New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-31
Race Still Between
the Giants and Braves

close up any such margin of power?
Stallings starts IN April with the
best pitching staff in the league -Ru-
dolph. James and Tyler, reinforced by
Strand. Davis. Cochreham and others
who secured valuable experience and
training last year. He has three pitch
ing stars to count on, and all three are
fairly young and able TO stand the pace
All he needs is two good average pitch
ers, not stars, to rounA out a fine pitch
ing defence.
Hank Gowdy improved rapidly last
season, and should be better this sum-
mer. The Brave infeld, with Evers
and Meanwhile, is the most valuable
infeld in the league, If not in the game,
now that Collins has passed from the
Nackmen. Schmidt, at first, has shown
under fire that he was badly under
rated. and If Red" Smith RECEIVERS the
use OF his shattered prop the Braves
will be ready here to travel far and
fast
Magee adds quite bit to the Brave
outield strength in both directions
on attack and defence. The Braves
haven't great outield yet. but they
have one that is good enough.
McGraw's Job.
The Giant machine, after three years
of success, slipped badly last year,
travelling at only a 800 clip after
July (. This may have been the result
of a three months slump, or it may
have come from a natural let-down in
the old machine. Il may have been
that Doyle and Merkle were hitting well
below form, or that Doyle and Merkle
have seen their best DAYS at bat. These
are matters that are not to be foretold,
save as an outside guess.
But the big Giant crash was IN the
box. When the campaign opened Nc
Graw had four fine pitchers 20 bank
Mathewson. Vanguard. Tesreau and
Demaree Within a month Marquard
and Demaree were fouudering along
like second raters. Neither ever got
his grip from April to October save in
rare flashes. az far apart as the out
posts of a Siberian frontier. For three
months Mathewson travelled at his
finest speed, winning sixteen of his
first twenty games. Then he, 200, col
lapsed, and failed 10 win half his starts
from July on, losing at one stretch ten
out Of twelve games at vital point Of
the race.
Tesreau alone maintained his win
ming way. leaving McGraw at the finish
with one winning pitcher from a field
Of four stars.
The Giant Chance.
With Myers. Mclean and Smith, Nc
Graw has the EDGE back Of the bat
With Merkle, Doyle, Fletcher and
L0bert. NcGraw must yield the inheld
edge 10 Boston unless Merkle and
Doyle regain their form of 1911 and
1912. With Burns. Bcscher. Snodgrass,
Robertson and others, McGraw has
nothing 20 yield m an outfield srgu-
ment
Bus in the box McGraw must bolster
up his pitching from 90 70 10 per cent.
Tesreau, who only reached first rank
IN 1912, hasn't yet attained his prime.
He should be 1915 power. Mathew
son, starting his fifteenth year, is not
yet Slipping at any fatal speed. He
can still be counted on for a run Of
twenty-five victories and steady win
ming Ter cent.
But what after this? No one can
tell vet which signed contract Mar
Guard will fulfil. lie may not even be
with the Giants, ana II he is he NAV
show but little improvement over l9l4,
where in the fighting stretch of the
race he lost twelve straight games.
Demaree is gone. and Fromme has yet
20 show a winning stride. So MeGraw,
10 battle with Staiiings on even terms.
must find two star pitchers from his
recruits or a. least one star as good
as Rudolph, Tyler or James and an
other Of good average quality.
The Edge to Boston.
I. il easy enough 10 see from this
that Boston has the midwinter edge
via he elastic dope over the New York
IN tho y. l.. ensemble.
Stsllings is already primed and fixed