The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-10-03
FULLERTON BELIEVES 1917 OUTFITS
MOST EVENLY MATCHED In HISTORY
BY HUGH S. FULLERTON.

Here Is the strangest freak Of the
dope I ever have encountered in a
quarter OF a century Of trying to dope
out baseball:
New Yorl's Giants and Chicago's
White Sox are practically tied in Of
fensive strength-only one point in
thousands separating them after an
exhaustive study of the infielders and
outfeIlders, who form the regular
teams.
In spite of this fact, the Giants
lead by more than 100 points in team
strength (catchers and pitchers not
yet considered).
The teams are the most evenly
matched ever have been called upcn
to study. 1t is remarkable thac ths
figures should show them So nearly
equal in both offensive and defensive
strength that q turn of the lu Z, a
break Of the game, in fact, almost
anything, would change the verdict
The dope proves these things con-
clusively:
That the White Sox possesses
the greater battering power.
That the Giants have the speed
lest and cleverest attack.
That the Giants have the
smoothest team work and the best
generalship.
That the Giants excel the White
Sox in more positions han she
White SoX'excel them
But the greatest thing proved by
the comparative study Of the teams
thus far is that It is a series that
will be decided almost entirely upon
the merits Of the pitching. and chat
the result Of the series will not prove
which is the better team, but witch
team possesses the best pitchers for
the week Of October 6.
warning to BettOra.
II any one is foolish enough to
wager on baseball, here's q warning:
The team, the best pitchers Of which
are in the best condition that week,
Xviii win. This means, now that we
have discovered the strength Of the
regulars, we must dig a lot deeper
into the dope and figure condition OF
pitchers, and the pitching Of each man
as calculated against each batter.
In presenting these figures as to-
tails, l do not mean to decide that
the Giants are a better ball club. The
dope means they are a better ball
club for the purposes OF this series.
Also, 1 must warn you that these fig
ures are subject to alteration before
the series starts, for the reason that
we may be called upon to drop Her
zog's figures from the total and cal
culate largely upon Smith, and that
there is a chance that we will have 10
figure McAIullen in part Of the series
at third for the White SoX-
Although it has been impossible to
give in detail all the figures l have
compiled IL have more than forty
pages of solid typewriter dope be-
fore me now and my head is full of
sevens and fours), l want to explain
that / have not, in all cases, figured
the man for the position. I have made
in four cases in which the
probabilities are that the man will
break into part of one or more games.
1 had to figure that way for Murphy,
of the White Sox, and have Without
IN a game and half (that is. have
figured his value for fifteen innings)
and his attacking value for four times
at bat.
have msde no attempt to figure a
mans value, unless it is practically
certain he will take active part in the
games. As well figure what Speaker
would do II he was on the SOX as to
calculate the worth OF any man who
will be on the bench through the