Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-03
EXPERIENCE GIVES
MACK'S PITCHERS
Big ADVANTAGE
Bender and Plank Have
Edge on Tyler, James and
Rudolph in All Depart
ments of Hurting Game.


ton Braves is that 1t is impossible tc
predict with certainty which ones will
get into the worlds series. Naturally, II
the entire squad is compared. it will be
useless comparison, as all of the eligible
pitchers are not going to take part.
If Stallings' hurers can withstand the
terrific smashing of the Athletics Tyler,
James and Rudolph will be the trio used.
But If one or more of them meets the
fate which the Giants tossers Demaree.
Tesreau, Marquard and Crandal, met at
the last worlds series, at least one OF
the seeond-string men will have to be
called on. Which one Of his lesser lights
Stallings would call on in case OF an
emergency is hard to say. He might do
what Connie Mack did last srason-scnd
younsstcr in. Connie figured that Bush
would be Just the man to beat tho
Giants, and he was. SO Stallings might
conclude that "No-Hit" George Davis
could turn the tide of battle. Yet the
chances are that Otto Hess or Strand
would be given an opportunity to meet
the enemy before this other younsster
or any other man on the staff. There
fore. the only thing definite that can
be said about the Braves pitchers as
whole is that Tyler. James and Rudolph
will each be started barring accidents
When the Athletics pitchers are con-
eidered, 1t is even more difficult to ar
rive at possible conclusion. Every one
knows that Bender and Plank will again
bear the brunt of the fight. But who
will assist them, if any one, is not known.
Joe Bush may be sent at them Bob"
Shawkey may get his first worlds series
chance, or "Rube" Bressler, the most
inexperienced of the regular twlrlers,
might be called upon. Shawkey and
Bush are the most probable men to begin
one of the game outside of the two
veterans.
So it narrows down to a point where
only Bender and Plank can be compared
with Rudolph, Tyler and James. Those
fve men will do practically all of the
pitching in the coming worlds series.
This makes it unnecessary to go into an
extended comparison of the second string
men. There is saying among base
ball followers that a Club is as strong
as its substitutes" No matter whether
-Ihat-is t-ue or not it applies only to a
reason and not to short seven-gam
series
There are two things that a pitcher
needs more than anything else-exper-
ence and nerve. Experience implies con-
troll. because a man without control will
not get the chance to have much expert
ence on major league ball club, a fact
demonstrated in the case of Houck, for
merly of the Athletics. but now with the
Brooklyn Federals. This being tine case,
look over the five men who are sure to
work In the worlds series and note their
major league experience
Tyler has had four years
Rudolph two years.
James two years.
Bender twelve years.
Plank fourteen years
The vast difference in the experience
of the Braves hurlers and the Athletics
does not end with the years they have
taken part in major league contests
"erld's series experience counts for
uch. None of the Boston pitchers have
yer been in worlds series. What
Plank and Bender have done in these
post-season struggles is Well known to
the public. They have proved themselves
capable of carrying off the laurels against
the greatest pitchers in the world and
they are ht 10 do II again, However
they will not likely be called on to pitch
against such a wizard as Mathewson this |
time, as none of the Braves approach
the class of the most famous hurler in
the National League.
As for the averages Of 1914 they have
little hearing the In
the only averages available are those
figured on the old basis of games won" !
and lost" This method is entirely out |
OF date. The new system of figuring the |
number Of earned runs per game. show |
ing much nearer the actual ability, is
the only one which justifes use of !
figures at all No one can have come |
back" argument on this score, because |
the figures to date show that as a COM |
bination Bender and Plank have better I
percentage than their Boston rivals
We have in a previous article at /
tempted 10 show the futiIity o. figures |
as f correct basis for judging baseball |
strength. This Is even more marked I'm |
pitching than I'm any other department |
OF play. Every fan we'll knows that a |
pitcher may be credited with a win" or
q 'lOss," which, on its face, looks 70 he |
wholly unjust, but which must he cred- |
ited that way because OF the fixed rules |
Take for example the records Of Joe"
Bush and "Ruhe" Marquard last season |
''Joe" won 13 and lost T. he allowed 257
earned runs per game 4aruuard won
% and lost TO- he allowed by % earned
runs per game. Yet the Athletic young
ster not only went through an entire
'7e--oupd game against the Giants. but
woaf II. MarquaTd, on the other hand,
neither This shows beyond the
adow OF a lurking doubt that TO de-
nd on the pitching figures for the year
comparing the pitchers for a world rs
ries Is an absuTdity.
Although Mathewson and other COM
nebent pitchers may tell the Braves pitch
@rslaIl they know about the weaknesses
~ the Athletics batsmen, II is safe
Droposition that when the series begins
next Friday, Bender and Plank win
know Tar more about the Braves weak
nesses than the Braves will about theirs.
one reason for this is that Bender and
PLANK will have a greater field to cover
A. discovering the weak spots in the
Braves than their opponents.
Any club which does not possess a
heavy hitting line-up Is more than apt
- be defeated by either Bender or Plank,
even on days when the veteran Athletic
itchers haven't their regulation amount
snap. They know so much about the
Of pitching that they can get away