The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-28
IN BIG SERIES
EVENLY MATCHED, SAYS COBB
Predicts That Bender and
Marquard Will Open the
Series-Als0 That Catch
ing Will Not Figure
Much

The base runners won't be sprinting
wild on the paths until their .eam has
the game already won. When there
are only seven games to be played. a
man on base is valuable asset and
ne VIII not take any chances trying to
snare an extra sack by stealing-that
is, 1t has not been done much in world
Series of the past where just straight
baseball has been played for the most
part
q or course we may have lot of base
running mare than was ever shown
before in any one series, for with the
teams apparently so equally matched
the managers may resort to desperate
tactics to try to win. BUTT will likely
be done after the game has been de-
cided one way or the other by other
offensive plays
The Giants have the advantage In
the catching department They have
more formidable array of backstops in
Meyers, Mclean and Wilson. While
Thomas will no doubt be in good con-
dition for the coming series, | don't be-
lieve the Athletics backstops will per-
form up to the standard of the Giants
maskmen. Schang, If he were more
seasoned would probably display some
good work. he being good hitter and
a fast man on the bases.
Comparison of the two infields shows
that the Athletics have it on the Giants
so far that it is useless to waste much
time discussing that phase of the series
In hitting and fielding ability, Mack
quartet is superior. | think from what
| saw of McInnis. Collins. Barry and
Baker in our recent series with the
Athletics that they are fielding far
better and snappier than at any time
during the years they have been play
ing together If they play the article
of ball against the New Workers. that
they did against the Detroit club when
We Were last in Philadelphia, you will
see some startling all-round work
The Giants infield has changed lot
this summer, they having suffered from
many accidents They play fairly well
together, but not near up to The STAN
dard of the Athletics. Doyle, their real
hitter, has slumped and is not even
batting 800. So If the Mack pitchers
come near being in form | don't think
the New York infield will 10 much
damage
McGraw's outfield on the other hand
will need strict attention. for thai
young man Burns seems to be big i'm
provement over Devoe, and If he lives
up to his record for all season, he will
do surprising things to the Athletics
Murray, 1t is safe to predict will not
ne uuI1l1dleu as ne was IN lyll, Wner
he did not make a safe hit in the en-
tire series and look for iam-up work
from this scrappy right fielder. Snod-
grass, IL he has luck, may atone for his
misfortune of the 1912 series
Therefore, in comparing the outfield
If Oldring and Strunl< begin the battle
in good condition, which l hear they
WILL there is not much to choose be-
tween Philadelphia and New York in
that respect. Mack would seem to be
better fortified with substitutes for he
has Oldring, Danny Murphy and Walsh,
all right-handed batsmen, and Strunk,
Eddie Murphy and Daley, who bat from
the left side. giving him material to
inject into the games according to
McGraw's pitching starts or shifts.
Athletics Whang the Ball
That brings us down to the hitting
strength of the two teams. In that
respect the Athletics have their one
great asset, and that is to whdng the
ball-whang will not be found in the
dictionary. l imagine, but it is an ex-
pressive word and thoroughly covers
Al uI., \.