Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 236, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1919 — REDS GAINING IN FAVOR [ARTICLE]

REDS GAINING IN FAVOR

FANS SHOW A TENDENCY TO FLOCK TO MORAN BANNER AS THE SERIES NEARS. Can the acknowledgfed superiority of the Chicago White Sox individually overcome the decided advantage that Cincinnati has in the pitching end? is the question that is confronting base ball fans throughout the universe as the time nears for the opening of the series on Redland field. Can the natural strength of the Gleasons overcome the brilliant array of pitching performers that Pat Moran can throw into his first line of trenches? The betting odds answer the above questions best and show that .the fans to date are inclined to believe the Chicagoans will be returned the winners in the annual fall classic. “Bookies” are quoting the Hose as 13-20 and 5-7 favorites with the -prediction that game time will find the American league champions as 2-1 favorites. However, Cincinnati sentiment seems to be growing and many are flocking to the banner of Moran, assert--ing that his wealth of pitching, talent will be the deciding factor in the nine-game series. , Collectively and individually it would appear that the Comiskeymen are the better ball club. They possess the natural ability, they are a more powerful batting aggregation,, are. ..flawless in their fielding, a wonderful money team and when put together are a smooth, welltimed machine. Exclusive of pitchers, the Sox seem to have it on the Reds in every position wtith the exception of two, center field and third base.

Despite the overwhelming advantage that seems to belong to the Hose in practically every departtical and are prone to hesitate before selecting the Chicagoans. It is the pitching that causes them to there they find the advantage that seems to belong to Gleason is wiped out by the wealth of high-class heavers that Moran has in his stable. Reuther, Sallee, Eller, Fisher, Ring and Luque are all sterling perforiners and should be able to carry the nine-game burden with much more ease than Cicotte and Williams, the only two topnotch hurlers belonging to the clan of Comiskey. Cicotte and Williams are undoubtedly as good or superior to anything that Moran can offer. But Moran has six capable performers to Chicago’s two. Surely the strength in this department must lie with Cincinnati. In Sallee and Ruether Moran has two wonderful left-handers who traveled at top speed throughout the year. Sallee, wise and crafty, .the veteran of many campaigns, still possesses his wonderful cunning and will be a tough bird for the Chicago stickers to solve. Ruether imbued with winning ways that his confidence is going to carry him a long way in the series. Fisher has 'turned in many brilliant performances and has the advantage of knowing the Chicago batters. Eller pitches along the same lines as Cicotte and may not be as effective against the Chicago clubbers as his mates. Jimmy Ring, one of the best in his league, and also one of the unluckiest, should be good for a win over the American league representatives. In Luque, the Cuban, Moran has a steady relief hurler.

Nothing much need to be said of Cicotte, the Chicago ace, Jus season’s his wonderful ability. Cicotte is a veteran and is thirty-five years of age, but apparently time has not caused him to deteriorate to any marked extent. In Claude Williams Gleason is favored with a clever little southpaw who has shared the pitching burden throughout the season with Cicotte, and his record is little short of that of the veteran. Kerr, of this year’s acquisition from Milwaukee, has performed creditably and may be able to go the route—but Moran’s club dotes on southpaw pitching and the wee one may have a rough voyage. Bill James, Grover Lowdermsilk, Red Faber and Wilkinson are mighty uncertain quantities and will hardly be trusted to start a game, although probably all of them may take part in some of the contests. Erskine Mayer is impossible. Thus we find the Chicagoans partment of the game with the exception of the pitching end. In a short series the patching is perhaps the most important. < Moran can shift his pitchers and still retain a capable performer to' throw at the opposing forces on the following day while Gleason must rely on Cicotte, Williams and possibly Kerr for his victories. It is a delicate situation confronting Gleasonrnd, although his club rules a favorite, he must maneuver carefully if he is to win. As for us, give us Cincinnati* ;