The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-17
GIANTS BRACED BY
CAPABLE PITCHING
Clubs Spirit Revives Behind
Boxwork Of High Grade
From Five Men.
YANKEES 60 ALONG WE'LL
NJ WILLIAM n. HANNA.

WI" 49, |
week ago. mind YOU. the pitching de-
partment was 10 shaky that when the
Giants hit hard enough to satisfy the
most bloodthirsty they couldn't win.
That there was truth in this diagnosis
Of the trouble IL borne out by late
happenings. All OF a sudden the team
began to get good pitching and II has
won its last four games.
Mathewson. Perritt, Tesreau and
Marauard came along in that order
with pitching which was good not
merely because II went with Victory sut
which was good per Sc. Matty's was
good but not particularly so. but that
Of Perritt. Tesreau and Vanguard was
Of the highest class. and the game
pitched by Stroud against Cincinnati.
though II went with a losing game.
deserved victory and also was OF the
highest class. II o felding misplays
which were peculiarly Ill timed to waste
Stroud's high grade work.
Yet with all this excellent showing
by Ave twirlers we shall not bank on
II az an indication hat the team is on
its way TO It's customary place In the
race until 1t has stood the test or more
than one squirt. There are two rea-
sons for this state OF mind. One II nat
the Giants have played far too much
in and out ball over a part OF last
year and this spring and the other is
that It isn't known yet how near
Matty Is to his old peerless self or what
Perritt and Vanguard are going TO
show In the way OF consistency.
Gould the Ave pitchers approximate
the same grade Of efficiency which they
as a group showed last week-hne!
But so far Tesreau has been the only
consistent performer. Stroud's pitch
ing. what there has been OF II. has
been first class. but Vanguard has zone
to extremes n for two years hasn't
been one of hose steady. dependable
work horses while Matty and Perritt
have turned on one good game apiece.
These two. however. were plainly out
OF condition for the first month. and
one can safely say with the most con-
sentative conservatism that last weeks
developments were encouraging.
The whole team. no matter what the
quality OF the physical execution.
played with fine spirit, not the care
free exuberance such as might have
gone with Saturdays game. when VIC
tory was reasonably sure most Of the
way, but with the spirit which sus-
tains through a hard and uncertain
battle such a. the New ork-Cincinnati
series. In this series the Reds were
outfought and without any noisy fuss
on the part Of tho Giants. Which re-
verts back to where We started. Good
pitching Is a strong bulwark.
Despite their victory yesterday the
Yankees have the hardest part OF their
Western trip ahead OF them. The De-
troits were disposed OF handily by the
Red Sox. who were put away hanGily
by the Yankees. but that 10 no way to
reason when considering what lies
ahead. Still the intersectional games
have rome far enough to give some
basis OF comparison OF the work OF
the Yankees and the rest of the league.
for the season to date, that Is. The
troop played better ball than
the Red Sox. Washingtons or Athletics
In direct competition and better than
the Clevelands under the same con-
ditions. The Washingtons held their
own with the White Sox and the Bos-
tons more than held their own with the
Detroits. Add TO this the not in
consequential item that the Yankees at
the end of the NTH week had the best
percentage In the league and 1t Is clear
that they have pla yed the best ball
of any team in the league.
An unusually steady team. these
Yanks, and evenly balanced. Five weeks
is but a small part OF six months. but
we do not recall that two former New
York American League teams of more
thar ordinary strength. one managed by
Griffith. the other by Stallings. made as
good a start. though each was a stronger
hitting team.
Ray Fisher Is doing the best work he
ever did as a Yankee pitcher. Six VIC
tories and 10 defeats is the Vermont
p~edagogue's contribution, and Is only
carrying on the capital work he did
last year. Fishers pitching has i'm
proved since he began 10 make less use
OF the spitball. lie is a hard headed.
serious minded fellow and one OF the
veterans OF the team. The Yankees
haven't many veterans, and those are
aren't very veteran,
The Oldest in service OF the team are
Cree and Sweeney, who first got into the
official figures as Yankees in 1908.
Fisher Joined as a full fiedged pitcher
for the club in 1910. when he won five
games and lost three, Caldwell and
Hartzell date back to 1911. These FIVE
pen are the only veterans.
Honus Lobert. hitting around $40 and
playing his position in speedy and reli-
able fashion. has been a valuable man
for the Giants all season, even II they
are last. In all around work he has ex-
celled any other third baseman who has
played on the Polo Grounds this season.
Two strong points In his fielding are
going In for hunts ard getting drives
hit between him and he foul lire. In