The Washington times., 1917-09-29
By HUGH s. FULLERTON.

New York's Giants have the better
infield, better in both the attack and
in defense, than the Chicago White
Sox, for purposes of the worlds
series.
This revelation comes as a surprise
to me. l expected to discover when
the men were weighed and figured
down to the finest points that the
White Sox would be stronger in the
attack and that the Giants would
show a greater margin Of efficiency
on the infieId, due largely to ex-
perience and brains. Instead, the
Giants barely hold the lead in field
ing, yet show that their infield ought
to outplRy Chicago on the attack.
The White Sox, almost beyond
doubt, will lead in the hitting (only
infielders being considered thus far),
but their attack in other depart
ments, notably on sacrificing, and on
speed, will not show as well, in spite
of the skill of Collins and Weaver.
The Giants hold up in spite, also,
Of Herzog's condition. l am figuring
upon Herzog to be in the big series,
but not in his best condition. His
nerve and fighting qualities, his de-
termination and his power OF inspir
ing confidence in the others, are
needed. With Smith on the job we
would have to deduct just eighty-two
points from the defensive and Of
fensive strength of the team.
where RIsberE Is Weak.
There seldom have been two
teams entering a worlds series that
figured SO close together on the in
fields. Usually pennants are won by
strong combinations around second
base. Neither OF these teams has
such a combination-thRt is, not a
great one like the Evers-Tinker, Col
Iins Barry, Long-Lowe combines, for
instance. Both OF these teams have
won through attacking power, not
through defensive strength, although,
OF course, the defense has been good.
The Fletcher-Herzog team work
around second base excels that of
Collins and Risberg, chiefly because
they understand team play better, and
because OF Risberg's inexperience, and
failure to grasp the Collins style of
play.
The secret of all great combina-
tions around second base lies in the
timing of plays and making them to
suIt the speed of the runners on the
bases. In spite OF his greatness, Ed
die Collins never has timed runners
well. and, in fact. has a style of TAX
ing a ball at second for the relay to
irst that is practically his own. 1t
is FAST, but not always in accord with
the necessity OF the play. He can
make the pay himself. but his man
ner of making IL often throws his
partner off guard. 1t did not do so
with. Jack Barry. who understood him
snd played with HMM fact, train
ed him, in a way.
Should Trust Collins.
Collins meets the ball while at full
speed, and an inexperienced man Is
liable to fear a mishap and throw to
the runner instead of to the bag. as
Collins plays deep and far away. and
comes with great speed. Risberg
has, on a dozen occasions this sea-
son, started to make the throw to the
base. has seen how far Collins was
away, and either pulled the throw to
meet the runner. and thus lost the
double play. or has failed to make II
at all. II he had that supreme con-
fdence in Collins ability to get the
ball that Barry had, and had thrown
to the base. these mishaps never
would have happened.
The pair have not learned to work
smoothly together as yet. Weaver,
on the other hand, shoots at the base.
and II Collins isn't there that is his
lookout. Incidentally, Collins usu-
ally gets there, although sometimes
only So far ahead of the runner as to
make II close and lose q chance for
a double.
Fletcher and HerzoE work much
better together, more smoothly, pass
the ball to each other better. Col
Inns is better than Herzog in pivot
ing to make the nelay throw. for
Herzy frequently shows he is out of
position by a trace OF awkwardness
in his pivoting. On some occasions
this summer. he has lost plays
through getting his feet out of posi-