Evening star., 1925-10-06

have given talr statement OF the q
imagine they have. for they certalnl
articles-the impending series will
that OF 1924
All else being equal. however.
believe the Washington club will enter
the series with a distinct advantage
over the National Leaguers in that II
will be a steadier combination. 1t Will
have had the advantage of having
played through world series and that
ought to count Il great deal.
Pittsburgh l believe to be Il great
club, a club with much courage. but
] am not so certain it will prove as
stable under fire as the American
League champions. The stability of
the Washington club is Il matter of
record. Whenever hard pressed in
crucial series, the club has fought
back tiercely, but without losing the
poise so necessary to q winning combi-
nation.
Washington has the knack of throw
ing all the strength ii has into battle.
but with studied cdrefulneSS. 1t fights
Savagely on occasion. but never in
haphazard manner. Its veteran play
erS know how to conserve their re-
sources for use at the crucial mo-
ment, and when that moment arrives
they know how to make use of their
IeSOulCeS. mere - liD guess" VI ~
with the Washington club.
Nationals InfieId Seasoned.
Pittsburgh undoubtedly has splen-
did infield with either Stuffy McInnis
or George Grantham al first base.
Eddie Moore at second. Glenn Wright
at shortstop and Pie Traynor at third.
But it is an intieid that has seen
nothing like the service the Washing
ton iniield has had Joe Judge is d
master at first base. Roger PeCkin-
paugh, voted the most valuable player
in the American League this year. is
a marvellous shortstop and Ossie
Bluege, as | told in an earlier article
of this series. is one of the greatest
third sackers in the business.
Working on the other side of the
middle sack from Peck. | have been
able to start or be the pivot man in
many more double plays than | could
have figured in with an average short
fielder in the lineup. And this dou-
BILE play combination has made the
Washington infeld almost a stone
wall. defensively. Judge, ] believe, is
the best first sacker in the game at
grabbing wicked grounders, whipping
the bali to second to force runner,
then stepping back to his base for a
return that retireS the batter.
Some of the critics are rating Max
Carey above Same Rice and Clyde
Barnhart above Goose Cfoslin. Hazen
Cuyler they claim is the best outfielder
the Pirates have. Cuyler quite likely
deserves most of the nice things said
of him, but If he is a greater outfielder
than Rice. he is the best outt1elder
the big leagues have seen since the
palny days of Iris Speaker and. Eddie
Roush.
Rice Rated Highly.
Rice has terrific speed. can go and
get 'em and possesses 81 tine throwing
arm And he is at his best under
pressure. His work i'll right field
against the Giants last year was one
of the sensations of the series and he
has not fallen q bit below the stand
ard he set as u gardener in 1924. l
do not hesitate TO rate Rice above any
outtielder the Pirates may have, with
the possible exception of Cuyler.
And don't pick Goslin to be "a weak
sister in the outtield. There is no bet
Ter throWer in the American League.
He has developed into a flashy fly
hawk, too-much better now than last
wear. Nor are Earl McNeely and Tex
Jeanes 10 be held in low esteem. Nc
NeeIy IS a wonderful flychaser. He is
fast. has keen Judgment and can
heaye the bali Jeanes, i'll the few
games played with Washington, has
proved worthwhile fielder.
] do not think the Washington out
field will suffer at all in comparison
with the outer defense of the Pirates.
And in the battery departments,
Washington appears to be better by
far Muddy Ruel on record and ac-
cording to unbiased observers Is Su-
perior to Earl Smith, the first string
Pirate backstop. John Gooch may be
more shifty than Hank SEVERED. but
the latter is one of the steadleSt
catchers in The American League.
Sees Hot Battle.
What has Pittsburgh to match
against Walter Johnson and Stanley
Coveieskie i'll the pitching line:
Specks Meadows, the veteran, and
John Morrison are capable right
handlers, no doubt. but from all | nave
learned they are not in class with
the Washington pair. Emil Ide, left
handler. may make the Pirate mound
staff equal to the Washington staf II
he pitches to the form expected OF
him and our southpaws fail to check
The Pirates as the critics insist VIII
happen | am not so certain Pitts
burgh will find either Dutch Ruether
or Tom Zachary an easy proposltloh.
Summed up, there seems no reason
to figure the Pirates any stronger
than the Washington club. Nor does
The dope on the National Leaguers
given out by reputable critics permit
me to make any lavish claims for my
club. As | figure now, its TO pe nol
battle from start to finish with the
Washington clubs steadiness perhaps
giving it a slight advantage over the
p;ratoo Of tho outset of hoStilttieS.