The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-09
BOSTON BRAVES MAKING
GIANTS WORRY OVER LEAD
Sensational Battle From Cellar Almost to Top by
Grew of Stallings Unique in History
of Baseball

Sporting sentiment usually fevors the
under dog. and for this reason the gen
ersl public throughout the major league
territory Ia pulling for George StallingS
and his Braves. The Boston Nationals
have become real menace 10 the as
pirations of McGraw and II thev continue
two weeks more at their present clip
may even nose out the three time PEN
nant winners and present leaders.
Stallings Ia within easy striking dis
tance OF the team which has been con-
coded an excellent chance for a fourth
consecutive pennant Through a drive
of over a month he has kept up his mad
pace and there are no evidences of his
machine weakening In any part
When the Pirates scored three runs in
the third inning of Thursdays game
they broke a chain Of thirty consecutive
shutout innings by Boston pitchers. This
record started last Saturday In the tenth
inning OF the game In which Boston beat
81. Louis. II was followed by three con-
secutive shoutouts--one against the Car
dinals and two against the pirates-snd
ended after the first two scoreless innings
of Thursdays fray.
Such strenuou, work gives q pretty
fair line on the mettle Of club. IL
there had been any disposition on the
part OF the Braves TO falter or break II
Is quite likely that such O test would
have brought u out.
Boston Is not going 10 go along all
the rest Of the season shutting out clubs
Stallings has pretty good pitchers but
they could not he expected to do the mi
raculous But II those pitchers can main
tain their present high standard OF eff
cheney the team II one which can Rener-
ally furnish working margin of runs
There Ia absolutely no question OF Bos-
toms gameness. since Stalings straight
ened out his forces in the present squirt
the Braves have come from behind quite
as often as not.
Should Stallings win pennant he will
have accomplished that which approa ches
the miraculous. Almost to the middle Of
the sea son he tralled the field He fought
up stubDcrnly from last TO fourth posi-
ton and before another week rolls by Is
very likely to overhaul either the Car
dlnals or Cubs. or both. Fielder Jones
in 1905 won pennsnt after he appeared
distanced in the early going. but Jones
was never worse than seventh and he did
not have such we'll balanced field to
oppose him
brilliant as has been his recent dash
and more threatening as he becomes
daily. there is no reason even now to
concede Stallings better than an outside
chance for the pennant He has had tn
make up too much ground The strain
has not told yet. hut the tension will
tighten with every game he closes on the
leaders
Besides, the Big Chief has been winning
so often by using Rudolph, James and
| Tyler In turn. No three pitchers in
modern times have been able to survive
| such constant use through the drive
which usually starts about this time.
Stallings has several other pitchers that
he regards highly. He Is particularly i'm
/
| Crutcher. who has been rather unlucky
/ this season. But none of the surplus
talent compares to any OF the trio nov
shouldering most of the pitching burden.
! Nobody ever has accused George Stall,
ings Of being foolish. Certainly he has
had experience enough to know better
than TO ruin his most reliable rifemer
through overwork without having sons
reliance to fall back upon. His friends
and boosters who now jam Fenwny Parl
to capacity for the Saturday and ho'ida,
attractions OF the Braves would he tn,
frst to turn against Stallings II tn.
team buckled and went to pieces. now tina
III has become so prominent IN th'
National League argument Probabl!
Stallings II holding one or more reliable
men In reserve while he sends his tri,
of stars az far as they can go.
James Is "A big fellow who is not likei.
TO feel the effects of two or more game
a week. But Dick Rudolph is none TO,
rugged. Tyler Ii a rangy, loose jointet
fellow who does not appear to be any
physical giant. These three pitchers ma,
he able to 20 through 10 the end at thell
present gait. but tho odds arc very mucl
/ against H.
! II Is well for New York that Bosto
was so painfully slow in hitting its stride
II the Braves had been up among IN
leaders all the way this present spur
would have put them further in from
than are the Athletics in the rival lea que
There is no better team in the Nationa