New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-10
Giant Catcher Deplores
Lights and Shadows at
Brush Stadium.
SAYS THE SLUGGERS
CAN'T SOLVE THEM
Bill Thinks the Robins Are Next
Best to the Giants for
pennant.
By FRANK O'NEILL.


Bill Rariden, catcher Of the New York
Giants, has come TO the rescue with the
real reason for the inability OF the
Giants to hit on the Polo Grounds
when they have been breaking down
fences on the tour around the country.
Bill declares that the Giants are I'M
lights and shadows Of the home ground.
This inability is playing havoc with
their batting averages. The Hoosier
catcher says that the other teams have
complained bitterly of the batting con-
ditions at the Harlem meadow, which
are not met with on any other park in
the league.
Bill was found yesterday afternoon
and was willing to discuss the baseball
situation. He said that the light at
the Polo Grounds was responsible for
the batting slump which has puzzled
the Giant experts since the team re-
turned home.
"The lights and shadows Of the Polo
Grounds are responsible for our slump
in hitting" said Bill. at is not that
the pitching is any better here than in
the other parks, but simply that we
cannot sec the ball as well.
"The average fan who attends the
game has little time to study condi-
tons as they exist. He comes to see the
game and accepts the plays as they are
made.
an the early afternoon, before the
sun drops behind the stand, it is all
right. You can hit and see; but once
the pitcher stands in the shadow the
troubles of the batters and the catchers
begin.
"The pitcher stands in the shadow
and pops the ball out of semi-dark-
ness Out in the field the sun is shin
ing and the whole background is light
You look into that light from the com
parative darkness and it is hard to see
the ball coming up TO you.
"Take a pitcher that has a lot of
speed and a fast curve, and your
troubles are just about doubled. Stand
in the shadow yourself, looking out
into the light, and have some one throw
something at you with any speed. then
see whether or not you can hit it with
any degree Of accuracy"
Bill's reasoning has the proper ring
20 IT, but suggests this query:
W NY 90 tne Olner teams win there
The Giants are primarily a hitting
club. They rely upon that staggering
attack as the greatest defence. Rob
them of their strongest asset and they
sink 10 the level of the other teams;
and the business OF winning resolves
itself into getting the breaks.
Rariden firmly believes in the Giants.
He believes that they will capture the
pennant; but if they fail, he holds the
opinion that the Brooklyn Robins have
the next best chance.
THAT Brooklyn bunch is whooping
along" says Rariden, land it is not
luck. They are playing good baseball,
and are out in front because they de-
serve to be there. The pitchers are
going along we'll, and unless a series of
accidents cuts in on them they will
make a hard fight all the way
"The next Western trip will tell the
story of this race, | believe" continued
Rariden. "lf VIC get any kind of
break we will 60 right out after the
boys as we did on the last tour. We
may not make the same record, but we
will win lot Of ball games"
The Washington Senators are just
about through for the season, 10 would