San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-04
BY MAX CAREY

oy NkAA STAANS
Copyright, 1928. by Universal servicO
PITTSBURGH, Oct. a-If you
ask any member Of those Senators
who'll win this series:" the comeback
naturally will be we will"
Ask any Pirate and his answer will
be "we will"
Ask a player on either team which
is the better ball club?" and his reply
lis "ours."
Both can't be right.
Which is the better team:
The world series may make con-
elusive answer TO that question. And
it NAV not do anything OF the sort.
I've seen most of the blue ribbon bat
ties during the last dozen years and it
strikes me that the better team has not
always won. That quaint element
called luck has frequently entered into
the conflict and decided the issue
against the better team.
MUST IGNORE LUCK.
But IN any pre-series calculations
one must ignore the vital element of
luck because it's something no one can
reckon with n advance. II may favor
one team or the other. and therefore.
so far as the breaks" are concerned.
they must be ignored in the figuring
process.
Based on accomplishments to date.
the Pirates are hitting bit beyond the
Senators-and that, in the matter OF
cold calculating. is thing favorable
to us. But-and there are always
pIenty of those 'buts We have
hit against the National League pitch
ers has nothing to do with what We II
accomplish against the Senator Twill
ers.
Their group Of pitchers may feed up
twisters that are easier 70 slap out
than have been those of the rival
moundsman in our league. On the
other hand, we msy find the Washing
ton brand of pitching lot harder than
we faced when Vance. Sherdell. Green
field. Benton. Donohue and the other
ranking National leaguers confronted
BASE-STEALING, TOO.
In base stealing it's much the same.
Those of US who found il fairly easy
to pilfer sacks on the catchers in our
own league may find it harder when
Ruel and Severed are watching uf.
Yet perhaps we shall find it easier.
The series alone is the definite test.
And the same thing goes for the
Senators in batting and base-running.
They've hit about .305 in the Ameri-
can League and run the bases in splen-
did fashion. They may hit as well
and steal as well against our pitchers
and catchers; they may do better
and they may do worse, but no one
can tell about that until the series is
being played.
A certain line Of comparison can be
made in fielding. however, for the kind
Of Founders and flies that are hit IN
our league are not different than those
in the American. Fielding chances are
uniform everywhere. But anyone who
tries 10 decide which club has the edge
there; in fact, that one department
where basic supremacy can be estab-
lished. get nowhere. For the fielding
Of both clubs is very much the same.
Anyone who attempts 10 take vital
OFFENSIVE etdIlstlek dk mehns VI hi-
irving at a conclusion. discovers that
ii doesn't get him very far. For while
our outfield has outhit the Senators
and our infield has a slight advantage
their catehers and pitchers hit better
than ours.
0UTFIELDERS BETTER.
In hitting Of outfielders in their
own leagues, We have done little bit
better than the Senators. when Neach
with his .33l is reckOned. II McNeely
is to be the other Senator regular
then we have about sixteen points per
man advantage.
Our infield with McInnis playing
has averaged about .325: with Grant
ham on first for MS we present a .31J
infield ofiense. The best the Senators
can show is about 300. But the Wash
inaton catchers have averaged about
.333; whereas ours have each hit for
about 800. And those Washington
pitchers. with johnson batting .446
and Rcuther smashing for 1854. have
a mighty edge on us.
But we have discarded batting and
base running records as a real factor
in determining the 1925 series outcome.
We have found that the fielding is
about even.
Can pitching strength be compared
40 find the answer