South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-02
ATHLETICS HAVE
FASTER INFIELD
SAYS FULLERTON
But Braves Have a Combination
That Will Give Mack Men
Hard Battle for HOnOrS-
Depend on EVerS.
By HUGH ;. FULLERTON.


Athletics .....s81 es3 679 So
Boston ......674 $50 657 $50
Comparison Of the inhelds Of the
Boston Braves and the worlds cham
pion Athletics is likely 10 result in
another surprise to the wise ones of
the game.
Again. as in the outfeld. we dis
cover the Athletics the stronger.
much stronger in Offense a little
stronger in defense a trifle better on
the bases. but in no case strong
enough to claim 70 outclass Stallings'
men.
The strength OF the two teams APP
pears 10 be distributed so that they
do not come in contrast as strongly
as most teams do. Both are strong
AT second and short. the difference at
first is not overwhelming. but the
Athletics show the most pronounced
superiority at third a study Of the
third base situation does not make il
hopeless for Boston.
To be inferior in defense in the DO
sition where the fewest chances hap
pen is fortunate.
Yet. considered from every stand
pOint-attaCk, defense batting. run
ming throwing. fielding and inside
work. BostOn's infeld shows an aver
age OF .673 against the Athletics .677.
make the Athletics the odds on favor
ties they are in the series-althOugh
their attacking fOrce-in the initial
attack and in driving in runs, is over
whelming and must be offset either
by Boston's defensive work around
second base or by pitching.
Let us study them man for man.
McInnis is today the ranking first
baseman of the country. He is strong
in every department OF the game. a
desperate. determined. nervy player.
That is his one fault and his great
danger i'm such a series. IF hard press
ed McInnis is likely 10 break through
sheer over anxiety to do things. He
is not quite tall enough for the ideal
first baseman, but he overcomes that
by sheer brilliancy and determination.
Schmidt reminds me more OF Frank
Chance, during Chances earlier ca
reer. than any first baseman 7 ever
have seen. He has the same fault
slowness I'm finding the bag and turn
ng to take throws. Remember Ma
ranville and Evers are about as rapid
IN getting the ball away once it
touches their hands as any two men
ever were. All season since he de-
velOped into Stallings' life saving first
oaseman Schmidt has been getting
turned around Just I'm time to catch
hit In the face ~
Comparison OF Eddie Collins and
Johnny Evers Is superfluOus They
IRE the two greatest second basemen
n the world Just now Collins is
near his best form and Evers has
1ad remarkable season and is fin
shing strong.
NIaranviIIe is one C. the marveIs OF
he age and il is no discredit TO Jack
Barry 20 be classed slightly below
him. The Rabbit has sDeed. nerve.
orillianey and hitting power. Do not
.hink I underestimate Barry. I be
ieve he is one of the most Upderesti-
mated players I'm the country.
But, admire him as we may. we
must detract several points from
Barry's average. He has not been
Going quite so fast this year as he
& commencing to show the result Of
Years of hard wear and tear around
second base
We have 10 study i'm considering
short and second. not only the indi-
iduals themselves but how they
work together. Collins and Barry
nave worked together for years and
.ach knows every move the other will
make. They are like cogs in a ma
.hine and each adds To- the value of
ne other
Their exhibition OF lightning work
the last two games of the world'e
series last fan was a revelation that
convinced even the most doubtful of
he New York fans tina: the Giants