Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-10-07
INFIELDS RANK
ABOUT THE SAME
Red Sox Inner Works Has Batting
Average -Four Points Above
that of the Pills.
FIELDING ABILITY ABOUT PAR


both teams will be well provided with
infield material. All told there are no
less than thirteen players who may
be called upon 70 take defensive posi-
lions around the base paths. The Red
sox have seven experienced infielders,
who by a series OF shifts. can be formed
into several combinations of unus-
ual strength both at the bat and on the
diamond. The Phillies while well equip
ped with regulars, are not as strong
numerically or in general average as
their rivals when the infield squads are
considered as a whole.
The apparent advantage possessed by
the American leaguers will not count
heavily against the Philies, provided the
two teams are able TO so through the
series without the necessity OF changes
due to accidents or illness. Should
emergencies arise, however where It be-
..-Somes imperative TO call upon the re-
serve forces of the infields, then the
resources of the Boston club would be
p factor worthy of much consideration in
endeavoring to forecast the outcome of
The play.
During the most important portion of
the race for the American League PEN
nant, the Boston infield lineup was as
y rule. as follows: Hoblitzel, first base:
Barry, second base Gardner. third base;
Bcott. shortstop. Gainer was frequently
used to hold down the initial bag. how
ever. while Wagner filled in at second
and Janvrin took Scotts place at short.
In sddition Barry is familiar with the
duties Of both short and third: Janvrin
can hold down third and Scott Is not un-
familiar with the duties at second and
third.
what PhilIies Have.
Opposed to the versatile and inter
nhangeable infied. the Phillies have Lu-
derus at first; Niehoff at second; Stock
on third and Bancroft for shortstop.
Byrne is an infielder of calibre and with
Dugey, forms the reserve corps for the
first line of the Moranites defense
Bryne has played in a number OF games
during the past season, showing fair
strength at bat and on the field. Dugey,
who Is the youngest member of the
Phillies clan. has figured almost entirely
This year as pinch hitter and 10
<elot likely to be called upon to play
unless an unusual emergency arises.
Notwithstanding the apparent superior
lily in numbers and veteran material of
the Red Sox, the playing averages of
the two squads fail to show any great
advantage one way or the other. The
seven Boston infielders have combined
batting average Of .25S against the Phil
lies, 254. while the fielding averages are
even closer the figures being: Philadel-
phis, .955; Boston, 1853. When the eight
players who will probably form the two
lnfields in the opening game are COM
pared the difference In the averages 10
greater but the advantage about equally
divided. Luderus, Niehoff, Stock and Ban
croft have a combined fielding average of
.954 and batting average of .265; the Bos-
ton quartet, consisting Of HobItzel, Berry,
Gardner and Scott show a grand aver
age of 1862 In the field and .84 at
bat.
Comparing these players, position by
position, the figures indicate that Lude-
rus is a better hitter and fielder at
first than Hoblitzel with the base steal
ing ability about equal and the Red Sox's
sackman holding an advantage in sac
rifice hitting for Luderus's average at
bat is 31s to Hoblitzers .21 while in the
field Luderus averaes .s91 to Hoblitsels
$50 At second, where Barry and Me-
hoff are likely to be the leading per
formers. the former Athletic star out
shines the player secured by the Phil
lies from Cincinnati in exchange for for
mer manager Charles Doom. Barry has
batted 40 and fielded 1865 this season
20 Niehoffs .2S9 and .s43 Niehoff Is
much faster on the bases, having stolen
nineteen sacks to Barry's zero in this
department of play. Barry. however, has
shown far greater steadiness In the field |
and has a better record In sacrifice hit |
ting.
Work at Third
At third the fans who witness the
series will have an opportunity to COM
pare the work of Gardner and Stock. |
for the latter is likely to be the choice {
Of Manager Moran. since his record for |
the season shows that he Is a harder |
hitter and better fielder than Byrne, al
though figuring in but half the number
Of games credited to Byrne. Stock has
a fielding average about thirty points .
better than Gardner. but is fourteen "
points shy of the Red SOx third sack
er's batting ability. Gardner is superior
in base running and is credited with
more sacrifice hits, but is apparently
less steady in the handling of difficult
chances.
Comparing the records OF the rival
shortstops it is seen that Bancroft, the
hAouSApAAd pidyNig mas q ihhth pSlSCt |
average with the bat, but falls below
Scott. the Boston player. Ina fielding.
Bancroft has played in almost all the
games OF the season and his averages
ares Batting, .245; fielding. .S21. Scott
> in less than one hundred games has
batted 1874 and fielded .S6s In base
stealing and sacrifice hitting Bancrofts
record shows to advantage over Scott's,
while the latter is considered to be a
steadier fielder
1t is perfectly apparent from a study
OF the seasons averages that both Man
ager Moran and Manager Carrigan have
considered their arrangement of the In
fields from other angles than mere bat
ting and fielding averages alone for har-
monious teamwork and skillful fielding
combinations cannot always be ex-
pressed or proved by figures. The com
plete records of the infieldeTs OF both
clubs. taken from the latest unofficial
averages. are attached. however, for the
purposes OF comparison;
BOSTON AMERICAN LEAGUE CLUB.
Player. Position
HODlttzel. first base ......-.... .......-... |