New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-01
Robins Chances Will De-
pend on the Drive
Starting To-day.
BY FRANK O'NEILL.

Philadelphia, Aug. Sl.-The Brooklyn
Robins, backed to the wall, are ready
for their fight against the real strength
of the National League. In the next
ten days they will face the Phillies, the
Giants and the Bostons. They hold the
lead by slight margin over the Bos-
ton Braves as they make ready for
their series with the champion Phillies
here tomorrow.
A double-header will be played, and
il the Robins fash some Of the bush
ball they played on the tour through
the West, one can only guess the event
ualities. Then again. if they display
the same fighting spirit that carried
them to victory over the Cubs, Reds
and Cardinals in the games they won
in those cities, and combine with 1t the
defensive skill they showed against the
Pirates, the Flatbush fans have only
10 reserve their tickets and make their
bets on the worlds series.
Brooklyn is capable of playing two
kinds Of ball-the very good and the
extremely bad. They aged both kinds
on this Western trip without fear or
favor. Hope rode high when watching
them in one game, only TO fee before
blue despair as they kicked and threw
away another
Should Have Won Thirteen.
The Robins won nine games and lost
six on their journey through the west,
and il is fair to say that with really
high grade baseball they might have
won thirteen of the fifteen. They were
outmatched in one game against the
Reds. when Coombs lost l to battle
against Pete Schneider. There was
small cause for complaint when Lee
Meadows shut them out in st. Louis,
but there was cause for criticism IN
some Of the other games. Nothing but
ball of the bush league variety was at
the bottom of the defeats. However,
thew won three out Of four in Pitts
burgh, two in Chicago, two in Clncin-
rati, getting an even break in those
towns. and two out of three IN ST.
Louis.
Fighting the Pirates, the Robins
were real champions. They hit behind
the pitchers, seized every opportunity
TO advance, and fielded superbly in all
but the third game. when Cutshaw
made a wild throw which permitted the
winning run TO score. The pitching
was air-tight, and the boys dreamed
of the worlds series gold.
4 remarkable change was worked IN
Chicago, however, change Tor the
worse. Jack Coombs opened the series
against the Bruins by pitching one Of
the greatest Pames Of his long career.
He let the Cubs down with one lone hit
81 NIT
parently there was no stopping the
boys. But in the second game Of the
series JEFF Pfeifer weakened in the
eighth inning while shooting from be-
hind a two-run lead, and the Cubs got
after him for four runs and won the
game.
Lucky in This One.
Brooklyn was lucky TO win the third
battle by good round score Of 20 T.,
with Cheney, Del and Smith pitching,
after doing their best to toss it away
in the early innings. In the last game
against Tinker's men they made good
the threats Of the day previous and
actually did throw tbe contest away,
but even with the bad playing an even
break was won in four games.
This rather unstable brand of ball
was continued against the Reds in Gin
cinnati. Sherric Smith wild-pitched
the opener away, after Marquard had
performed in wonderful style for eight
innings, and retired in favor Of pinch
hitter Cheney guided the boys through
in the second game, but Coombs was
beaten in the third by score Of 70 o..
The Colby star pitched great game Of
ball, but Pete Schneider went him one
better, and never allowed a run. The
final game, however, was massacre,
and Brooklyn simply swept the Rhine
landers off their feet.
So, having won seven games and lost
five, the Robins advanced on ST. Louis.
They encountered the Cardinals in the
midst Of wild winning streak, and
were soundly trounced in the first
game, but won the other two by play
ing real baseball.
Two Stars Are Lost.
Under the conditions which prevailed
IL is not just TO censure the Robins too
severely. Two stars Of the team were
forced out OF action. Jake Daubert had
TO retire after the game with the Bos-
ton Braves, and was used only as Il
pinch hitter once or twice on his trip.
Then Jimmie Johnston was hit in the
face with pitched ball and had his