New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-13
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Uncertainty Of Baseball Empha-
sized in College Mines.
CORNELL STOCK BOOMING
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

Baseball il uncertain AZ It's hest. This
uncertainty. however. is intensified hum
dredfold among the college mines. Form
'e less defined than in football or any other
sport, and chiefly for the reason that there
IS variable in what many consider the
most important position on a team This
~ course, refers to pitching. In Il series or
games between the same teams this varia-
hle Is not so pronounced for the reason
that tho staff as a whole is considered and
not one particular man In making COM
parison or reconciling results. In college
baseball. however. when teams rarely meet
more thar twice in the same season. this
variable is emphasized TO a marked degree
and presents problems which are almost
impossible to solve. A pitcher, 10 retain
his effectiveness, must corfine himself 10 a
certain amount OF work and consequently
must take his turn with others OF the staff
Brown, for instance, With Councilman IN
the box is an altogether different team
than Brown with some other pitcher on
The mound. and the same is true of prac-
tically every college nine. which as rule
can boast OF one star pitcher, or at least
one from which best results can he OBJ
tanned and behind whom the other men,
hers Of the team play with most confidence
This in a measure accounts for some OF
the upsets during a college baseball season
which makes IL so hard to establish a rat
ing which will be accepted by all concerned.
Without detracting one whit from the
credit due Cornell for defeating Brown last
week il may he said that Councilman was
being reserved for the Princeton game,
which, by the way. was cancelled on ac-
count Of rain. ] do not presume 10 say
that Brown would have defeated Cornell
with Councilman on the mound, as the team
from Ithaca played the kind of baseball on
that day which would have been hard 10
Improve. but I do say that Browns keen
ness TO turn the tables on Princeton for
. 10 defeat in ten innings earlier in the
season led to reserving what was consid-
cred the full strength when taking the
field against Cornell All this will have TO
be considered IN making final standing
hut the fact remains that Cornells victory
over Brown. following the defeat OF Dart
mouth the previous Saturdy, boosted the
stock of the Red and White nine to a
marked degree. On top Of this came the
defeat o. Princeton on Saturday. and Cor
nell is now distinctly in the running for
the so-called college championship.
One DAY last week I read 4 statement by
one Of the club owners in this city that the
IOstponement Of games because OF rain.
vet grounds or cold weather this spring had
cost the various clubs $4,000. These fig
,lrcs seem pretty big, but a close analysis
based on a reasonable attendance, woulo
Indicate that e was not far from the
truth \ tenth of 1t perhaps may be re-
covered by the bargain counter attractions
Of double headers. but the balance is lost
hevond recall. Some owners no doubt have
reason to bewail their hard luck and be
moan lost profits. but as a matter Of fact
Tho figures are misleading unless compared
with the losses for the same reasons in
Cther seasons. A certain number Of post
ronements are counted on each year. It
could not ne otherwise but while there
have been moro this spring than usual the
chances are that the average will De about
the same when the season closes. Frank
Farrell and Ills Yankees are an exception
rerhaps. as they have been the chief SUI
. fcrers, inasmuch as three games In Boston
, were postponed which would have drawn
record breaking crowds. The real opening
81 the new home 90 the Red SoH and
Patriots Day we're lost.