Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-08
First World Series Game Being Played Soggy dFavors Ph
SOGGY FIELD SLOWS UP BOSTON,
GIVING PF1ILLIES BETTER CHANCE
Grounds Got in Fair Condition, but Heavy
Going Is Expected to Favor Morans
Club-Other Gossip.

ton that he might not be able to stop
so hard a hitting team as the Red Sox
have proved themselves. There has
been so much said about Alexander 8
prowess that it is limited that the Bos-
might give the Phill.es an advantage.
But Bill Carrigan and several OF his
players figure that they have been up
against even better pitchers than
that Alexander will not be the neig-
ma that is predicted.
Pitcher Ruth, who also Is some hit
ter. for instance. Is quoted as having
pitch, but when q team faces Walter
johnson q few times during q season
and is told that there is a pitcher with
moro stun than the washington star,
stance I am from Missouri. and will
have to be shown"
The American League undoubtedly is
stronger than tho National. This has
been true for several seasons. regard
less of tho fact that tho Athletics were
beaten in tho world series last fall. 1t
Is because this fact is generally con-
coded that the winners of the Amer
lean League pennant are given the
preference in the world series this
year.
But. of course in a seven-game Sc
ries. it does not follow that the strong
II.
and conditions often affect the out
come. There are those who believe
that Alexander, undoubtedly a great
performer, can win three of the games
with ease and the series. too. If Chal-
mers comes through and helps him a
single game. But the fact should not
be overlooked that Alexander has been
showing brilliant form in league
which, according to McGraw, good
Judge, was made up Of eight second
Yet 1t is a guess as to who will be
the winner. There may be something
to be said along these lines after the
teams have gotten into action, for it is
a better line on the outcome than is
now possible.
From what can be learned from
those who are supposed to be in the
know here, Manager Moran has no in
tentfon of pitching Alexander with less
than two days rest. unless he has over
estimated the value that Chalmers will
be to his team in this series. If he
starts with Chalmers Alexander will
then come back Tuesday. But the
chances are that neither manager has
set plans, for there is never any tell
ing what may happen. The much
touted Alexander may prove easy pick
ing for the Red Sox, while on the 9TH
er hand he may score three shut-outs
in the series, as did Mathewson in
1905, when he did not allow the Ath-
letics a run in the three games Of the
series which he pitched.
Alexander has never pitched against
the Red Sox. and the Sox have, Of course,
never hit against him. So that so far as
predictions are concerned they cannot be
based on dope. Some pitchers are only
successful against certain teams, and can
not hold their own against others. This
was demonstrated the past season, when
Weilman of the Browns won eight games
from Detroit. while he hardly broke even
on the season, Cleveland beating him
every game he pitched against it.
The Phillies and Red Sox have never
met, and until they do there is not going
to be any real line on how one or the
other may fare in the coming series.
Opinions of base ball men vary greatly.
For publication all of those identified with
the American League are for the Red Sox,
and the National Leaguers, Of course, ex-
pressed Themselves as being confident of
the Phillies' victories.
But in their hearts not one Of them Is
confident The American Leaguers have
heard so much about Alexander and his
low curve ball, delivery which always
bothers the Boston batters, and that they
fear may make a victory for tho Phil
lies in the series possible, while on the
other hand. the National Leaguers realize
that Boston has a fast, hard-hitting team,
which is backed by pitchers who in their
own league have performed wonders.
Wise base ball men contend that the
Phillies will display moro headwork In
the series than the Red Sox, who are
charged with playing strafghtaway ball.
but il the Phillies do anything out of the
ordinary 1t will be the first time that this
has been done in a world series, where
the play is usually along tho lines Of the
old army game.