The Washington times., 1917-10-04
The Catchers

and know how to slide at the plate.
The only path he leayes open In
blocking the runner is through him.
1 do not mean to insinuate that any
OF the Giants would try to injure the
handspring OF Rowland's machine. but
they are not accustomed to being
blocked hard away from the plate.
The majority OF catchers, who are
hurt, are hurt by runners who come
at them expecting they will give
ground. II they come into Schalk in
that manner, some one Is going to get
hurt
II schalk should be hurt. the duty
OF handling q rather tough bunch OF
and Immediately the White Sox will
fall far behind in comparative figures.
Lynn Is not q good hitter and only q
little above average as q catcher, al
though promising. He has under
studied Schalk quite successfully this
season and gained valuable exper-
ienee.
Against schalk we must figure a
combination OF the virtues and faults
OF Rariden and Mccarty. In this dop-
ing, have had to deduct forty points
from McCarty's top value, because OF
the fact he was incapacItated for q
AOhB IAAlAb TINS mas nOi
shown as well since he got back into
the spangles as he did prior to his
lay OF,
MeCRrty Giants Best Bet.
McCarty, with all due regard to
Rariden, Is the better man for the
Giants, although the chances are
RarideR will catch two games of the
series. He is q better man for the
series, not only Because he can hit
better, but because the style OF pitch
ing the White Sox will offer seems to
ft his batting better. He can hit.
He Is close up to the 800 class most
of the time, and, while not the I'm
ished worker nor the inspiring leader
that Schalk is, he Is there with q
wallop, can throw and can backstop.
In some respects Rariden excels
him He Is q wiser and more cunning
man behind the bat, works better
with the majority OF the pitchers, and
does a lot of quiet and effective sig
mailing to the inheld. He is one of
those wise old take a look around"
when a pitcher is showing signs OF
nervousness or hurrying.
While neither of AcGraw's catch
ers ranks with Chicago's star, except
ing in sheer battering strength, Nc
Graw is not taking the chances that
Rowland is, because either McCarty
or Rariden can handle the situation
should the other be injured. AS to
which OF the Giant catchers Is the
better in working with pitchers, Is q
question. I think, and several think
ing players agree with me, that Rari-
den is rather the steadier. and Nc
Carthy mechanically the better man.
VIII Handle Sehupp.
McCarty, almost beyond doubt, will
handle Schupp's delivery. Whether
McGraw will rotate them or pick
them to fit pitchers is a question
Prior to McCarty's lay-ofr, the men
were paired with pitchers for the
most part, but, IL there was any DIFF
ference in them or any preference on
the part OF pitchers as to which
would catch, 1t was largely wiped out
when Rariden was doing all the catch
ing.
Catching for several years was the
weakest spot in the Giant team. Rari-
den was secured to bolster up the
weak spot, and he proved q steady.
thoughtful, II not brilliant, man and
consistent and earnest in his work.
When McGraw secured McCarty, he
rounded out his ball club. There
was a howl when Brooklyn made the
deal, and many fans thought Brook
lyn was bolstering the Giants. Sew