Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-30
mot MUCH POWER
! IS LOST IN TRADE
Adams and Scott Did About
as Well as CuyIer in
1927 Campaign.

~ FFICIAL figures OF the Ma
tional League recording the
averages of batsmen for 1927
Y emphasizes one fact about
team batting that will be of
| importance for tho season of 1928.
Pittsburgh. the pennant winner.
had the best batting team in l92l ana
the team doesn't seem likely to lose
much of it's batting strength next
season is n result of changes so far
made in players, unless there IS an
unexpected collapse.
The Pirates were listed as nth In
the club fielding figures, but they were
only a shade behind the New York
Giants, while two second division
teams, Cincinnati and Philadelphia,
led the league.
Some fans may think that the Guy
ler-A dams Scott trade will affect the
Pittsburgh batting strength next year.
Cuyler played in 50 games for the
Pirates in 1927 and batted 30S. which
was q loss for him from his 1926 aver
age. AS it happened it did not prove
TO be a net loss for Pittsburgh, since
Iloyd Wancr lated away above eX-
pectation and his brother. Paul. full
filled the promise that he had given
the year before.
Sparkv Adams of the Chicago Cubs.
who was traded To Pittsburgh along
with Pete Scott in the Cuyler deal,
batted .292 in 1927. Adams played in
l46 games and his batting average was
normal for him. lie is not apt to go
backward next season and he may
not improve much. Young Scott bat
ted .314 for the Cubs and played in
nearly as many games as Cuyler.
Thus Pittsburgh can't be said to
have suffered much in stick work by
reaching out for second haseman.
namely, Adams. The Pirates have also
acquired an outfieldcr in Scott who
has not yet reached the point where
he may have an unusual year in the
National League. His skill is better
| than average and some time he is
| likely to come through with a season
| that will give him a fine reputation.
The Giants were tight after Pitts
| hurgh some Of the season OF 1927, but
| they lacked the drive in the outfield
| that was possessed by the Pirates.
| They also lacked the run-making abil-
lty. After the Giants came the Cubs,
who were a better batting outfit than
they were accredited with being. II
Cuyler comes back to his record OF
former years. the Cubs next season
| will be n better batting team than
they were in 1927.
Candidly. the success OF the ST.
Louis team in winning games does
not balance in The least with its nom
success in batting. Thus the only re-
sort left 10 those who figure upon the
future is to look upon the ST. Louis
players as great fielders helping not
so-great batters. The defense made
the Cardinals pithers great.
ST. Louis Will have TO do better than
that in 1928. In some way the team
must get more run-making power. II
is not likely with the readjustment Of
the fighting forces in New York. Chi.
cago and Pittsburgh that the Cardinals
VIII be able to keep at the very top OF
the column unless the outfield add 10
| per cent or more OF batting strength
and the inficld at least per cent.
The fact that Philadelphia was the
| fourth batting team in the league,
although tail-enders In the 1927 race
| shows that all batting and lack Of
some other things cannot keep any
| outfit in the first division. Very
| rarely has it been possible for a team
| Of batsmen who were shy OF fielding
power and pitching strength also TO
| win a high place. The Boston Braves
were Nth in batting. which affords
another illustration OF the fact that
good batters will not offset weak spots
in other parts Of the team.