putting aside
60 far as possible any personal prejudice
that the chances. slight though they
NAV be. favor the Giants and i am still
az that opinion. Two strong and remark
ably well balanced teams will face each
o,her. The figures of the season show
that the Red Sox hold slight advantage
oyer the Giants so far as defensive play
goes. but that this is more than offset oy
the figures which show that the Giants
have the call over the Red SoX offensive
ly-that is, in batting and base running
This in itself may not be enough on
which to base an opinion, as the direr-
ence is too slight on mere figures alone 10
furnish a sound conclusion. but there are
two or three other reasons, important IN
themselves which give me courage
~ he u-h iS
far the safest place TO be when 1t comes
10 making predictions on such an uncer-
tain sport as baseball, and doubly uncer-
tain in a short series when so much de-
ponds on the breaks Of the game.
I, may be ADMITTED that for the sake Of
argument that the Boston outfeld, due
largely to Iris Speaker, looks stronger on
paper than New York's outer works. 1t
should be acknowledged, however, by all
fair critics that the Giants are slightly
stronger in the infeld and behind the bat
that is, II any stock at all can be taken
In the averages Of the season. Between
the pitchers, on whom so much depends,
there is little to choose. but as l said
two weeks ago. my choice for a short
series. II had a choice, would be
Mathewson, Tesreau and MarQuard.
rather than Wood, Collins and O'Brien
or Bedient In view Of the fact, then,
that the two teams, individually and COL
lectively. appear so well matched, II Is
necessary to go further afield TO satisfy
ones self that the picking Of a winner
is something more than mere guesswork.
Two or three days ago a friend re-
marked that II he felt disposed to wager
on the series he would rather base an
opinion on the batting and fielding aver
ages Of the two teams for the last three
weeks rather than for the full season, as
indicating more clearly what might be ex-
pected when the big battle begins There
Is wisdom In this as In any line OF sport
It is not so much what a man has done
two or three months previous as what he
has been doing just before a match to
furnish line on the possible outcome.
The averages of the two teams for the
last three or four weeks of the season
we're published exclusively in The Tribune
yesterday as a final link so to speak. in
! the chain Of evidence which has been
submitted from time TO time These hg-
ures showed the Giants to be much
stronger extensively than the Red Sox, but
weaker defensively than the averages of
the season indicate.
TWO things. apart from everything else,
however, stand out, in my opinion, as n
basis for naming the Giants. These are
greater experience and John J. McGraw
The Giants went through a worlds series
year ago, when beaten by the Phila-
oephla Athletics, and that experience Is
almost sure TO count in their favor. Buck
ie'er and stage fright are accepted dis
eases which can be cured only by a Sec
oad dose Of the same medicine, and II is
more Than likely that the Giants will
ake the field with a more even poise
man the Red sox. This brings us TO the
second reason, or John J. McGraw. The
manager Of the Giants is past master
The art Of handling his men, and also
u me finer points OF baseball. Jake Stahl
ns proved himself an able leader In
? sns his first year as manager OF the Red
OK but even with Jim McAleer behind
e'm ne is likely to come of second best
matching his wits and baseball knowl-
s0se against those of John ]. McGraw.
Is quite possible. Of course, that the
opportunity for keen strategy may not
snse; that is. OF the kind which turns
we balance; but the chances are in favor
:" roth managers being put to the test.
'i'h The teams appearing so evenly bal
snceo on paper, and OF McGraw proving
"e more able and farseeing general.
larry Doyle. captain of the Giants. and
.ns Speaker, the hard hitting outflelder
Inc Red Sox, are well deserving of the
1Oaors heaped upon them by the baseball
'h'ers who made up the Chalmers tro-
YAy commission. The awards of the auto
lOeles offered by Hugh Chalmers, the
W. known manufacturer of cars, were
sn made. Both men worked hard and
''uiuiiy from beginning TO end OF the
'0n' ana both In measure were
sey responsible for their teams carry
en the much sought pennants. Both,
!, are likely 10 be prominent in settling
~ coming battle for the worlds cham
sVuship. Doyle and Speaker are a credit
vaseosil, and that their ability is rec
'"1ed Is cause for congratulation.