The Washington times., 1914-09-20
PITCHERS WEAKEN
UNDER HARD TASKS
Georgia Peach Can't See
Much of a Chance for Old
League to Win Big Series.
BY TY COBB
Worlds Greatest All-Around Player.)

| oy SOOp
Worlds Greatest All-Around Player.)
I Unless I miss my guess, neither
New York nor Boston will have a
pitcher in shape for a worlds series
Engagement against the slugging
Macks when October rolls around.
Some of Stallings' hurlers, particu-
larly Tyler, are showing signs Of
wear and tear, while McGraw's staff,
barring Jeff Tesreau, who has the
psysique and strength of grizzly
bear, is evidently being overworked.
! The rest of the New York or Boston
players will have to give all that is
/ in item to win the National League
championship. and they will probably
| regard a rest as the most desirable
| thing in the world about the time they
| are due to face the American League
/ champions. Even IL everything else
we're even. should want to place my
| bets on the Philadelphians in the
worlds series, and under the conditions
! that are practically sure to obtain this
| year, IT looks like an odds-on gamble
that the Athletics will eat up either
| the Giants or Braves.
1t is very true that the Mackmen
| have had a bad slump, and that thy
| haven't been able to beat any club
with much consistency lately. but they
| were so far in front when the slide
,, started that 1t will not bother them
much to win enough games to stay
At the top. If they break even. in fact,
the Red Sox will find il almost inpos-
sible to overtake them in the three re-
/ naming weeks OF the season. If there
we're 100 more sau.es to play, l believe
able to overtake Comics crew. put it
cannot we'll he done in sixteen games,
which are all that remain
. notice that Clark Griffith says that
the Red Sox will win the pennant next
season. and that the best club in the
American League is not the one which
see ms destined TO be the champion OF
! 1917. Griff always did hate the Mack
meh. and l think that perhaps this In
terNiew was inspired more by hatred
of an ancient rival than by sound judS-
nent I cannot believe that the Ath-
, Ietics have established their present
! lead on luck alone, and IL there is any
better club in the league, II surely has
| been given plenty of time to prove it.
! Griffith is right to the extent that the
! Bostons will be a factor in the 1915
! pennant chase. however. Some OF the
! deadwood has been weeded of the club
/ now and the men who remain are play
| ing fine ball and apparently trying hard
! all the time.
There cannot he any argument about
! Boston's being weaker than the Macks
! or the infield. with Scott and Janvrin
doing the keystone work. Both are
good youngsters. and they look Ike
comers. but I hardly should compare
them to Collins and Barry as yet. Bos-
: tons outfield Is thing OF beauty. WIN
three great ground coverers. couple OF
sweet hitters. and three magnihcent
! throwing arms.
| In the pitching department Manager
Carrigan is well fortified with Wood.
Leonard. Foster. shore. and Collins TO
! do the brrInt of the work. and several
[ others for fiIIers-in. No manager could
ask for better array of mound talent.
Leonard is as good a left-hander as
there is in the country. and Ray Col
i'ns also ranks with the top-notchers.
wood in good physical condition. Is ono
Of the stars of baseball. Foster has
proved his worth. and Shore looks ike
one of the best youngsters of the 1914 !
crop, though he hasn't been so very ,
fortunate against the Tigers.
figure that the Athletics. Detroit and !
Boston will make the real fight in 1915. ,
II we have a second baseman who can
both hit and heln. we VIII let eNeryoouS
hear from us next year. Oscar Witt has
PLAYED fine ball in the keystone s'tton
lately. and Il his health. which has been
bad ever since he has been ir the |
league permits him TO remain regular.
We will be we'll satisfied
Ev the beginning Of next seaso,'. the
Federal League and organized bal!
either will have made peace or reached
a point where it will not be possible
+Iarx 80 tn
ganizations much more harm. This will
work for the betterment of the game.
in that it will help discipline There
has been woful lack of discipline this
season. particularly in the National
League. Players cannot be controlled
when they think that il they do not
get along in organized bail. the Federals
stand ready t. offer them a haven.
There have been more acts Nf TowdN-
ism on the field and more arguments
between managers and players this year
than for a long time, and il has hurt
the game. Some sort of discipline IS
necessary for the government of any
league. II the manager cannot make
the players respect his authority. he
cannot develop team play. and state
of general decentralization is sure to
follow. | do not think that ball play
ars should be enslaved and in many re-
spects the present financial arrange.
ments give the maSnate all the best oI
IL Nv contention is. though. that once
: man has signed a fair contract. ne
ought TO be required TO live up to IL.
and respect the manaSer selected to run
tn. club.
No team can hope to be a success uI
less there IL a boss whose word Is 10"
when II comes to a pinch. The Wis
manager will not bulIy-rag his piaHe's,
nor try to show his authority "NeL ~ IN
In petty ways. but he will insls' ,.st on
being obeyed. and he IS the r"u.t i; .hat
resort in all things. the tr3to'r ,,,a,ayar
| il is sometimes hard to fnd msn" nan ger
who can make his men resPecI nun go
who doesn't ride" them. act nr rnr
force are both required IN tnr 10 or
frI" tr"p'F,,"'S and no tact. while others. when
ipICt ip anrot arn accomplish things hy tact
mi methods. lack the force necessary 10
assert themselves.