Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
MANY TW|RLERS
SUFFER FROM
PRESENT RATING
By W. j. Macbeth.

IN becomes more and more appar-
st 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 to 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
pinch blow for the human string
bean" But Johnson, who followed
upset Sweeney with an unexpected
bunt, precipitating an error to cap
bone headed" throw to first which
resulted in two runs for Cleveland.
Steen finished the game for Cleve-
land
Then arose the question as 20 which
Cleveland pitcher was entitled TO be
credited with the victory. Ordinar-
lily 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 ad
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-
infn IN fe
victory. But in this case the official
scorer was plainly up a tree. He
appealed to the New York chapter of
baseball writer's. Sentiment here APP
peared pretty evenly divided between
the pair.
THE official scorer left the park
undecided. He probably put the
big question up to President Johnson,
himself Anyhow the public is not
likely to 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 Fall
kenberg seriously threatening either
the American or National League
records for consecutive victories
l digested the case with Umpire
Evans after the game.
1T is a mighty peculiar situation,
said he Technically no doubt Fal-
kenberas was out Of the game the
moment Lajoie went TO bat for him.
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 out his team was one run be-
hind. but when Steen came In his
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 ! do not know how
the matter will be decided. But If II
were left to me / should give IL to
Falkenberg He really had more TO
do in assuring the victory thin had
Steen and the fact that he did double
the work should favor him"
NOV there you are. Evans is as
~ wise as they come. He used good
sound common sense In his argu-
ments. But still at the same time
arises the question Of teChnicality.
And technicality cost the Giants "A
pennant in 1908, il will be remember
ed John Heydler. Of the National
League. decided just such question
in favor Of Marquard last year when
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. It
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 to
their winning percentages.
FRANK Chances struggle to rebuild
L the New York Americans is FULLY
appreciated by New York fandom.
The Peerless Leader is going about
HIS task in a manner that VIII show
results in the near future. He has
gone right 10 the root Of long
standing evil and is plucking the
trouble-makers regardless Of senti-
ment
In Kidding himself Of Hal Chase the
P. L. accomplished a move that both
StalIings and Wolverton begged Far
reU to make. Chase always was a
rrcublemaker and as such genuinely
desDi-ed by his team mates. Had
This canker to the welfare Of harmony
been removed when Stallings FIRST
suggested il the Hlghlanders might
row have been "A champion instead
Of tail-end aggregation.