The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-10-05
Unexpected Breaks May
Play Big Role in Cham
pionship Play.
CLUBS EVENLY MATCHED
New York 20 Per Cent
Stronger Than in 1926.
BY BILLY EVANS
American League Umpire and NEA Sports
Editor

American League umpire and NEA Sports
Editor
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 5.-The mood
of the New York Americans is GER
tain to be a deciding factor in the
final result of the 1927 world series.
If Pittsburgh strikes the Yanks in
the midst of one of their batting
orgies, none of the Pirate pitchers
will be able to stop them.
On the other hand, if the New
York sluggers fall into one of their
periodic slumps and they have them,
for, after all, Babe Ruth, Lou Geh-
rig and the rest of Miller Higgins
crew are only human, then the
Yanks are not nearly so dangerous.
Mostly Guess Work
When two SO evenly matched
clubs as the Pirates and Yankees
meet in a short series of seven
games, trying to pick the winner is
more or less guess work, since seldom
do the teams or stars run true to
form. Z
In a majority of the world series
I have umpired, as we'll as in the
others in which I have enacted the
role Of scribe, covering more than
twenty years, the unexpected breaks
more than past performances have
decided the issue.
Recalls Famed Muff
Ofhand, I recall how the in
glorious muff of Snodgrass in center
field enabled Boston to win the
world series of 1912, after Christy
Mathewson, through his superb
pitching, seemed to have it tucked
away for the Giants.
In the 1917 clash between the
Chicago White Sox and New York
Giants, the attempt of the plow-
horse, Heinie Zimmerman, to outrun
the thoroughbred, Eddie Collins,
after the latter had been trapped
between third and home, eventually
cost the Giants the series. I
The jinX that seems to pursue
John McGraw in the world series
was again manifest in 1924, when
his club clashed with the Washing
ton Senators.
Breaks" Of Game
\ Two infield grounders, neither a
difficult chance and both apparent
ly easy outs as the ball left the bat,
were converted into timely singles
because of a bad bound.
Only last fall, the insistence of
Left Fielder Bob Meusel in en-
croaching upon Earl Combs terri
tory and muffing fly ball, believ-
ing his arm would work to his clubs
advantage after catching the ball,
IN holding the runner on third, cost
the Yankees the title.
Yanks Are Stronger
New York is great ball club, the
Pirates are likewise. In a longer
series or over seasons play, feel
certain the tremendous power of the
Yankees would prove too much for
Pittsburgh. In other words, 1 fig
ure New York to be strong enough
to carry off the pennant in either
league. However, in a short series,
OF the best four in seven, power at
the bat is not such positive asset.
1t is world series precedent that
managers hesitate about playing
slam-bang baseball, the variety
made so popular by the Yanks. That
is all against the New York system
of play.
Tight Baseball "Rule"
Tight baseball is the usual rule
in short series. Teams make it
point to play for one run, instead
of trying to get them in clusters.
That style of play removes much
of the premium that goes with great
batting power.
Take it from me, New York is 20
per cent stronger than last year.
The infleld is much steadier. Pitcher
Wiley Moore has bolstered the staff.
Earl Combs, a potent factor in the
Yankees success, even though he
doesn't break into the headlines
with the frequency of a Ruth or
Gehrig, is having his best year.
Hit Curve Pitching
Throw out the dope that the Yam
KEGS are suckers for curve ball pitch
ing. True, they like speed better,
but scores of times I have seen
them murder the offerings of the
best curve ball pitchers in the
American League, of whom there
are few, despite all reports to the
contrary.
Throw out the dope that the YAM
KEGS pitching is inferior to the
Pirates. 1t is one of the best staffs
i'll the majors.
Yet, despite any and all sorts of
comparisons possible, I still stick to
my original thought that the mood
of the Yankees is the big idea.
When the Yanks are in a hitting
mood, the club is well nigh invinci-
BILE. If not, it seems to play in a
rather indifferent, nonchalant man
ner, that makes it seem like an or
binary team rather than collection
of super stars.
Give me the. Yanks if they have
the extra base hit complex, in adj
dition to their share of singles.