Evening star., 1925-10-04


Naturally, the members of each
league want to see their pennant
winner a world champion, but that
the teams as they are and without
prejudice. 1t was because 1 regarded
the Nationals and the Pirates so
evenly in the early Spring that /
picked Washington to win and Pitts
burgh to be the real contender against
the Giants.
On the offensive the Pirates have
a \little advantage in the batting
punch. In base running it is pretty
nearly standoff. In defensive speed,
particularly in the lightning in
field work, the Nationals have a
slight advantage. That about bal
ances Pittsburgh's superiority in
punch.
The Pirates may have more pitch
ing strength when taken as a whole
or in bulk, but that Is Immediately
counteracted by the experience and
individual skill of three of the Wash
ington pitchers.
Pitching experience always counts
in a finely drawn affair like world
series, and the Nationals certainly
are not weak in that respect, pro-
vided the men are in physical condi
ton to give their best.
With all Of the admitted batting
punch Of the Pirates, 1t is doubtful
that they can overcome the skillful
pitching Of such experienced veterans
as Johnson, CoveleSkie and Ruether.
That would mean, then, that Pitts
burgh must have very strong de-
fense themselves. They have a good
one, we all know, but 1t hasn't faced
so many acid tests.
The Pirates can expect some good
pitching from Aldridge, Meadows,
Yde and Kremer. The matching Of
their strength against the expertness
Of those three Washington veterans
should be intensely interesting.
In the preliminary discussions I
have read I notice that many Of the
writer's have the impression that the
Pirates have an advantage of the Ma
tionals in their pitching staff. When
taken as a whole there may he some
basis for that conclusion, but 1t does
not fit in with the records when taken
individually.
OId.Timers Know What to DO.
won 20 games and Ruether has won
Is. Then, too, it must be borne in
mind tina. Walter johnson made that
record despite his being out of the
game for at least a month. He has
remarkable powers Of endurance. In
pinch old-timers always know what
to do. an advantage that ought to be
apparent.
OF the Pittsburgh pitchers Meadows
has won 19 games, Yde II. and
Aldridge about the same number.
Kremer has turned in Is wins.
This means that Washington has
three pitchers on whom they can de-
PEND for exceptional work. while the
Pirates have four pitchers, all good
but none exceptional. by comparison
In a seven-game series the pitching
schedule. naturally, cannot be arranged
as in a long season. The strength
must be massed and the stroke de-
livered quickly.
The breaks will have an important
bearing in the use of those pitchers,
and as no one can foresee these breaks
the selection of a winner in advance
becomes. as l said before, guesswork.
The Nationals have a good many
left-ha nded batters, but that will not
be much of handicap, since the
Pirates have but one left-handed
pitcher to use against them. And
when the Pirates do use southpaw
Joe Harris, an addition since last year,
will be quite a help to Washington.
LdSI all we Ildu DOlIl A<clll dHu
Bentley, left-handers. to use against
the Nationals. but the Pirates have
only Yde.
There is no doubt of the Pittsburgh
base running speed having a big in
fiuence on this series. but before Nc
kechnie can employ the speed Of such
men as Cuyler and Carey and others
they must first overcome the pitching
of Johnson. Coyeleskie and Ruethar.
on the bases before they can run them.
Another thing that stands in the
way of loose running is the wonderful
work of the Wa ashington infield. Peck
inpaugh and Harris form a great de-
fensive machine around second base.
Their experience will count heavily.
On the other hand if the Pirates get
On the other hand If the Pirates get
a crushing effect. and there the situa-
ton stands.
To compare the individual players
does not mean a great deal. In most
positions Washington's experience will
help to balance of the superior indi-
vidual batting bunch of the Pirates,
but nothing can stop them entirely
Men like Cuyler, Carey, Wright, Barn.
hart, Grantham and>Traynor, all Of
whom have hit we'll over .320. are not
going to be completely smothered.
In all of the infield positions. ex-
cepting third base, the Nationals are
more experienced. individually and
collectively they do not hit as hard as
the Pirate infield. but on defense they
are extremely skillful.
So much has been said of Pie Tray
nor. a player whom / always have
admired myself, that too little has been
said about Oswald Bluege. AS a de-
fense player l can't see that Traynor
has anything on him. He played a
great game against us at third ba Sc
| last Fall and he has been steadily i'm.
proving ever since. He is deadly on
ground balls and his throwing is &C.
curate and fast. Traynor has outhit
Bluege this year, but 1 look to see
them have quite battle at third base.
In a world series 1 would rate them
about even.
/ notice also that comparatively
little has been said about Sam Rice.
There Is one of the greatest ballplay.
ers. extensively and defensively, in the
country. In close games he always
tough match for any outfielder on the
Pittsburgh club.
Now to sum this up: The team bat.
ting records give the Pirates a slight
advantage. On the defense the Ma.
tionals have a slight advantage in ex.
perience. In pitching the Nationals
have three seasoned veterans with
slightly higher averages than the four
Pirates pitchers, all of whom have
good records.
On that base my opinion that the
| result Is a toss-up. The breaks will
| tell
In any event. the clubs are going to
have most successful series in every
way and the public is going to have
week of all the base ball excitement
that 1t can stand.