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

who's gong to win the worlds
Swer that question with another
nder do l know"
n they go away thinking I'm a
he field than l am on (which
'uld be some crab, the way most
t call that being a crab, exactly.
Just because | am sort of a
baseball manager, and have had
some pretty good luck around
here it doesn't 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 :, 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 400, 900 regular writers are
taking, and making my little pick If a
winner in the next worlds series
There can't he much risk about il. or
there wouldn't be so many wise guys
making shots in the papers.
So pick the Athletics.
Backing Up the Pick
Now, since l have got myself into
1t that far l might as well so ahead
and try to back it up the best | can
And l 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 1t
since | don't mind telling, right out
in meeting, that It 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 a series that hasn't
started yet.
That 100000 InfieId.
But here's the way It 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 infield, in both depart
ments. Then the Athletics outleld Is
at least as good as the Giants'-or has
an edge, l am inclined to think. Thorn
as and this new fellow, Schang, will
catch well enough-as good as Mey-
ers, l believe
And that brings US to the slab.
Now, / am not Understanding the
value of pitching in a short series.
I've seen 1t win too many times, when
1t was goOd-and lose too many times,
when 1t was weak.
And l 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 that
they are going to look better in tho
worlds series. Matty, Marquard, Tes-
reau and Demaree haven't been
working against a walloping club Ike
Mack's all year. 1t is likely to sur
prise them.
Then here's another thing.
Might WabbIe and Win.
Mack's pitchers don't have to be as
good to win as McGraw'S do. With
that stone wall infield around them.
and those big bats tearing into :he
opposition, Bender and Plank and
Houck can very likely indulge In
quite a little wabbling, and still not
suffer from 1t. 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 advan-
tage.
Plank and Marquard to Start7
In my opinion, Connie Mack is not
going to open with Bender, as the
slate seems to read now. And don
think McGraw will shoot Matty al
the Athletics in the first game, Al
though everybody appears to be GER
tain of those picks >.
From my way of looking at IT.
Mack should use first the pitcher tha'
will need the most rest before WORK
ing again, and at the same time me
pitcher most likely to win the an
important Jump game"
That sounds like Eddie Plank u
me. That old southpaw will be
hard bird for the Giants to pick, anu
II he gets by in the first game, wn},
then there will be a couple OF daEs
of rest-maybe three days-and thCh
Eddie Plank shooting from the on
side again.
Matty for the Hostiles.
As to McGraw's choice, l think nc
will see the wisdom this time OF Sd
ing Matty and his chilled-steel ner.ss
to start before a hostile crowd IN "a.
enemy's country. The first game
to be played in New York, ana
should rather think McGraw WouD
lead off with RUDE Marquard, pa,
ticularly II Mack starts Plank. an
also because the Athletics are HO'
fond OF southpaw pitching.