The evening world., 1920-09-25

study Of other positions the Dodgers
will have much better chance Of
winning than a majority OF the ex-
ptrts now seem to think they have.
Besides showing a superiority In
tho figures here presented, the dope
figured Johnston 20 hit harder and
FOR a better average against the
Yank pitchers than against Cleveland
and Chicago moundmen.
Let Il not be supposed FOR an In
cont that the dope holds Johnston up
to be a great third baseman. He is
not He is a hard working. willing
fellow with a lot Of pep and punch.
crude as a defensive player. but all
ways In there trying his hardest HIS
offensive strength is great He ls not
only a 800 hitter. but dauEerout bat
ter against any kind or pitching
Johnston never claimed TO be a
third baseman. Uncle Wilbur Robin
son made him one The defensive
value OF third buae Is not great The
number Of chances any player has At
third base Is small, and the character
OF the chances IL such that they
either get them or don't The chances
are hard and luck plays Hg part.
Robinson decided last spring that his
chief defensive asset was pitchers, Ho
figured this would be year OF hard
hitting and he deliberately chose to
sacrifice some defensive strength IN
order 10 gain more attacking power.
He knew Johnston was raw az third.
Hs. Nr. Ia
Ting and general attack what was lost
In defense Ne has done more than
that He has proved "a game blocker,
and he blocks down hits that 20
through some third hasemen who pre-
tend 10 be stars The boy can hit,
hit them hard and far away,
WEAVER VS.. JOHNSTON.
Compared with Buck Weaver or
course Johnston does not shine.
Weaver Is hitting great guns and Is
one OF the really great third basem, n
~ the country In defensive as we'll az
offensive work You will observe that
weaver is not rated quite as nigh IN
my dope figures against Brooklyn
pitchers ms his normal average would
tntitle him 10 be rated That is be-
cause sherry smith and Grimes both
would stop him almost TO a whisper n
they are right when they work
Gardner also outclnsses Johnston "a
a third baseman. no matter how IN,
/ figures may read.
II the Yankees come through in IN,
! American race Johnston would hav,
a big edge over Ward. the brilliun
hut liRht-hitting third sacker War
| IS find, corking player, but IN
dope does not uphold the presi
agenting he has had from the NeW
York experts this season. Ilc look
10 be a normal $50 hitter at the bees
I'm his own league against the rut
OF pitching that he bats against. a,
would not MT that well againa
Grimes and pfeffer. aud we mus
scale down his attacking value on tina
basis, no matter how much We admir-,
him. lie can assurcdly outheld Johns
ton and he is a faster man / hay,
an ldea, however. that Huggins wOult
/ have done considerably better. u
/ picking a team for this series. to as
sign Meuscl 10 the third base Job, le
! tho defensive weaken a hit. as ROb1,
did. and depend upon Meusel to hell
/ the attack. That however. woul,
/ entail weakening tho hitting some
/ whore else. unless Bodie, who has de-
/ NelOped into "A dangerous and per
/ sistent hitter is able 10 play
/ Plainly Brooklyn's lineup, NJ Ia
as we have gone with the dope. b
showing well as compared with M
| ianks Either they are q better team
than WIS generally supposed or I'M
Nnnks are Overrated In some depart
ments. ] expected before starting Il
Rnalvze the dope figures that M
Hanks would show a very decided "a
penOrity excepting In the pitching de-
partment, and that the Brooklvl
pitchers would have 10 show consld
cradle superiority 90 overcome thi
handicap What the study ~ the re-
naming positions VIII reveal am No
certain. but the Dodgers are holdin
their own very well and In rescrv
! strength-that is In understudir
90 pable ~ jumping IN and filling va
lciucIes caused by injuries or o.
changing hutters, the Dodgers gui
a number Of points In position value.
! In the next article W. will compar
the shortstopg and try 10 compile ~
lamended inhcld figures Comparin
the teams on the basis -of thei
strength against tho kind Of pitchln
they are liable 10 encounter
tCopy~nEht ip2O she R. syndicate Gucl