New-York tribune., 1918-09-09

sy some strange law of percentage
opening world series game has connaS
the big end of the purse. Boston won
me sne opening game in Chicago. That
does not necessarily mean the Rod
hosed warriors of Ed G.. Barrow will
WIN s the titular struggle this year. for
thls may ultimately develop the ex-
ceptlon that proves the rule. But it
gave boston an advantage that was
pressed precariousy near to Cuh dis.
aster when the Hub representative
MADE 1t two out of the first three by
coping Saturdays rubber" game in
the Windy City.
boston opened the series against
great odds, as it was asked to play
.he hrst three games before the alien
and partisan Windy City fans. It is
true the advantage was not so great
as as W "ouid Ia nave been the case had those
games been played at Weeghman Park.
IN 1he home of the Chicago Nationals.
me Red Sox probably were more ia
mlllar with the tricks of Comiskev
fark than We're the Cubs But those
critics who favored chicago were OF
tne opinion that the Cubs would turn
thelr nome advantage to account. and
TINS they failed to do
Red SOx Hold Advantage
The Boston Red Sox hold an advan-
.age OF Two victories as against Chi
cago's one win. They have but to
WIN two games more. Chicago must
WIN WIN three games before Boston wins
only two or accept the short end ~
the argument. And Chicago. the under-
dog now, is asked to go out and battle
IN tne rival corner. 1t must be re-
membered, too, that the Boston Rod
COX are practically invincible on their
own stamping ground. That ia why
the task of the Cubs, to the writer at
lease, appears so like the impossible.
On what has been shown in the three
games already played Boston has no
right to claim superiority. But the
Cubs big gun has been siienced. Jim
vaughn. who was expected to prove a
vital factor for Chicago. has bean
beaten IN both of his starts. With a
little luck he might have won both
But that is beside the issue. For this
series, so far as the Sox are concerned.
Vaughn's fangs have been drawn.
with Fred Mitchell the Cub situa-
tion IS now desperate one. His is the
club backed against the wall. Mitchell
cannot afford to gamble. Barrow can.
Nelther, OF course. is tipping his mitt.
But expect that after the tough luck
In which his southpaws have performed
to date Mitchell will elect right-h hand
er, shuffling Phil Douglas or Claude
Hendrix for the opening tilt in Boston
tomorrow.
Tyler. who won his game in Chicago
Friday IN commendable fashion, is a
veteran who needs plenty of rest be-
tween PERFORMANCES. 1t is unlikely
that Mitchell will dare to repeat with
him after only two days rest. By
Tuesday Tyler should be up to his best
and able to stem the tide in case
Whichever Cub right-hander is selected
should lose tomorrow afternoon. But
evening up the series, Tyler still
would be fresh and formidable to give
the Windy City early favorites an ad-
vantage for the first time in the series
And Big Jim Vaughn meanwhile
would have had ages in which to pre-
pare for the crucial battle of the test
Babe Ruth Again Ready
Babe Ruth, Ct course, will be ready
to take his fling at the Cubs again to-
morrow. But | rather expect Barrow
to do some gambling now that he is
so favored Of fortune. Jones, the SEN
sation of the year among American
League right-handers, if he is to be
given chance at all, would fit in best
in the Boston opener. All against him
is lack of experience. The fact that
-NttSiitl4 - l4hCAF " - iiS lISbl
handed material against the Sox would
make it more of surety that Ruth is
not likely to perform for Boston, for
Ruth. terror to right-handed pitchers,
would serve quite as useful an office in
the outfeld.
In the writer's opinion. Boston will
win the series. 1t has the jump. is a
great home club and one of the great
est money aggregations that ever ap-
peared before the public. Chicago S
pitching resources have been tapped.
Barrow has not uncovered his alleged
right-handed phenom.
But the series has been SO evenly
fought that definite prophecy would
be somewhat foolhardy. If Chicago,
which lacks the world series expert
ence of the Sox, can play with as great
spirit and determination away from
home as it showed in the Windy City,
then Mitchell's club Is far from a
beaten one.
But Chicago has already lost !ta
greatest natural advantages because Of
the two reverses at Comiskey Park.
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