The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-09-21
PITCHER PLAN
PROVES WRONG IDEA
Phillies and Senators Failed
Because They Lacked
Necessary Slabsters.

NEW YORK, Sept. 20.--A number
of blasted hopes rising up in the wake
Of two pennant races as monuments TO
blown theories offer a most substantial
and convincing argument against the
practice Of depending on two pitcherE
as the mainstay in an effort to win
either q pennant or high place in the
einal ranking of the clubs. The Phil
lies and the Senators, who are again
disappointed in the conclusion of the
American league contest, arc shining
examples of the dual-pitcher system,
and the Athletics, who resorted to the
same thing, are exceptions only in the
fact that they are an exceptional club
in most other respects.
This has been somewhat remark
able season for the number of clubs
that tried to survive the full distance
of the campaign with two men doing
the bulk Of the hurting. That it can t
be done has been effectively proved
McGraw, who probably has no superior
in the game as n handler Of pitchers,
was quite correct when he recently re-
marked, "You can't win a pennant
with two pitchers, no matter how good
they are"
And McGraw, who never tried to ac-
complish his ends by this means, goes
right on winning pennants. He prob
ably had as much cause as any OF the
managers this season TO rely on two
slabmen for the bulk of his games.
Early in the season Matty and Dema
rec were the only men on his staff
showing ability to win ball games. Tes-
reau was very disappointing at the
start, and Marquard, who had practic-
ally no spring training, was slow in
rounding into form. McGraw used his
four men in their turns and let the
Giants 60 into slump that made them
look bad at the time rather than set a
fast pace at the expense Of any two of
his pitchers.
Too Much of a Strain.
On the other hand the Phillies
jumped away from the post in April
IN fine form for carrying the bulk of
the burden between them. Charlie
Doom, who, in many respects, is a clev-
or manager, probably figured that with
the Giants, Cubs and Pirates slumping
as they were at the time he could get
his club away to such a flying start
by using his two aces that he could not
be oVerhauled later when the inevitable
slump came. Had Alexander and Sea-
ton held out as long as Doom probably
hoped they would the Phillies might
yet be in the race. But they caved in
under the constant strain and by that
time the Giants had got well under mo-
tion and shot right past the Quakers,
never to be again headed. When Doc
in did fall back on his other twirlers
they were not equal to the task Of
maintaining the pace without the as
sistance of the big two.
The Senators, who never had more
than an outside chance for the pennant
in their league this season after the
Athletics showed they had come back
into real form again, would probably
have better future before them right
now for this and other seasons had
Clarke Griffith not worked Walter
Johnson as hard as he did. The big
fellow is still winning at tremendous
rate, but it is reported that he is using
up the great arm that has made him
one of the greatest men in the game,
and some baseball mon 90 so far as to
say he will never have another big
season as the result of the overwork Of
the last few months With johnson
out of it Washington might as well get
settled for second division spoils as in
the olden days.