Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-09-20
BEST CLUB NOT IN SERIES
At Least that is What Griffith Of
Washington Says of Boston.
STARTED WINNING TOO LATE
Did Not Get Up the Right Amount
of steam Until Such n Time ms
the Race Turned Into
Routine Procession.


WASHINGTON, Sept. l9.-"The best
ball club in the game today will not take
part in the coming worlds series. But
this club will surely be in it next year
with anything like an even break in luck,
for class will tell.
The above words were spoken by Clark
Griffith. manager of the Washington
team. the other afternoon. If Grit had
supplemented this statement by naming
his own club as the strongest in the land
he would only provoke smiles. But Re
pins the bouquet on a rival team of
his own organization, at the same time
admitting that he cannot hope to win a
pennant with the Washington team as it
stands today, because of its weakness
with the stick.
The best ball club in the world today
is in Boston," said Griffith and I am
not referring to the Braves, who are in
the thick of the pennant fight. mean
the Red Sox. who have hardly a remote
chance. IL any at all, to win a pennaut
Before another season has gone very far
the fans will admit that I had a proper
line on Carrigan's team in making that
statement They will beat out the Attn
will beat my team out this season. And
right here I will say that the Athletics,
though l rank them as poorer than the
Red Sox now, are in no danger of losing
the coming worlds series to either Giants
or Braves, which ever team may face
them.
sounds Illogical.
Sounds illogical, doesn't It? One may
esk why the Red Sox are not out In front
If they are better than the Athletics I'll
tell you why: the changes that have
made the Red Sox such a wonderful ball
club were not made until the American
league race had ceased to be race and
had turned into a procession. With the
recent acquisitions the Red Sox are
clearly the best balanced ball club in the
game today.
II fully estimate the strength of the
wonderful infield of the Mackmen and
Wally Schang. the great catcher of the
Athletics. But Boston is now a much
better club, all departments considered,
than the worlds champions Mack Is
weak in pitchers. though. those two wise
old birds, Plank and Bender, will be
properly fitted for the short series next
month. On the other hand, Carrigan has
the best pitching staff in the country,
one of the best ever gathered together
on one club, Wood has had a rather
poor year. due to appendicitis, but he is
a wonder and he will be back next year.
Leonard is another great pitcher, as his
record this season has shown. Foster,
Vean Gregg and Ray Collins are also
something above the ordinary in pitching
skill But to my mind the star of the
entire collection have not mentioned.
This is Shore. the youngster who was
purchased by Lannin recently from Bal
timore He is the nearest thing to Wal
ter Johnson who has come into the ma
jors since Walter arrived and I look for
Shore 10 develop into another johnson.
He is one of the main reasons why the
Red Sox are better than the Athletics
now and Hobltzel is another.
InfieId More Than Half.
THE Athletic infield Is more than half
the team, ranking so far ahead of other
departments in strength that there is no
comparison. Well do l know the strength
Of it. But Boston is now looming up
with a remarkable quartet OF infielders,
every one a star. l had Dick Hoblitze
in Cincinnati and | consider him $4,000
ball player. How he ever got out OF the
National league will always be a mys-
terry to me. When l got the request for
waivers / thought it was simply feeler
for trade, not having the least sus-
picion that the National league would
let him escape. II l had realized that
he might get out would have got in the
bidding myself. I have a fine first base
man myself and I give him credit for
making my club 1-2-s aggregation, but
would have found plenty OF use for
Hoblitzel. Normally Dick is a ,2sO hit
ter. as he showed in every campaign up
to the present while with Cincinnati. He
is game, always fighting. keeps in good
condition and is a great man for a club.
He has rounded out a great infield for
Boston.
Two Coming stars.
AT second base and shortstop Carrigan
has two Of the coming stars OF the pro-
fession Young Scott who stepped in
when Wagner's arm went bad. Is my idea
of a remarkable ball player. He Is a bit
weak with the stick now, but he will i'm
prove. His fielding could hardly be i'm
proved upon. At second base is Hal jan
win, one OF the most brilliant all-around
stars the game has recently developed.
He can play anywhere on the infield from
first 10 third, and now that he has a
chance 10 specialize at one position he
will be a star. Gardner at third is one
% those steady and reliable players who
are always doing something and doing II
well, though he is not played up as one