The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-10-02

More cold comfort for Philadelphia.
When the final figures showing the rela-
tive values OF the third basemen who
are rivals In this worlds series are COM
piled and reduced to the concrete. We
ind Boston's Red Sox again have the
advantage.
The advantage this time is a bit larger
than we have found elsewhere save In
center field
Stock. in fact. compares so badly with
Larry Gardner for the purposes Of a
worlds series that. even allowing for all
claims OF Improvement made for him by
the Philadelphians. still he Is beaten far
and away. As Moran knows these things
perhaps better than any OF US outsiders
do. i expect that Bobby Byrne will be
In there helping out with his rich exper-
fence, his gameness and fighting abii-
ity during at least part OF the series
and have figured Philadelphia's third
basemen on the basis OF five parts Stock
and two parts Byrne.
This combination is rather unfortu-
nate. for the showing n makes. while
good as compared with the average third
In cold figures alongside the value OF
Larry Gardner. For this fellow Gardner
IS today the ranking third baseman of
the country in all-round value TO the
team
An odd Case
An odd case Is that or Gardner. He
was n second baseman OF some merit, but
held the job mainly because he could hit,
as he was an unpublished gem and marred
the harmony OF the field. one day John
hat Iayior got one OF those ,,,i bug notions
dered his manager TO put Gardner over
at third. He had seen Larry practice
there for few minutes.
Gardner didn't like the though a great
deal, but he is one OF those smart. quiet
intelligent Yankees and he went over
there because third basing Is puuusn.
compared with playing second. And in
stead OF just grabbing a sinecure, he be-
came, almost overnight. the sensation
OF the league. the best and cleanest
TlalntnR In Of h.. Ill
instructive third baseman, n great throw
er, a fellow who got the jump on hunts
who blocked down the hard ones. who
tagged runners and blocked them off
In fact, he looked as IL he had PLAYED
third base all his life.
Now, oddly enough. Gardner has not
been fielding the lAse as well this sea
son as he has done in preceding years:
but he has been doing II well enough "a
hang right on At the top OF the third
baseman or the league.
lie Is a grand worker with the other
inficlders. helps Scott out By cutting
across toward the pitcher for the slow
hssh Founders. and he travels a long way
His chief strength. however. is at hat
Again, he Is bit off his hitting stride
this season. and he hasn't been pillng mr.
as many stolen bases as usual sill
he holds enough Of lead TO earn him
figures well above those Of stock.
A Pair Ball Player
stock Is n very fair ball player. He
Is much improved this season over LAST
not so much by added experience as by
escaping from the McGraw kennel IL a
evident now that McGraw's tactics
tussed stock so that he could not do him.
self Justice. McGraw wanted another
herzog or another Shafer and was dis.
appointed stock Is srry and quick. cat.
ike IN his actions around third and
he covers along the line well.
Even 30. Stock scarcely is stronp
enough for n regular job on the Phillies
while Bobby Byrne IS on the list. Byrne
grand little veteran. slipped a lot ~
his hitting this season. being 80 po,ot !
below his normal average. and Stock got
the job because he was nicking the ma r
PIE LOT harder, although even Their
ne wasn't a l-ajoie.
50 Byrue. the veteran. took the under.
study role, and as Stock has been goirc
along vel. Moran. like other managers
would be foolish to make a change Will,
the team Is winning
= However. the figures plainly reveal the