Norwich bulletin., 1913-09-13
HOW THEY COMPARE.
Facts Concerning Giants and Athletics
 Probable Winners in Big Leagues.


 In view of the fact that the Giants and Athletics are conceded almost uni VerSal1y now as certain to meet in the next worlds series, the fans are be- ginning to turn their attention to the question of how the two teams com pare with each other. Though over month remains before the clash for the worlds championship gets under way, it is the main subject in the minds of the real followers of the game, now that the pennant races have ceased to absorb more than a super f1cial amount of interest. The series this year has extra element of attrac- tion in that old rivals are meeting again, aggregations that met only two years ago. Enough of the 1911 players still remain to make the tilt practically a renewal of the same duel.
 The majority of baseball men in the country seem to think that the Ath- letics are the strongest team in the game. There is one sound way of req soning this out At the end of last season the QuakerS were playing a much better grade of ball than the Red Sox, who won the pennant and whose performance was good enough to beat the Giants. This would prove almost a, final argument if the present Giants and present Athletics were identical with the Giants and Athletics of last fall but they of course are not
 The main basis for the superior ap- praiSal of the Philade1phians by the fans, however, Is simply that they seem a stronger team. one with great CT ability without bothering to delve into the dope for any more specific reasons. This system, though, is like betting on a race horse because of a hunch. It is going in bIindly. Base ball is game of such distinct de- partments of play they all must be . E,-T-- of this team compared to the opposite department of the other. For instance the estimate of the Athletics batting In the series must be formed at the same time that the Giants pitching is considered, and vice versa.
 If such things as base running and fielding were eliminated, the problem would be Will the Giants hit the Athletic pitchers harder and more timely than the Athletics hit the Giants pitchers ?" Many seem to be- Heve they will not, but this remains to tremendous batting power, with all hands in shape, and both have pitching staffs that cannot be called other than great.
 In the matter of one team's batting opposed to the others pitching, a rem niscent light is thrown toward that old foolish puzzle of an irresistible body
 
 thing strong will have to give way be- fore something stronger. and it seems impossible for the margin in com parative excellence to be more than a, shade one way or the other. Nobody can predict with any degree of conf1~ dence whether these games will pro- duce the highest scoring on record for a worlds series or the lowest. A com plete triumph for batting would result in the former and the same for pitch ing would bring the latter, Or-which is more Hkely-it may produce about an even break with scores of average size.
 Just now an attempt might be made to decide the way this unique combat of departments will turn out, but 1t would be the old blind guess again to a large extent, for many changes may occur in the outlook between now and October. For instance. Jack Coombs may show himself to be back in form and the same old Quaker artist of the mound, or it may turn out that his sickness and consequent l ong layoff have impaired his efficiency badly, Mathewson may be lost to the Giants through injury, Home Run Frank Ba,- ker may sprain his ankle and Larry Doyle may or may not recover his bat ting eye. Any one of these things could have 8 telling effect. Therefore 1t is wise to lay low and wait until October before making any bold pre- dictions.