New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-06
Slump of Speaker and Doyle.

Individually. Lewis outbatted Devore
and Gardner outbatted Herzog, but Doyle
had the better Of Yerkes in fielding and
batting. suodgrass outhit Speaker. Muir
ray went far ahead of Hooper with the
stick. and in the field Merkle distanced
stahl all around, Fletcher left Wagner In
the dust In batting and Meyers and VIII
son led Carrigan and Cady by ample mar
gins. So far as pitchers and substitutes
20 the Giants were the all around better
hitters.
Perhaps the most surprising feature OF
the figures for the last part Of the season
is the falling OFF of Speaker and Doyle
and the rise Of Snodgrass, Fletcher and
Wilson Larry Doyle has not been play
ing his game at all. His seasons batting
average is somewhere around 800 fall
OF some 40 points from his mark early In
July. Larry has been batting at a rate
of .245 for the last five weeks, and has
stolen only one base While he has played
a brilliant fielding game. he has been
cratic, as his ten errors show.
On the other hand, Speaker. who was on
ry Cobbs trail for the batting honors
early In the season. has been passed by
Joe jackson, OF Cleveland. and the reason
is found in his slump since the enc OF
August. He has been batting at the rate
of .2s5 down the stretch. which is far
below his normal form. His fielding has
been as consistent as ever.
The rise Of Fletcher. the New York
shortstop, has been one Of the sensation
al features Of the Giants play. Arthur
finished up last season with an average
of .S3, and his present squirt has been
eagerly awaited. He has come. up to ex-
pectations by hitting at the rate OF .scS
for the last thirty-odd games. Snod-
erass's stock, too. has taken big rise.
as his batting average Of .2Ss will testify.
His all around work has been excellent.
-Four doubles, two triples and home run
are part and parcel Of his record, along
with eight stolen bases and much more
consistent work In the field than ne
showed carly In the race.
Big Chief Meyers was injured as the
teams rounded into the stretch. and he
has played little since the end OF August.
But Wilson filled his shoes to perfection,
earning ali sorts of praise not only by
his brilliant catching but also by his
hard hitting, his average being .a3 for
the period.
Merkle has maintained steady, con-
sistent pace night through the season
without a slump. His fielding has been
sensational in the last five weeks, while
IN hitting he has stuck near the 300
mark. his seasons average. He has
made four doubles and three home runs
in the race TO the tape and stolen ten
bases, leading the team in pilfering dur
ing this period. Murray also has main
tanned an even pace without slump
during the season. Herzog and Devore
have shown no Improvement in hitting,
although the third baseman has helded
in excellent form. making only two errors
I'm thirty games and going through a
stretch Of sixteen without misplay.
Lewis May Be Star Of Series.
DUFFY Lewis's sudden recovery of his
batting eye will occasion no surprise TO
careful followers Of the game While the
star left fielder has an average Of only
40 for the season. he has been hitting at
a rate of .326 for the last five weeks. He
is Just as likely to be the hero OF the
series as Speaker. Lewis is a natural
300 hitter, and his good work now is no
fash In the pan.
Larry Gardner. too, was bowling along
ut terrific pace until he hurt his finger.
His average was .34a, the best Of any