The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-09-28

The Phrollicking Phils are now just
hilittle more than week away from a
worlds series and the possible title OF
rnoparchs OF the baseball world. But
two series remain to be played before
the blithsome events OF the October
classic, not counting a transforming
lay.oyer Of one day in Brooklyn, where
Pats Pets paused on Tuesday long
enough TO take smack at the pre-.
sumptuous Dodgers before proceeding
to Boston to tackle the real enemy.
After a ,four.game series there 1t will
be3home again for the champions and
athree.same series on the home lot 10
prepare for the big show.
While no one wants TO cune out
baretaced and say SO, most Of the
players on Pats roster are as Sc.
renely confident they will win the big
series as they were that they, woula
be- the h National League champions.
And they have grounds for thinking
soStoo.
Phil rhans who were accustomed to
seeing the future champs in action
around Broad and Huntington streets
have no idea OF how much the club
has improved. There is a machine.
like precision about the defense that
moves like clockwork. Every man
goes after a ball with the confidence
that presages success. In the outfleld
they go after balls that are almost
Impossible to be caught, but Whitfield,
PaSkert and Cravath hustle after
them just the same. knowing they can
afford to let the pill roll through
them II they miss It because some side
pal will be backing up the play and
will hold the hit to one base anyway.
On the offense. the club is showing
more and more the effects OF the con-
stant. drilling of Pat Moran. Such OF
the players-and they were quite a
number-who had faults in hitting
were corrected by the most modern OF
miracle men, until now any old time
isfliable to see rally staged at either
end OF the batting order.
There Is no denying that the Red
sox will so into the big fuss heavy
favorites. But in the past the favorite
has seldom won worlds series. What
sane man would have picked the
Braves to trim the Athletics in four
straight games in yesteryer? What
baseball man was there who did not
think the famous old Cub machine
would grind the Mackmen to pieces
back in 1910?
Pills Stronger on Mound.
But the Phils have more than super
stitution to back them UP. Any club
that has phenomenal pitcher iiS.
Grover Cleveland Alexander included
In its strength must he recSoned
with. G. c. is better than joe Wood
ever was or ever will he, and anyway
Il is not likely that Smoky Joe will
cut much OF a swnth In the eerieS
Alexander and Mayer are q heap
stronger combination than Leonard
and Shore. DeEaroc, RiXcy. McQuillan
lind Chalmers from more effective
fecret Quartet OF huricrs Than Bill
Garrigan can boast Of. There is no
Gcubt that Pats Pets vii! get the best
pitching.
.If Ilillc!er gets Into the series, and
tho chances are he and Burns will al
taraaic, the receiving department will
he Just as strong as that OF the Red
sox. The Pills have little the edge
on the first base end OF the iniield, as
Gap. Luderus has something on Hob.
iitzcl, when It comes to all-around et.
factiYcnose. Capt. Ludy is there with
tie cleanup wallop VIXEN 1t is badly
nedSSd quite often. and his long,
smaqhing drives are apt to count quite
heavily.
The Sox have little the better Of
II when It comes TO the second base
position. Niehoff is playing a strong
game, and one that Is marked i'm.
provement to what he showed at the
beginning of the season, but he Is
hardly Jack Barry. Few chaps are.
But Niehoff can be depended upon to
acquit himself creditablr.
There is no comparison between
Davy Bancroft at short and Scott. the
Sox shortstopper. The honors all go
to tMoran's sensational youngster,b both
In fielding and hitting. There is not
aSshortstop in either league who could
be passed on to Pat Moran in an even
swap for young Bancroft. There is no
better player In the position now, and
Banny is bound to improve for some
time to come.
1T Is about toss up at third base
Between Stock and Gardner. Milt will
hold down the hot corner for the Fhils
tfllie continues TO show as much stun
she has since he got the Job through
fobby Byrne's injury. Gardner may.
mark the may. have little on Stockie
when It comes TO fielding but the all
around value OF the Phtls' third baser