The New York herald., 1921-10-02

with a sizzling fast ball and potential
menace to anybody who faces hn. The
Giant pitchers came down to the wire
in better trim as a whole than the
Yanks twirlers. but they haven't
as much material with which to
manoeuvre.
Around second base, the keystone Of
the fielding arch, the Yankees have no
man Of the brilliance or the possibilities
In ground covering Of Bancroft. but In
Peckinpaugh and Ward the Yankees
have two who are better as pair than
Bancroft and Rawlings. Bancroft Is
the best In the game at short Held.
That's saying a good deal, for one of
the men playing that position is Peck
inraugh, also a great shortstop.
It may be that Peck can go to his
right and left and come in for balls as
we'll as Bancroft. but he isn't as speedy
in getting the ball away or In getting
over to second to shoot the ball In q
two man double play. Both are hne
throwers, Bancroft better at throwing
from any position. Peck is the better
at going back for fly balls. Both are
keen. smart thinkers. heady players.
Peck Against Bancroft.
Peck is q splendid Judge OF q pitched
bail, good waiter and a long, hard hit
ter. Bancroft can hit to moro fields and
hit often. That, together with his
greater speed, makes him the better
offensive man of the two. Ward can
60 further either way for balls than
Rawlings: is, in fact a notch above
him as player. Both fight well. Ward
is the better hitter. but betimes is slow
in getting to second for double plays, a,
fault of which Rawlings is not guilty.
The latter will play his best game
oftener than Ward will play his best.
In natural skill the latter leads, with a
good deal to spare.
Centre field is ably taken care of by
both teams. Next to Speaker there
isn't as good a defensive man in the
middle garden as Burns. At that he
doesn't go any further and snatch fly
balls than Elmer Miller. Miller throws
we'll and has been an immense help to
the Yankees since he Joined them. How
ever, for all around value he Is a grade
below Burns.
Ruth as fielder is faster on his feet
thar Irish Meusel his left field rival, can
so further for flies. is not as steady and
not as good on ground balls. For day
IN and day out defence Meusel has the
greater appeal. but though he IS top
pole hitter and a timely one. likely to
drive in numerous runs for the Giants,
he is not the shining star and phenom
| the Babe is and cannot be rated as
having anything like the potential value
Of the home run wonder.
No other man Is so likely to break up
r. ball game as Ruth, who puts fear in
the hearts Of pitchers even II he isn't
hitting, and aside from his great
slugging ability as a slugger, he is live,
hustling, determined player. an inspira-
ton TO his fellows, bold. aggressive and
with quick and shrewd insight. Meusel
isn't in his class as a smart, quick acting
base runner, the sort to stretch single
into a double. Ty Cobb himself won't
make more of slight openings than does
Ruth. 1t will be Of the liveliest interest
to see what plan OF campaign the
Giants pitchers pursue toward him.
Ruth outpoints Meusel. Burns tops
Miller somewhat, Pep Young In right is
better ball player and a NOSE valuable
man than Bob Meusel. Meusel can
outslug the little Texan. but he is an
unreliable man at the bat for all
that, strikes out good deal on curve
balls. falls down often in q pinch. though
always a menace.
! Young. albeit his batting slumped
toward the end Of the season. Is better
dependence with the stick than the big
| Californian. He is better out1elder.
|
| especially going out. He Is first class
thrower, but not the brilliant thrower
Afeusel Is. The latter's arm has no
equal.
Outffelders Compared.
In the outfield the Giants have bet
ter distributed skill: IN tho infield they
appear capable OF better things both
in the field and at the bat. Frisch is
better hitter than McNally by a
considerable margin, and a fine fielder.
the most valuable third baseman In the
game; but McNally is as game as they
come, and IL he plays third In the series
as well as he has been playing II
Frisch will have all he can do to
surpass him.
Hitting and fielding combined. Kelly
appears to better advantage than Pipp.
| although the lean Yank is faster on
the bases and both are sluggers. Pipp's
excellent play in the recent Cleveland
games indicates that ht'll rise to an
occasion: Kelly goes along the even
tenor OF his way without getting worked
up over anything. II any man Is likely
to keep his feet OFT the ground and
play his game. he IN. Peck, Mays and
McNally are OF that type, also Irish
Meusel, Bancroft and Young. A loi
will depend on this.
Except in the points It surely seems
that the Yanks are better provided fol
In reserve material. I should rather
have Barnes. Shea and Ryan as re-
serve pitchers than Collins. Picrcy and
Ferguson. Devormer and Hofmanr
are as efficient second string short.
stops as Gonzales and CASTOR
The Giants are practically without a
reserve infield man. having only Kopf
youngster whereas the Yanks have
Frank Baker, who must be rated as q
second string man for the present, and
Johnny Mitchell. In the outfield there
isn't such a margin. Stengel and Brown
are pretty handy men, but Hugglns ha.
right clever lot In Fewster. Hawke.
and Roth. all fast.
1t In believed In some quarters tha
since Kerr is hard man for the Yank.
to beat Nehf will be. II may be. Neh
has more speed than Kerr. but not al
good a change OF pace. Right field hit
ting ought TO count good deal In thi'
series. with the short distances, and II I
does the Yanks will have an advantage
, there.
, McGraw Is sagacious In manoeuvrin'
his pitchers; II Is doubtful If he has al
equal--not In developing pitchers but II
manoeuvrnig them. His shrewd hand
ling Of his pitchers helped great dea
to win this years pennant for him. II
excels Higgins at that game, so In tn
, series may "out-smart" him.
The Giants have an excellent chanc
TO win this year. II their pitchers stan,
| I'm and hold their Owp with tho Am ericn