New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-02
MCGraw Now Fears His
Team May Drop Out
of the League.
EIGHTH STRAIGHT
LOST TO ROBINS
Fine Hitting Fails to Help When
Brooklyn Team Slams
Palmero Hard.
BY GRANTLAND RICE.

At late hour last night John J.
MeGrsw put in rush order for a stec'
net. This net will be firmly attached
below the Standing Of the Clubs to
prevent the Giants from falling out of
the league. They have swept down
hill so swiftly in the last two weeks
that it is a bit doubtful if even steel
net will check the dizzy descent.
Yesterday, in the presence Of 5000
fans. they stung the pitching Of Nap
Ruckcr and Jack Coombs for thirteen
safe blows and five absorbent tallies.
Nothing TO il. The heavy bombardment
went to utter waste when the Robins
overhsuled the pitching OF Emilio Pal
nero. the earnest young Cuban. for SIX
runs in five innings. Two more men
came across when Schauer relieved
him. Palmero, as a relief worker, had
pitched wonderful ball against the
Phillies, holding them TO one run in six
reels. Yesterday. as fresh starter,
Emilio allowed enough runs in two inn
ings -the third and fifth to lose two
ordinary games. But so II goes. Con-
trary to fiction and subtle epigram,
Fate doesn't often pick on shining
marx. ne OAlh OF r dNt = lVU NNllcA ISIS
in stamping the loser still deeper into
the CHASTITY depths
While the Dodgers were bounding on
into first place the Giants we're losing
their eighth straight game, the rough
est assault McGraw has ever known.
To show how raw their fate has been
they have a percentage Of 100, but are
still woful last. Yet 100 per cent in
many cases is supposed to be wellnigh
perfect Unless they pick up one vic
tory from their next SIX starts against
Brooklyn and Boston they will tie the
record Frank Chance and his Yankees
made three years ago, when they went
into June before exploiting their first
victory on home sod. After two games
against Brooklyn and four against Bos-
ton they leave for the West, not to re-
turn until June >.
Where's the Rub:
The main trouble? You can figure it
out for yourself. Up to last Saturday,
when a few hurries Of fair pitching
had prevailed. the Giant inheld was
batting exactly 1852. None OF the four
was batting over $50.
The batting average of the entire
club up TO that date was precisely and
fAdNtA. s-DNs CNs stof ~ SNFf
weak attack" But in the last two
games the same Giants have pounded
out twenty-nine base hits and thirty
six bases-an average close 10 500
vet are still merrily on their way down
tho fast green slopes Of the Bosky Dell.
For while they are soaking the ball
punk pitching plus a punctured de-
fence was allowing thirteen rival runs.
So there you are. Once you reach the
soapy chute. if IT isn't one thing it's
another. The only hand extended is
gripped around a meat axe, and what
ever you do is upside down.
In yesterdays affair against the ROB-
ms the Giant outfeld gave as great an
all-around exhibition as any one would
care to see The speedy trio rammed
out seven hits. while three ,hair-raising
catches featured their defensive work
Benny Kauf, in addition 70 pounding
out single and a double, robbed
Casey Stengel and Jake Daubert OF
triples by star running stabs, while IN
the last chapter George Burns TANNED
the hot iron deeper into Casey's quiv-
ering soul by sprinting far back into
left field for a leaping. one-handed
catch that would have drawn a number
Of rousing cheers from a dumb Abys-
sinian. But while Stengel lost two
tribes through such plays nc crossed