The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1933-09-29
TEAMS RATED
EQUALLY ON
! DEFENSE
BY BABE RUTH

u NEW YONh, Sept. GA GULF
parison of the infields Of the two
world series contenders shows the
american League champions to
Better advantage. But the differ
ence is to be found chiefly in the
extra power, or consistency, which
the Senators show at the plate,
rather than in the field. From
O. defensive standpoint, all the
players of the two teams answer
the requirements or they would
not be finishing the season as
members of championship teams.
If I were to pick one infield
from the group of infielders who
are eligible to take part in the
series it would consist of three
Senators and one Giant. Terry
would be my choice for first base
With the remainder of the quartet
made up of Myer, Cronin and
Bluege.
( Kuhel is a better ball player
than National League followers
realize. He is now finishing his
first complete season as regular,
having displaced Joe Judge dur
ing the 1882 season. He has
come along fast this year, and is
an improved hitter. He always
was a high class fielder. But he
Lacks Terry'S experience and at
this time. the New Yorker gets
the call.
Critz Great Fielder
I have not seen much of Critz
but I know from what I have
heard that he is marvellous de-
fensive player. He holds his
place day after day in spite of a
batting average below $50, so he
must be brilliant in the field. Il
would rate Critz above Myer de-
fensively, but Buddy is so much
better with the stick that he must |
be claSsed as stronger, all
around player.
From all accounts, the short
stopping of the Giants is all that
it should be. Blondy Ryan has
meant lot more to the National
League champions than one
might suspect in looking at his
batting mark down around .225.
Defensively there is no marked
choice between Ryan and Cronin,
but again that power at the plate |
steps up to settle the argument. |
Cro11in is one of the great all
around players of the year and
Ryan one of the great infielders.
Each is a spark plug for his team.
Blondy Ryan may have a big
series, Joe may fail to hit. But
as they stand on seasons work,
Cronin is a much more valuable
ball player.
At third base the Giants pre-
sent an uncertainty and the Sen
ators have the best defensive
third baseman in the American
League. With Johnny Vergez on
the job I would call this position
a toss up, each being high-class
infielder and not far apart in hit
ting. I would be inclined to rate
Bluege the better infielder, Vergez
the better hitter.
Jackson Handicapped
But Travis Jackson, one of the
great infielders of recent years, is
handicapped doubly. One is the
physical side, weakness of the
knees may strike him at an in
opportune time. The other is
that he is thrown into a position
at which he is not entirely ia
miliar, and in a series where so
much may depend on one play.
Dresser, if he is permitted to play,
is neither Jackson at bat nor
.Vergez in the field.
Unless Dresser is listed as an
eligible, the Giants will have only
one reserve infielder for the Sc
ries. This is Byrne James, a
light hitter who has played
chiefly at second base. So it
would be a tough blow for the
Giants if Jackson is unable to
hold up, or any of the other reg
ulars should be injured.
WaShington'S infield reserves
are Bob Boken and Johnny Kerr.
Boken is a hard-hitting youngster,
who has played second, short
and third, and who hit close to
800 while subbing for Buddy
Myer this season, Kerr is a vet
eran who is a capable fielder but
o light hitter.
Thus I rate Washington as
stronger in infielders. At the
same time I think the Giants
infield, defensively, is stronger
than most of the world series in
fields of recent years.
Copyright, 1888, by The Chrlsty
Walsh Syndicate)