Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-16

Ing OF aOeunlbe KIM mas DeeD charged against
that gentleman, which makes the case of his
enemies so much the worse. But to revert to
the most curious feature of this railing against
Manager Phillips. 1t is strange that the noise
and kicking against him should assume tan
gible shape Just when the club has won three
games out of four. This only shows that a
certain part Of humanity now and again want a
victim, and a victim they'll have, right or
wrong
Few Words for Phillips.
1t is safe to say that in a majority of cases all
the noise against managers Of baseball teams is
almost entirely devoid of reasonable causes.
None of US have forgotten the censure and rid
icule that were heaped on genial Jim Mutrie
only last year when the team was in anything
but playing condition. Chronic grumblers
yelled for the managers release; he was
charged with incompetency and everything
else that goes toward making a bad manager.
But change took place; the team got down to
work and soon reached the top of the list.
Then everybody seemed eager to tramp rough
shod over each other to reach the highest pin
nacle to shout in praise of Mutrie. Both ex-
tremes were entirely unreasonable. The truth
is, however, that the poor showing of the Giants
was no fau'. of Mutrie and his case illus
trates dozen others, and particularly that of
Manager Phillips. / am not saying a word in
defense of Mr.. Phillips in the way of cham
pioning his cause: not at all. venture to say
few words in his defense for firmly believe
be has right on his side and is being unjustly
dealt with by some who ought to be his friends.
So far have failed to find one specific charge
preferred against Manager Phillips as mana
ger. When one asks where Phillips is wrong the
answer generally is: why where is he right?"
This is about as definite as we can get it. Most
assuredly there are some people who can stand
at street corner or sit at the fireside and man.
age the most difficult team of ball players
Christendom ever saw. If Jones is put in to
pitch and loses, all that proverbial after-the-
event wit dawns upon our street-corner man
ayers. They find out that Jones should have
never been put in, but that Smith should have
been the man. However, when Smith does
loom up in the box and is thumped hard, our
street-corner wlseacres instantly discover that
Smith should have been gwen a longer rest
and that Jones should have been given another
try Thus matters go on, and as in the fable of
the wolf and the lamb, the gTum blers, like the
wolf, Will have victim regardless of reason or
fair aH -.
Fair Criticism n Benefit.
do not for one moment argue or in any way
contend that the management Of a baseball
team should not be criticised. By all means it
should. and if that criticism is prompted by
honesty of purpose depend upon it the club. the
players an I0e pQDlC VIII De the better Tor 1t.
venture to say that We'll all agree in this, and
if we do, ii is only fair to ask if ever a ball
team had better prospects than had PIttsburg
lust before the season oDened2 The team really
looked one Of the strongest ever known, which
undoubtedly proved that the management had
not been idle during the winter. But almost as
soon as the struggle commenced some of the
best men broke down or received injuries.
Now, was this the fault of the management?
If it was, then we must come to the conclusion
that general in the army is directly responsi-
bic for all the sickness and injuries that NAV
befal his soldiers on the battle field. The truth
is that these grumbllngs about managers Of
teams that are in difficulties are almost as
threadbare as the charges of dishonesty against
umpires. Is it bad and imperfect management
that IS downing the Chicagos and that has kept
the Giants down tar this season? If So
where in the world can good management be
found7
How the Struggle Goes On.
Boston still keeps in the van, but the teams
behind her are crowding her more now than
ever. It is quite true that the Bostons are
playing good game, but repeat what have
said several times before: their game seems |
good because the best of the teams have not
struck their best gait yet Perhaps 1 may
qualify this assertion by saying the New Yorks
have almost gotten into line The way in which |
they twice defeated Boston this week certainly |
cOnvinces me that they are still the same |
Giants as of yore. cannot avoid the convic- |
tion that if Keefe, Welch and Crane once get |
into good form ana can keep there nothing |
will beat them. Cleveland still keeps near the |
top, and while we all would like to see the baby |
do well, we all have fear that the youngster /
will take tumble one Of these days. The most /
unfortunate team in the League is the /
Washingtons Even with the addition of Nor /
rill, Wise and Irwin they don't seem one whit |
better than they were last year. 1t really does /
seem to some extent puzzle how it is profit
able for the Senators to remain in the League
IL will not be great surprise if the fact of
Washington's retirement from the League is
announced before this year ends.
For Money and Honor,
There is a baseball contest underlined for
Tuesday, which will undoubtedly create con-
siderable excitement L refer to the match
game between Gusl1 Us and Kauffmanns The con-
test has been entirely prompted by a spirit of
rivalry that is laudable. So much SO that it
Will tend to make the national game popular.
At least hope it will. L know that there are
many people who object to playing for a stake
pure and SIMPLE. but their objections as a rule |
are not very strong. Certainly not one of the !
10 gentle le who take part in Tuesdays game
VIII ever be an amateur again. BY their match |
they will become professionals lust as mucb as |
a ball PLAYER who is receiving nav for his |
services. AT any rate the players who take
part IN Tuesdays game will not be eligible |
members for amateur societies or clubs How |
ever, the gentlemen interested may be mindful |
OF this fact. The contest deserves erood !
patronage because beside being contest of |
skill the receipts are to be devoted to the Johns
town relief fund. 1t is to be hoped thar the
tickets will be sold rapidly and that the game !
will pass off pleasantly l
1
The County League.
Once or twice have had occasion to refer to 9
he Allegheny County Baseball League. Its /
existence has not been devoid of the ordinary I
that invariably beset the path !
# all organizations human, but 1 am glad to
ay that the league in question has so far gotten
ver its troubles splendidly. An official of the i
eague told me yesterday that the clubs are |
doing fairly well. One or two are 1
osing a little money but others are making | q
ice profit. McKeesport, for instance I'm y
old IS making money fast. am inclined to y
hink that one or two of the league rules are 1,
90 amateurish by far; what mean by this is B
hat while the rules aim at keeping from the N
eague bona fide professionals, that aim is NOT &
-cOmplshed. What is accomplished only c.
ends to impair the quality Of the league. II