Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
MANY TWIRLERS
SUFFER FROM
PRESENT RATING
BY w. j. Macbeth.

~
N becomes more and more appar-
ent the injustice of the present
methods of compiling pitchers rec
ords There is absolutely no way to
gauge a twirler's ability in the cold
figures of victories and defeats. 1t
stands TO reason a poor pitcher with
a champion club is likely 10 win more
games than perhaps would a cham
pion pitcher with a tail-end team.
Cy Falkenberg, the elongated pitch
er from Cleveland, furnished a fitting
illustration during the recent visit to
the Polo Grounds of the dark horse
Of the West. In the first game Of the
series Falkenberg was lifted in the
seventh inning to allow Larry lajoie
to go to bat with the bases filled,
one out and Cleveland one run to the
bad. Now Larry didn't produce a
pinch blow for the human string
bean" But Johnson, who followed.
upset Sweeney with an unexpected
hunt, preCipitating an error to cap a
bone headed" throw TO first which
resulted in two runs for Cleveland.
Steen finished the game for Cleve-
land
Then arose the question as 10 which
Cleveland pitcher was entitled To be
credited with the victory. Ordinar-
fly il would have made little differ
enCe either way But here was an
exception. Falkenberg undefeated all
season, had previously reeled off nine
straight triumphs. Everyone was IN
terested TO know whether he had adj
ded the tenth TO the list or whether
his sprint had been momentarily
halted by a deCisionless afternoon.
In such instances the official scorer
as a rule, used his Judgment in de-
termining who IS most entitled to
victory. But in this case the official
scorer was plainly up a tree. He
appealed to the New York chapter Of
baseball writers. Sentiment here APP
peared pretty evenly divided between
the pair
THE ofiria, scorer left the park
undecided He probably put the
big question up TO President Johnson,
himself Anyhow the public is not
likely 10 know who gets the game un
til the official averages are published
unless President Johnson is forced to
make a ruling in the event OF Fal-
kenberg seriously threatening either
the American or National League
records Tor consecutive victories
! digested the case with Umpire
Evans after the game.
1T is mighty peculiar situation"
said he. Technically, no doubt Fal-
kenberg was out of the game the
moment LaiOie went 20 bat for hip
Now "a man who Is out OF the game
cannot very well figure as "A hero in
victory But take the other side Of
the case Steen did not win more
than Falkenberg When Falkenberg
went ont his team was one run be
If4t in 10
team was one run to the good. Steen
only had TO hold this advantage for
three innings. Falkenberg nitched six
innings and brilliant ball. too. ] can
tell you Now J DO not know how
the matter Will be decided But II ID
were left 20 me 7 should give fl to
Z FalkenberC He really had more TO
do in assuring the victory th9n had
Steen and the fact that he did double
the work should favor him"
NOW there you are. Evans Is as
- wise as they come He used good
sound common sense in his argu
mentS But still al the same time
arises the question Of technically
And technicality cost the Giants a
pennant in 1908. 81 will be remember
cd John HeydleT OF the National
League, decided just such a question
IN favor Of Vanguard last year when
1.-the Giant star was making his rec
ord run.
Heydler by the way last year
evolved "a very good scheme for the
compilation Of pitching statistics II
is likely that this season he viii use
this method entirely. doing away with
the unsatisfactory system now IN use
of ranking the pitchers according 20
their winning percentage.
FRANK Chances struggle 90 rebuild
the New York Americans is fully
appreciated by New York fandOm.
The Peerless Leader IS going about
his task In a manner thai viii show
results in the near future He has
gone right Geo ll- root Of "a long
standing evil and lS p.uCkiug the
trouble makers regardless ot senti-
went
In Kidding himself OF Hal Chase the
=. J.. accomplished "a move that both
StaUugS and Wo've--ou begged Far
r-T "a make. Chase always was
rrnahIem4Eer and as such genuinely
Gespi-ed log his team mates. Had
-ll- uankal tg the welfare Of harmony
been removed when S-aHuEs first
suggested 70 the EiEaIarlers might
Una have been champion instead
lf tall-eud aggTega-l7J-