The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-10-05
VIII. The Left Fielders
III HUGH ruLLExror.

With the comparative figures OF
Mhitted and Lewis. left fielders OF the
rhai teams. We reach the finish OF the
fether surprising results.
The fact that PhiladeiDhia's outfield
SHOWS so well when studied In compar-
lson with the famous Red Sox trio is
astonishing. and shows that Moran :
team has a lot OF strength for which
AZ mas not been given credit. While
me Red Sox outfigure the Phillies by
field and the outfiefd. IL is not enoush
70 offset what advantage may be gained
through comparison OF pitchers alone.
The Phillies are not outclassed. We
tinu th9t their pitchers will have to
Plteh about per cent better ball than
INC ked SoN to equalize the difference
IN I'm, hitting rover. and that the fielders
Than they do regularly to bring them
70 the Boston. standard. unless the Red
SoN IAN off that much in their work.
The figures show neither team is
likely to hit as hard as II does in sea-
son. because the opposing pitchers
dope out to cut down its batting aud
reduce the attacking strength all round.
But TO the final comparison OF the
regulars. There is a big surprise in
thOse figures. You would not suspect
that Whitted, cast OFF by the Boston
Braves. ranks so closely up TO Duffy
Lewis this fall that there Il small
ehoiSe between them? Neither It'd /
Until until ! studied the dope carefully and
Whitfield is an odd ball player. lie
mas disposition. Last year he was one
OF the most valuable OF the Braves He
was the happy disposition. the fellow
who turned serious situations into a
Joke, who laughed off rows between
piaysrs, smoothed over difficulties.
Stallings, often taking the seedlings ~
tne irascible manager upon himself TO
Snleid some more sensitive person.
stallings used him when he wanted 10
vent his ire upon the team. and Whitted
srinned and PASSED Il off with a jest.
on the Phillies' team he has been in
bieDle keeping mp the team spirit
curing discouraging times. lie has
Sheered the players along, furnished tho
pep and the punch that some OF them
needed, and made Moran's way easier
.! MS tact In Strengthening out those
lutte internal clashes that so often in
lure a ball club.
Whitfield Is dangerous man on the
attack. resourccful uuick TO switch bis
plan. and he can hit. lie bumps tbaf
old grape fruit TO the tune of about
$50 gets on lot OF times. and is one
his team iO'
Duffy Lewis Is one OF the problems
oi the series. We have coHe To be 80
sScustom,d TO referring to Boston's
Nonderful outfield that az times we take
~ Tor granted that IL Is flawless. Car
risan does not figure things that ray.
s ne SITS aown there on the beneA and
sees lot OF things that are f0fgotten
bN the fans. There was time late this
season when IL seemed as N Lewis
would be benched and that HendrIckson
would get u steady job in left field II
Was runored through the American
league that the change was certain but
~ Old not take place. as Lewis braCed
considerably In his work. especially I'M
his hitting. ''
=, Lewis Is not the greatest outfielder
ne ~ scarcely above the average a. a
mecnanlcal fielder. but ne has strong
points as against his weak. HIS abii-
ny TO throw and 10 cut off hard drives
thAI 10 FOUL after crossing third base
on the Boston grounds, and 10 retrieve
th' pail before IT gets into that en-
pafrassing corner IL one OF his stronr
points which will come In handy even
on the new Braves ground
tie can hit. He h. one OF the hest
OF his Kind OF hitter. and Is liable to
clean up at any time with "A terrific
smash TO left. lie hits the left hand
srs Wen and he hits good pitching. 7
nave before me the clipped scores OF a
dozen games in which Boston made very
lew hits OF opposing pitchers and
Lewis In almost every case was one OF
the Few who scored hits. especially up
to July 3.
Whitfield ought 10 hit fairly we'll
against hostonz pitchers. aud be one
OF the chief conf ributors TO Phiiadel-
phia = scoring. Not that ne viii hit
hard. or that the PILLS will score MANY
runs. but he f. liable TO deIfver tho
timely blow that may settle "a close
game.