Evening journal., 1915-12-28
Alec THE Great"
Needs NO Defense
His Work in Worlds Series
Was Up to Standard He
Set in National League
CRITICS ERR IN
THEIR JUDGMENT

There has been a great deal of nom
sense written about Grover Alexan-
der's poor work IN the last Worlds
Series, at least so it seems to Short
stop. One well-known critic. COM
menting on the official National
League pitching averages, says that
Alexanders poor work for one week
last October should not detract from
the remarkable season he had in the
National League.
Such a statement seems to be an
injustice, not only to the Philly star.
but also TO the prowess of the Red
Sox. Had Alexander been knockedI
out OF the box in the two games heI
pitched or had he yielded some seven
or eight runs, there might be some
justification for such statement.
AS a matter OF fact Alexanders
Worlds Series pitching average isl
practically the same as his National
League average. In his two games
against the Red Sox Alexander per
mitted l50 earned runs a game. while
in the National League season he per-
mitted 1.22 earned runs a game.
All critical fans have to admit that
the Red Sox as a team rank far su-
perior to anything which played in
the National League last season, and
such an-able authority as John Nc
Graw will tell you that the playing
In the National League last season
was worse than he ever saw.
Considering the class Of opposition
Alexander met in the Worlds Series
and the talent which ranged through
the eight teams In the National
League Big Alec's earned run record
in the Worlds Series must be con-
sidered even superior to his record OF
1.22 during the entire National League
season
Alexander's work in the last
Worlds Series was far superior to
anything he had ever accomplished
in the National League prior 10 the
1915 season. In fact. until last season
Alexander never ranked exceptionally
[ high ln the earned run records. and
Johnson had 90 an over him on this
basis of figuring effectiveness.
In 1912. the year John Heydler
started the earned run system o.
ranking pitchers. Alexander ranked
thirteenth. with 2S1 earned runs a
game. or practically three earned runs
a game In 1913 he was eighteenth.
with 2.79 earned runs a game and in
Z 1914 he was tenth. with 2.3S earned
runs a game Last season. however
/ Alec showed his greatest effectiveness.
. with 1.22 earned runs game
The American League did not begin
! TO keep earned runs until 1913. when
Walter Johnson made the remarkable
showing Of 1.O9 earned runs a game.
In 1914 Johnson slumped to third. with
III earned runs a game. Last season
Walter again was practically the lead
er, though Joe Wood ranked ahead of
him, Walters record being 1855 earned
runs a game.
( Uncalled-fOr Apologies.
In view of Alexander's past per-
formances. as we'll as his wonderful
/ 1915 record, there seems 10 be no rea-
son for Growers apologists simply
because he permitted three runs in
+ eighteen innings. or $50 earned rms
a game. against the best club in the
game today This stuff about Alec
being stale. his arm being out Of gear
and that he wasn't fit seems to be en-
tirely uncalled for.
/ That is a mistake often mado i'm
baseball. A player may ct such a
standard for efficiency that when he
does not pitch a shutout every time
out or make a hit every other time
at bat he is said 20 be going back.
Alexander pitched a dozen shutouts
during the season. but that was no
reason 10 suppose that he would pitch
three shutouts in the Worlds Series.
lust because Mathewson performed
this remarkable performance I'm 1905
\ Walter Johnson suffered the same
way during the last two years. espe-
cially in 1914. In 1913 Johnson set M
such a lofty record that when no fell
) on from his high standard in 1914 he
was considered just one OF the mack
In fact one esteemed critic EXPRESSED
an opinion that Johnson had LOST
whatever claims he had TO an ali-star
> team.
However. such critics neglected TO
take into consideration that Johnson
could go back some fifteen miles and
stu lead the field The averages
proved this when they showed John
son third in 1914. with a percentage
OF LII. This was a falling down from
LOB. but il still was far better han
anything turned in by the other star
pitchers. Dutch Leonard. George
Foster and Bill Doak were the three
pitchers who beat Johnson's record
OF LII in 1914. but it is hardly likely
that any OF this trio would be pre-
ferred to Johnson in Judging the
games leading curvers.
Continuing the earned run discus
sion. Dutch Leonard, the crack Bos-
ton lefthander. set up a record in
1914 which is likely to star long
time. and Is record which botb
Alexander and Johnson, good as
they are. are not likely to lower.
Some Pitching by Leonard.
Leonard's record was l.O1 earned
runs game. and il was no freak ner,
iormance. as the Coast Dutchman
pitched IN thirty-6ve games. and an