El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-29


{ we are certain this spring that the
Z great mass viii remain with the
teams
Last season II looked rs II the
cope went wrong all over. Yet
Z the fact Is that last season, more
nan any other. proved to me that
me systcm OF doping which
evolved a score Of years ago f.
good The test came when the
constant changing of players
changed the dope almost every
day.
During the falL. when teams we're
] being shot 10 pieces. tried the plan
I OF doping team strengths once a week
f and it worked well OF course all the
dope made in the spring went by the
I board because, not only did the play
crS cna1Ee but the position value
changed with them This year we will
I nave TO reverse the method Instead
OF constantly decreasing team
strength we VIII have constantly in
creasing one
In ordinary years. as I have often
SHOWN by ugures5 each position on
pan club has its value regardless Of
the man who fills it. The pitcher. for
instance, is Sc percent OF the defensive
strength OF his club; the catcher "a
percent, the other positions less. the
position value depending upon the
number and the kind Of chances to
make plays The defensive value OF
the pitcher for instance, varies with
the strength or the weakness Of the
opponents attacking strength. Last
year the attacking strength OF the
teams In both American and National
leagues decreased steadily from June
70 the finish, and rapidly after August
10 At the close Of the season the
pitcher was more than 50 percent Of
the total defensive strength Of any
team
Pitchers TTfob In Dof.,.,
IN July. when the demands OF the
army and navy began 10 take the
players, the dope showed plainly that
whichever OF the leading clubs was
lucky enough to retain its pitchers
would win Chicago and the Red SoL
won because their star pitchers were
not called TO the colors until the fight
was over.
The dope In the worlds series
was entirely on pitchers and IL
showed that whichever manager
made the best or the Iuckiest Sc
lection Of pitchers would win.
me difference in team strength
was not enough TO give either team
the advantage. So closely together
did the two teams figure that before
the series started, I stated that the
dope indicated that II Barrow opened
the series with Ruth against Vaughn
the Red SOL ought to win. and that II
ne tried 20 start with Bush against
vaughn the Cubs would win. In other
WORDS the entire series seemed 10
hinge on the result OF the first game.
and that game upon which pitcher
Barrow selected.
There is no doubt that the pitchers
on both teams in the worlds series
were better than 90 percent OF the de-
IenslTe strength OF their teams. This
year, as the teams now promise TO
open the season, the pitcher figures
70 be ~ percent; the catcher I6 per
cent. and the value Of the other seven
players (defensive0 IS reduced accord
ingly- The individual value OF a great
hitter, or walter. IS enhanced by the
absence OF several Of the truly great
pitchers.
The only plan upon which can hit
Is 70 divide the season arbitrarily into
Two sections. I am figuring that BY
June I the teams will reach their nor
nal strength for the season There
fore, ] am figuring with different sets
OF dope figures-One from April % TO
June I, and the other from June 1 10
ne ne finish, and by adding the final
LBureS together I reach the team
strength for the entire season.
II is rather involved. but I think &
VIII get closer TO the real strength OF
the teams than to attempt TO figure I
the teams at their best all the way
through
Condition OF Returning players.
There IS another quantity which IS
almost unknown. That is IN what con-
dltion the returning players who have ]
been IN army and navy service will be- I
Those have seen and talked with are ]
in better physical condition than they Z
ever have been during their baseball /
careers, and they will get into proper /
playing condition far more quickly /
than their fellows who were not In I
service viii do. The fellows who have ]
engaged IN hard work at essential /
Jobs also are in better condition than
IS usual at this time OF the year. It 4
may be that some Of them have SUI ]
Tered physical ailments or wounds 4
that viii hamper their activities.
Gowdy, for instance, was gassed. /
Klepfer, OF Cleveland. was wounded: 4
Elmer Meyers was reported once in 4
hospital, but this was not confirmed. !
From reports from the various
clubs the essential players have
not suffered and we must figure
them on their known abilities. and
take n chance that they were not
disabled or slowed up in any way.
am figuring roughly now that the
Lao