Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1914-08-11
WORLDS SERIES
GOSSIP REVNES
monty" Picks Athletics
to Again Capture Big Mon
ey-Opponents Probably
New York.
(By MONTH";

-'S" VI IA, Aug. IU.-ll Scello pISl-
ty early to be talking about the
worlds series. But it's not so early
at that. Only two months remain
before the champion representatives
of the two big leagues enter upon the
conflict for the supreme honors .
baseball. 1t is exactly two months,
for the first clash will be on Thurs
day, October 8, according to present
plans OF the powers that be.
Worlds series discussion is one of
the most popular little pastimes ever
invented, and it is really inconsder-
ate of the two leagues to keep us in
doubt this long as to the nominees
for the big stake. Both pennant races
are considerably closer than were
those of year ago, and it will not
be possible to foretell with any de-
gree of certainty the ultimate winner
until several more weeks have elaps-
ed. The result of the two league
campaigns may be open to conjecture
even down to the final week Of the
season.
With the situation thus undeter-
mined as it is, there can be little di-
rect argument as to the probable out
come of the big series. A general, in
elusive statement is not entirely out
of order, however, so here goes for
would-be. prophecy in the form of
an offer to wager. The American
league will win the worlds series
again. There's the proposition and
the odds should be at least 2 to l.,
lrr.p {,.so Nv oh Inv
the first division clubs in the two cir
cults.
Instead of breaking behind the
strain of putting up with poor pitch
ing in a good many games, the Ath-
letics have done just the reverse of
late. The pitching has frightened.
The youngsters, Pennock, Bush,
Wyckoff and Shawkey, who pitched
consistently poor ball during the
earlier weeks of the season, have
found their best strains and are going
along in fine style now, buoyed up
by the knowledge that their oppon-
ents are afraid of the Athletics and
are therefore lacking in that conf
dence so essential to the Waging OF
successful fight on the diamond. The
Mackmen are beginning to look more
and more like pennant winners every
day.
The Red Sox are strengthened by
the acquisition of Pitcher Vean Gregg
and First Baseman Hoblitzell, who
are playing a strong game in all de-
partments, also the Detroit Tigers
with Cobb back in harness. All OF
these clubs have first class pitching
staffs, much better apparently than
any in the National League te'~ms,
not even excepting that of the Gil
ants All four are hitting the ball
we'll now against opposition of the
other teams and all four are running
the bases in style not compared
with by any club in the National
league except the Giants.
McGraw's New York team has the
most talked of hurting staff in the
country, yet on this seasons work
there is only one star in the bunch,
old Christy Mathewscn. RUDE Mar
guard has uncorked a few sensational
feats, such as pitching that twenty
one INNING game in Pittsburgh and
jeff Tesreau has been sensational in
spots, but neither of this pair has
been doing good work day in and day
out. AL Demaree is having his worst
year as big Lacquer and could
hardly figure as a first rater at pres
ent.
The Giants are the most likely
winner on the National league pen
nant, being as they are out in front,
but they are probably the worst team
in the first division to pit against
another champion in worlds series.
In their last three starts in post sea-
son events, the Giants have had good
pitching only from Mathewson and
there is no reason to believe it will
be otherwise if they get in the big
show this year. In fact, it is reas-
enable to suppose they will show
worse work on the part OF Marquard
and Tesreau.
The Chicago Cubs can offer Jim
Vaughn and Larry Cheney as first
rate pitchers, but the rest OF the
team is so erratic that there is no
telling how it would stand up under
worlds series fire if it should get in
to the big series. The Cardinals are
in the same. boat with only Doak and
Sallee looming prominently on the
mound and the remainder of the in
tegers on the team are mostly uncer-
tain quantities. :,
The Boston Braves probably would
put up the best fight of all if they
should get in the series. Rudolph,
James, Tyler and Strand form cap
able quartet of slabists and their sup
port is made up of peppery lot OF
hustlers all imbued with the spirit
radiated by Evers at second base and
Maranville at short. That's about all
that need be said of the personnel OF
the Braves. The personality OF the
manager is the real factor. George
Stallings has way of making tlg-
ers out of lambs on the baseball field,
and probably would engineer one OF
the greatest fights ever made. should
his men reach the championship
event.
Before the Braves can get to the
ltop of the National league sheap. II IN
| deed they ever do. they will have to
smash all modern day records FOR
continued sprints. TheirA WINNING
streak that carried them in week
from the cellar to :the first division