New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-18
Are Far from Discard,
Even Though Braves Did
Beat Them Badly.
ONLY ONE WEAK SPOT
CAN BE DISCERNED
Signs Do Not Point to Great
Shake-Up OF Giants, Despite
General Gossip.
Ry HAYWOOD BROUN.

81 reckon they'll al say now ths
great machine has crumDled,'' re-
marked Ira Thomas shortly after The
fourth and hnal game Of the worlds
I series in Boston. lra's own smile
seemed 10 belle his belief in the
smash-up. but the baseball critics have
lived I'D TO his prediction. Already
number of persons are az work remak-
ing the map of baseball on the strength
of the series.
There seems 70 be a tendency 10
predicate entirely too much on the
basis OF four games. Granting that
the psychological effect Of tho defeat
may DO a little 70 impair the conf
dencp Of the Athletics, il seems IN
tirely unwarranted 10 say that the
team is no longer an important factor
in baseball The Red Sox may tri-
umph in the American League next
season, but the Athletics are still tie
: logical favorites.
The 100000 infeld has not been
marked down dollar, even though IL
was inferior 20 that OF Boston in the
series. Does any one suppose for a
minute that Mack would trade Eddie
Collins for Johnny Evers IL he had the
chance. or that he would give Mclnns
for Schmidt or Baker for Deal or
Smith?
1 In the case OF Barry and Maranylle
a readjustment ~ necessary. In most
comparisons made prior 70 the big test
Barry was given shade over his d.
minutive rival. Now there can be lit
tie question that such a rating is
wrong. Great is Barry, but Maranville
is greater.
As far as pitchers 90, Mack would
undoubtedly be very glad 10 give Plank
and Bender for Rudolph and James
+ yet the Athletics are in no bad plight
for pitchers next season. In every
game but the first ~ the series the
pitching furnished for the Athletics
was very good, and failed TO bring vie
tory simply because il was pitted
against pitching thai was extrsord-
nary.
Mack's young pitchers looked very
well in the series. Pennock was not
scored upon when h, finished up the
last game for Sbawkey; Bush was not
defeated until twelve desperate inn
ings had been played. and Wyckof
/ gave a very good account of himself in
/ the first game when ne succeeded Ben
der.
PLANK, OF course, was exceedingly ef-
fective. and Bressler who did not get
into the series at al. is rated as
crack. Even Bender. who Jared so
badly, will win many games IN the
American League race next season.
Schang behind the bat did not show
very well in comparison with Gowdy.
chiefly because of lack OF hitting
ability, but Mack VIII not need TO find
another man. In Just one position do
the Athletics need new blood. Rube
Oldrng seems TO have outlived his
usefulness in left fed.
Murphy and Strunk are both well
worthy 20 play or a championship
team. So. upon analvsis. all that Mack
needs to bring his machine up 20 date
is enc new optiielder.
George StallnRs car well afford 20
stand pat with his ,cam. The mar
yellous pitching staF and the lighting
spirit of the Braves make them
strong choice for the National League
pennant next year. Put, fouI straight
or no tour straight, the outticld of the
Braves is far from first class com
binaton.
Neither Moran. no~ Whitfield. nor
Cathe~ shapes up in anywise to the de
mands Of a first class club. But a club
with Rudolph. James and Tyler
does not have 20 worry much about it,
outfeld
As with the Athletics, there has been
deal Of foolish talk anout the alleged
intention of McGraw 20 shake up the
Giants from top TO bottom. OF course.
the Little Napoleon will do nothing OF
the sort. Only few positions in the
team need to be strengthened in order
10 enable the club to meet the Braves
on an even footing.
- =.
ond Fletcher is not likely 10 be de-
posed from shortstop. and there is no
one in sight yet who is fitted TO fill
the shoes of Merkle.
Burns is a fixture in the outfeld, and
= Snodgrass will probably be in the line
up again. Bescher may be traded, and
Davey Robertson did not come up 10
early expectations, so one position is
open in the outiield of the Giants.
Third base would also seem TO be a
place where change is likely TO be
made. although both Grant and Stock
are better than the average. Harry
Smith, the fast catcher from Savannah.
has been heralded as the successor OF
Chief Meyers, yet il would be by no
means bad wager that the Indian will
catch more than half the games for the
Giants next season.
McGraw's problem is the pitching. IL
was the pitchers who betrayed him last
year. The loss of the pennsnt may be
traced almost directly to the defeats OF
Marquard This winter the RUDE has
decided 10 abandon the stage and rest
It is quite likely that his form next
season will be a complete reversal OF
that shown in the season just ended.
In such a case il would be neces
eory for NcGraw In order IN rahui \
! his team. 20 lind one outfielder.
: third baseman and a pitcher. The
rooters need not fear. When they gC
next season they will be able to tel
most of the players without the aiC
Of score card.
The scout who brings in a good out
. fielder next spring should receive 4
bonus. for never has there been sucf
lean year in outfelding. Particular
ly weak il the National, in which n,
. club. but Brooklyn has a really goo,
outiield. Outside Of Burns and Wheat
it would hardly be possible to name
: real star. Dalton, who had been VI
before, was the one real find of tn,
year among outfelders.
p Connolly, OF the Braves, was. a FIN.
/ little slugger but he hit only agains
right-handed pitching. and his veal
= arm would be enough TO keep hin
T from being rated as a first class man
I Cravath, Of the Phillies, is gres
, slugger. but certainly a slow fielder
and Dolan, Of the Cardinals, although
, brilliant at times, is certainly too veal
a hitter TO be ranked high. Lee Mage,
= II ,.,orAL,- -