The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-09-14
Big League Gossip
CHRSrY MATHEWSON
Cincinnati 1eds

just before the championship event OF
each day. He probably will use scrub
batteries who can so up to the Folo
Grounds an hour before the regular
game and get peek at the 1913 yam
KEGS in training.
Aside from this feature. such plan
will save time and expense next spring
Many rookie shows UP for spring
training, and has to be carried along for
weeks. although he hasn't chance to
make the team. The average cost or
training each player in the spring is
about $500. And often players show up
who are jokes and would have been dis
posed Of during the winter II the man
ager could have had just one peek al
them In the fall.
Therefore, a manager who starts the
weeding-out process in the fall. is just
that far advanced on the job when he
starts spring training and Is rid OF some
annoyanceS as we'll.
I see Charley Herzog is going to take
a good rest now that the Giants have
beaten of the Phillies and have clear
sailing to the pennant. In my opinion
This Is. move that will have the best
possible effect on the team.
Herzog has not been playing with his
usual brilliancy If he stays down on
the farm for three weeks. he should gain
weight. and. by the time the Giants be-
gin their final preparation for the White
Sox. he ought to be feeling fit and anX-
ous to get into action.
The physiological side Of a Worlds
Series cannot be ignored. Suppose the
Giants, on their final western trip. go
a bit stale and play enough bad ball TO
disturb their confidence. ! can imagine
what would be the effect on the team un-
der these conditions il Herzog should
come back a few days before the series
and get into the game with all OF his
well known pep" He'd simply make
them forget their fears.
On the other hand. II Herzog dragged
along without thu rest he feels he should
have. he probably would not cut mucn
Of figure on the trip and would not be
fresh for the big effort. There Is moth
, ing so heartening TO a team going into
action in Worlds Series as the sudden
addition Of dynamic force. and by going
away and coming back Herzog can un-
doubtedly give his people the added i'm
petus they need as they charge the
American League champions.
IF the Reds had been able to handle
the Phillies as the Giants did. we would
be right up there in second place now
or very close to it. I can't explain
why we have been able to win only two
games Of the eleven we have played in
Philadelphia. It's just one Of those
queer breaks.
Just before the Reds have slumped
again and are nos fulfilling the predi;:-
tions that were made Of them earlier
In the season. you must not forget they
accomplished something this season
that no other Cincinnati team has done
In years. They won more games In the
east than they lost.
don't believe this has been done
since Joe Kelley's day. and that was
considers bly, more than ten years ago.
This year We played forty-four games in
the east. winning twenty-three and los
ing twenty-one-lnd this. despite the
fact that We dropped nearly every one
at Philadelphia In Brooklyn and Bos-
ton. We won eight and lost three. and
at the Polo Grounds we won five and
lost six. after dropping all three games
on the first trip.
But for those pesky Phillies. we would
q, have been up there playing those Gro
cal'' sets OF games with the Giants.
They spoiled our last trip east by beat
ing us four straight after We had more
than held our own with. the other teams.
When we returned home. after sue
cessful invasion Of the east in July. II
was those same Phillies who walloped
US four times in succession on the home
lot after we had won seven straight.
have high hopes for next year. how
ever. now that | know have good
road team. Tho Reds arc young and
will improve. te1ieve a solution Of
the pitching problem will bring about
cur greatest Improvement al home.
You must remember that Cincinnati
is hot place in the summer and there
10 n vast difference between pitchers
VINO work every two or three days there
and those who expend such energy in a
more variable climate.
, When double-ncadcrs come fast on
home stand Of the Reds, the pitchers