The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-27

| "ot"u . ocrIcS aFS ulSCuSSCu Crttt-
cal1y and impartialIy.
Copyright 1913, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate)
since the renewal OF tho world's
championship contests between the
pennant- winning teams OF the Ameri-
San San "A, ana National Leagues. have
ing teams. players and conditions. /
have missed only once; being utterly
hm n,ne.n on n, the outcome of the series
the chicago Cubs. In that l was mis-
lea chiefly by the confidential state
ments OF the Chicago pitchers az to
DC beaten after Il hard struggle, but
on the assurances of Brown and over
al. l changed. They were sincere, but
every other series ! have been fortu-
nate enough to pick tho winner and
IN most instances the advance dope"
gave me a scare last fall
The series now at hand between the
New York Giants and the Phlladei-
have been called upon to figure out:
promising the fiercest and most excit,
irg games ever played in such "a series;
a consequent Increase In the prob
ability of what we call luck" deciding
II. IL is easy enough 10 decide OH the
individuai merits Of the players: but
IL TO be counted as more vital. The
Athletics have tho better ball club, but
the difference between the two clubs
iG not sufficient to overcome the posi-
ei!ity OF fortunate turn of luck. Civ
ing the Giants the verdict. Both are
game. tishting and consistent clubs
during the early games OF the series.
CInnts IL Per Cent Stronger.
New York presents club that is at
least y per cent better than tho one
1t pitted against Boston last fall 1t is
stronger In pitching. in the. .outheld,
about the same on the inheld. better
and stronger In substitute. McGraw
work Win than he ever has had d. ba!
destruction OF his hopes. this year
finds him strongly, reinforced. He
to switch outiicldcrs every day, and
has little more pinch hitting streng tn
Last fall his pitching hopes were de-
pendent practically upon two men who
had been tried in such contests, and
an experiment. This year he has four,
with one in reserve for emergencies
who is likely to beat any baseball club
at any time
The Athletics are as much better this
fall than. Boston was last fall as the
Giants OF 1919 are better than those
of 1912. but, for tlfc first time Mack
Is weak in veteran pitchers. and must
rely to some extent upon his young
during the season. but only those who
have endured the nerve wrecklng OF
worlds series understand the risk Of
sending young pitcher into such a
struggle. especially as the youngsters
have little chance to be called upon
until tho veterans have failed or weak :
ened
have been studying the Athletics
and Giants since the middle OF juno
with View OF picking the winner OF
the worlds championship am not
going. at this point, TO select the win
ner. but viii hgure the teams man for
man, position for position. pointing
each team. and reducing men and
chances TO cold figures. I am starting
without any opinion. leaving myself
free TO abide by what the figures show,
ana 10 prove 10 YOU that there Is not
any "shenanigan" or prejudice in II.
let US all dope 1t out together. IN
way ] figure it. and II you do not like
the dope figure It your own way. After
can do it just as well as l can. per-
haps better.
system of Rating Teams.
L Will outline my system: First. I
Ing his batting, his fielding. throwing,
running. have made up q speed table
showing the relative speed OF each
man. 1t is one of my pet theories that
diminishing in ratio to the number OF
games played. What, We call luck
becomes small element. In n single
game II Is nearly 40 per cent on the
average. SO that TO say New York has
no chance to beat the Athletics means
that you concede the Athletics TO be &c
per cent better, which distinctly they
are not. rs the figures Will show. The
rest OF my theory Is that the luck
breaks with the good teams in rs per
cent of the games, and with the fas,
teams In even more frequency. That is
luck" follows speed. The reason is
that speedy team. composed Of fleet
runners. forces the opposing team &c
hurry. every play. and IL is true that
any player who is hurried will err more
| frequently than one who can take his
OF the essentials of the coming contest
| Then l study throwing. batting ano
rate. each man on point system ac-
cording TO his ability take a stand.
| 1000. or course, no ball player is per
feet. or the game would not exist: but
say, on point system i rate Cobb n
| $50 and Jackson at $780, neither SHOULD
feel injured
You can see that by this system we
come very near mans real worth &c
the team; at least to the probability OF
Ills worth In such Il series. This sea
son 7 have not been content with that
| but have studied the batting perform.
ances of each batter on the Athleti,
and Giant teams against certain kind:
OF pitching. Conceding that Mathew.
son. Demaree. Marquard and Tesrea,
will carry the bulk of New York's bur.
den, that Mack Will start with Bender
Brown or Houck or the others onls
when compelled to. 1t is interesting tC
see what the Giants bat against pitch
ers. in their own league, who pitch IL
and Bender. In seeing whether The
y 7