Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-29

PHILADELPHIA. August D.-Bast
ball and war are alike in one prominent
particular-in both, the most CAREFUL,
planned defense may be shattered by 6
rushing, smashing attack. writes Stony
McBinn in the Philadelphia Ledger II
the national game. there is absolutel!
nothing to stop a team which is pound
ing the base ball-the only way is te
pound back and the hardest FOUNDER will
win.
And that preparatory sentence enables
us to introduce to you the Athletics
champions of the world. Philadelphia
representatives in the American League
and a team which has done more tc
bring gray hairs to the heads Of oppos'
ing managers than the Federal League
war and the consequent high cost OF
base ball talent.
Pitchers in the American League say
that when Connie Mack's men begin te
slam the sphere the only way Is to put
everything possible on the base ball and
trust that an infielder or outnelder VIII
get in the way Of 1t on its return journey
and stop it in self-defense. And. as Ty
Cobb recently said, You, can't tell where
the attack is going to break loose; 1t may
be at the top of the batting order; 1t may
be at the bottom"
Now for the Figures.
All this makes it worth while to employ
some mathematics in determining just
how powerful the Athletics offense Is
True enough, base ball experts have said
that in the national pastime figures fire.
10 111y
the truth For instance, third baseman
might go through a season Of say Zoe
games and make only five errors; he
simply would refuse to take a chance on
a ball hit toward him which he was
afraid he could not handle cleanly. On
the other hand. the best third sacker in
the game In the same number Of games
might have twenty-five or thirty mis-
plays; he went after everything in sight,
unmindful of his percentage. That is
why statistics often give a mistaken idea
Of the true ability of players.
However, Mr. Mack's attacking army
prove that figures do not lie. They are
league primarily because they have
driven out more hits and scored more
runs than any other team In the Ban
Johnson organization.
Including the double-header with De-
troit the Athletics had been credited
with the amazing total Of 972 hits-an
average Of nine hits to the game. Or.
if YOU care to put it another way. that
is a hit a player for every game played
this season. When YOU realize that
five hits game and less. you will ap-
preciate what a powerful drive there
is behind the bats Of the champions.
Better still. however. is the evidence
that the hits were not wasted. The
Athletics had scored 533 runs. follow
ing last Tuesdays double-header. which
means that they averaged about five
tallies to the game. Under ordinary
circumstances. it takes a hit, sacri-
fee and then another hit, to get a man
average less than a counter for every
two hits for any considerable period of
time. Some will average a run to three,
four and five bingles. Yet figures
prove that Macks men get five runs
for every nine hits. Fans may reduce
that to fractions If they want to be
exact about the amount of attack ex-
pended for every run.
Speed on the Bases.
The Mackmen do not put their heads
down and run wild on the bases. but
they steal when it appears good base
ball. Their total Of stolen bases last
Tuesday was 1853 and at the same time
they had been credited with 159 sacri-
fee hits. which means that they pull
about two thefts and the same num-
Der of sacrifices in every three games.
The champs do not always win with
singles, for they got 1924 total bases
on their 964 hits-in round figures
twelve bases for every nine hits or.
say. a single and triple as an average
for every contest played.
Now. is everybody agreed that when
Connie Mack's team is the one consider
ed figures don't lie? The Athletics
not only can hit the ball. but they hit 1t
when the humps count. II ever a team