Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-10-05

lswer that question with another
mder do | know?"
N they go away thinking I'm a
the field than | am on (which
ould be some crab, the way most
{.
call that being a crab. exactly.
just because | am sort of a
baseball manager, and have had
some pretty good luck around
here 1T doesn follow that
know any more than the next one
about what is going to happen in
New York and Philadelphia this
week. I'm going to be there, and
If anybody wants to buttonhole
me two weeks from now. I'll be
ready to give him an earful.
But as I'm going to be out of town
when this is printed and won't be
back until the cruel war is all over.
don't mind taking the same chance
that about 100000 regular writer's are
taking and making my little pick OF
winner in the next worlds series
There can't be much risk about it. or
there wouldn't be so many wise guys
making shots in the papers.
So pick the. Athletics.
Backing Up the Pick
Now, since | have got myself into
1t that far ] might as well go ahead
and try to back il up the best | can.
And | realize that is quite a Job.
You may remember that never had
much to say about how the Crackers
were going to win the pennant this
year-at least. not until we went to
the mat with Mike Firms bunch. And
| haven't had much to say. about ii
since / don't mind telling, right out
In meeting. that II isn't easy for me
TO figure out. even now, how we did
win that pennant
SO l don't see much Of an opening
to spread out on series that hasn't
started yet.
That $4,000 InfioId.
But here's the way 1t looks to me.
without frills:
Connie Mack has the greatest in
field ever put together. both in field
Ing and hitting. 1t classes away over
the Giants iniield, in both depart
ments Then the Athletics outfield is
at least as good as the Giants-or has
an edge, / am inclined to think. Thorn
as and this new fellow, Schang, will
catch well enough-as good as Mey-
ers believe
And that brings us to the slab
Now, am not Understanding the
value of pitching in a short series.
I've seen it win too many times, when
1t was good-and lose too many times.
when 1t was weak
And 1 think there's no doubt that,
compared man for man, the Giants
have the better slab staff.
But here's the idea.
The mere fact that McGraw's pitch
ers look better on paper for the sea
son than Mack's doesn't prove thar
they are going to look better in the
worlds series. Matty, Marquard, Tes-
reau and Demaree haven't been
working against a walloping club like
Mack's all year. 1t is likely to sur
prise them.
Then here's another thing.
Might Wabble and Win.
Mack's pitchers don't have 70 be a
good to win as McGraws do. With
that stonewa infield around them
and those big bats tearing into he
opposition, Bender and Plank AMI
Houck can very likely indulge N
quite a little wabbling and still not
suffer from it. You remember all
the bases on balls Jack Coombs gave
the Cubs in 1910-but that great In
field back of him kept Chances men
from going anywhere with the advsn-
tage.
Plank and Marquard to Start?
In my opinion, Connie Mack is not
going to open with Bender, as the
slate seems to read now. And / don't
think McGraw will shoot Matty ut
the Athletics in the first game, al
though everybody appears to be GER
tain of those picks.
From my way Of looking at *.
Mack should use first the pitcher that
will need the most rest before work
ing again, and at the same time the
pitcher most likely to win the all
important Jump game"
That sounds like Eddie Plank ia
me. That old southpaw will be a
hard bird for the Giants to pick, nd
If he gets by in the first game. WHY.
then there will be a couple Of days
of rest-maybe three days-and then
Eddie Plank shooting from the on
side again.
Matty for the HostiIes. -
As to McGraw's choice, l think hs
will see the wisdom this time of say
ing Matty and his chilled steel nerves
to start before a hostile crowd in tia
enemy's country. The first game Is
to be played in New York, and I
should rather think McGraw would
lead off with Rube Marquard. par
ticularly if Mack starts Plank. and
also because the Athletics are not
fond of southpaw pitching.