The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-05-12
GIANTS ARE
BETTER THAN
EVER BEFORE
PITCHING is so PER CENT OF THE
GAME AND GIANTS PITCHING
CORPS is IN ITSELF ENOUGH
TO LAND REMNANT.

w. ]. OsConner in the ST. Louis
Post Dispatch says:
Pitching is so per cent Of baseball
the hate Addie Joss is said to have de-
clared; but speed also is potent fac
tor. It's q big part of that other 20
per cent.
The Giants this season are well
equipped with pitchers, owning Mar
guard, Mathewson, Wiltse, Tesreau.
Ames and CrandalI; but in straight
away speed test, the minions of Mo
Graw probably will excel any other
team In either league.
The new 1912 New York model pen
nant machine had it's first local dem
onstration of the season, Monday. 1t
Is still machine built for speed, even
though 1t has several new parts, this
spring. There isn't slow man on the
club. aside from the batteTymen, while
even the most obscure recruit has
been taught how to properly slide.
Reds Also Fast.
Oddly enough, Cincinnati, which is
now pacing the Giants in the Lynch
league derby, also is a fast team, and
undoubtedly the only club in the league
that can favorably be compared with
the Giants, but the Reds seem unable
to take advantage Of their feetness
like the Giants do.
Ivey Wingo, with hrs steel arm.
found no trouble turning back the
Reds on attempted steals, but Ivey
couldn't make the Giants behave Mon
day. No less than four thefts were
credited to McGraw's men, and that's
really more steals than the Reds could
accomplish in a four game series. At
that, Sallee was on the hillock, Mon
day, while such juveniles as Willis,
Dale. ct al. worked against the Reds.
McGraw's Men Judioious.
However, there's a reason. The
Giants know when in addition TO
knowing how" to steal. The Reds
undoubtedly know how. but they do
not always know when" In other
words, McGraw's gang looks like a
more pert aggregation than ODay's.
Indeed, the Giants loom UP as the
most popular pennant club in the
league. McGraw figures to get better
pitching out of Vanguard, Matty, Tes-
reau and Wiltse than O'Day does out
OF Benton, Suggs, Gaspar, Keefe,
Smith and Fromme- Then McGraw
figures to have a better infield in
Merkle, Doyle, Shafer or Fletcher and
Herzog than ODay has in Robby,
Egan, Esmond and Phele n. The
Giants have big edge at second and
third, while Fletcher and Merkle will
compare vorably with Esmond and
Hobby. Tine Cincinnati first sacker
may have an edge on Merkle as an
allround man, but McGraw's first
sacker will I'LL in pretty We'll on any
club.
Reds outfield Better.
In the outfield, the Reds have a
shade over McGraw with such stars as
Bascher, Bates and Mitchell, but Nc
Graw will have such a big edge in
pitching that he can concede this adj
vantage and win going away.
Last year the Giants copied the flag
in the parent body chiefly. because the
club was free from accidents at all
stages of the race Should Dame For
tune again smile ON McGraw's effort,
there's no reason to hedge any bets on
the Giants. The New York entry is
off to a flying start and is in splendid
condition right now. It figures to keep
going at it's present gait and unless
the Reds fool the fans and stay up
there" McGraw should have such
a huge lead by July that it will be
tough to ever stop him.
The club is sure to be well handled.
The pitching corps promises more than
any other club, while the speed and
fighting spirit is there. Then the team
is well equipped with substitutes.
Right now Red Murray is on the
shelf, but in Burns and Becker, Nc
Graw has able subs. Shafer is show
ing In place of Art Fletcher, who is
laid up for repairs, but the Giants are
not suffering by the absence of the
Collinsville boy. Indeed, it is doubtful
whether Fletcher ever will get his job
back. Shafer fits pretty snugly into
the gap between HerZog and Doyle.
Incidentally, this Doyle is a big fac
tor in the Giants makeup as a pen
nant machine Larry must be recog
nized as the premier second sacker of
the National league, and there are
some good ones there in Higgins.
Sweeney, Evers and Egan. But Doyle
is a great hitter. a wonderful fielder
and second to none as a base runner.
Indeed, without Larry, the Giants
would not seem near so formidable.
Mems summer underShirts,