The San Francisco call., 1913-10-07
10000 Storm Polo Grounds After All Night Wait

" HE reader must always bear
in mind, In considering this
last story before the worlds
series starts, which will be In
the nature of forecasts of condi-
tions and which will partially In
dieate what think the outcome
will be. that / am a pitcher on
the New York club.
The opening para graph is not
in any sense an apology for my
opinions, but ii Is only natural
for a man who has played with
one club for 1S years and whose
fortunes are swung In with It as
a team contending in series OF
this sort, to pc optimistic over
It's chances and to shade the
dope" a little here and there, per-
haps. However, l intend to en-
deavor to look at everything In
its true light in these stories. and
to point out the weaknesses of the
Giants as we'll as their strong
points as know them.
I'm my daily reports of the con-
tests during the series I shall en-
deavor to show how plans OF at
tack and defense were applied, and
how they worked out. Until then
This series offers many angles,
more than any one of the three
previous worlds series in which !
have taken part.
MUCH TO BE CONSIDERED
The managerial ability of the
two leaders, the general styles OF
play OF the two clubs. which. in
this case. are entirely different;
the ability of the rivals to meet
and stop the attacks, the spirit OF
the teams. and finally the element
of luck or the breaks" must all
be taken into consideration After
having met the Athletics In 1911.
the members of the New York
club believed they detected GER
taip weaknesses and certain
strong points In the Phiiadelphia
team, and we have held many post
mortems in the clubhouse since
We have won that series many q
time by the 'if'' route since 1t
was settled at Shibe park in the
final game. This time we have
planned to combat the dangerous
features of the Athletics play.
and hope to work on their flaws
nd find them vulnerable. I sup
pose that Mack and his board of
strategy have been doing just the
same thing In the case of the
Giants. I know that every MEN,
< ber of the Philadelphia pitching
staff who is likely to. work in the
worlds series. each regular in
fielder. and such cagey veterans as
Harry Davis and Ira Thomas have
watched the Giants play at least
once within the last two weeks,
Whether Connie" Mack himself
has given us the .ence over"
don't know. but ] don't doubt 1T,
as Connie" has a quiet way of
doing things without letting any
one find out what he is up to.
HITTERs VS.. PITCHERS
Let us first take up that lead
ing question as to whether the
Giants pitchers will be able to
hold the Athletics' hitters. On
this one factor more than any
other two depends the outcome of
the series. The Athletics are
badly off for seasoned pitchers.
They admit 1t themselves. Their
most direct way to the victory
and the winners share is 10 slug
themselves to the long end Of the
score. The New York pitchers are
the obstacle to this route. Can
Mack's artillery surmount this OBJ
stacle?
The most dangerous men the
New York pitchers will be forced
to face, we estimate, are Collins.
Baker, McInnis and Oldring. OF
course, we have been studying the
batting that all these men have
done this season, and we have OBJ
served carefully the style of pitch
ers against whom they were the
most successful. and we have also
made list of the twirlers who
have had 1t on them. In this way
We believe we have acquired a
ffne on what sort of pitching
these players hit the hardest
and on what sort they are weak.
Naturally, neither Baker nor Col
iins bat southpaws as hard as
right handlers. because they are
both left handed hitters- Neither
one Is strong for speed. but 1t Is
dangerous to feed Baker speed.
because, If he gets hold of fast
one, he drives 1t mile. We had
an ample opportunity to study
Baker in the last series between
the Giants and the Athletics, and
we found him to be deadly on
balls on the inside OF the plate.
He pulls such ball to right field
with terrific force.
BAKER is FEARED
OF course, Baker will be closely
watched In this series, and each
twirler will work on him with
great care. Because of his won-
derfuI showing in the 1911 series.
he will have the edge each time
he comes to bat because his past
record will give him the per-
centage." as ball players express
It, We have practically decided.
and l am not divulging any Sc
crets when ] say this, that
the only safe thing to do with
him in a pinch Is to pass him.
If pitcher puts the ball over the
heart Of the plate or close in for
Baker. he may just as we'll duck
and wonder where 1t will land.
BY keeping the ball on the out
side or the right hand side of the
plate because he Is a left handed
hitter, the pitcher IS safer. One
thing that makes Baker the great
batter he Is is his supreme con-
fidence In himself when in the
box. He believes he can hit any
kind of pitching. and thia Is
spirit that constructs batting av-