The San Francisco call., 1898-07-23
THE ATHLETICS
 PLAYING GREAT BALL.
BY JOE CORBETT.
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 With another good pitcher to assist Fitzpatrick the Athletics will be nigh an invincibe team.
 Such ball as they have been playing of late bids fair to eclipse even that of the famous Gilt Edges, and that they will cut quite a figure in the pennant race is fact that l am afraid will not bear dispute. The form which this club dis played on Saturday last reflects great credit on its members as well as its man. agers.
 Their improvement has been really phe- nomenal when one considers that but a short time ago they, like most of the other teams, were putting up at times rather ragged ball.
 The first question that presents itself in connection with this club is, Are they capable of keeping up the pace? Time alone, of course, will tell, but If the methods employed 10 bring them into their present form be adhered to 1t is al most a certainty that the teams ahead of them will have to hustle.
 They put up on last Saturday the fast est and most perfect game of ball seen here this season.
 To defeat the Gilt Edges something of this sort had to occur, but the simple fact of their winning from this great team does not alone give them their pres ent high standing among the baseball public.
 The Stocktons, a collection dare say inferior even to the FriscOs, defeated the Gilt Edges, which only goes to demon strate that at times the best teams must suCcumb to the luck of its interiors. It was not. as 1 mentioned previously, the fact that the Athletics defeated the Gilt Edges which prompted me to comment on their great work. It was the manner in which each player acquitted himself from the catcher clear out to the field CTS.
 alacrity and demonstration, went about their work in a truly baseball manner, played at all times every point of the game, at bat, and in the field. save in one instance and. in word, dlsplayed all the characteristics of complete, up to date ball team, which Is bound to be successful.
 So perfect was their work that I find it impossible to entertain the idea that it was luck pure and simple. Some peo- pie are inclined to conjecture in such manner, but their work was too steady and even all through tho contest to leave a doubt as to its genuinenesS in my mind.
 In only one instance did they fail, and as this same mistake is visible during all the games 1 shall take advantage or this opportunity and touch on it.
 The offender was MT. Hilderbrandt. good player and earnest worker, yet this fact does not exempt him from criticism.
 The exact inning in which the mistake occurred l have forgotten, but 1t makes but little difference. Hilderbrandt was on second base and the batter singled to cen ter field. Instead of flashing immediately for third and thence to the plate he kept watching the ball until he had passed third. It was thrown to the plate and Catcher Stanley actually had 1t in his hands, when Hilderbrandt was at least fifteen feet from the plate. By clever slide intermingled with painful gush of stupidity on the part of MT. Stanley, he was enabled to make the plate in
 He should have been put out easily, but the fates were smiling propidously, ana in consequence miserable play was per mitted to pass unnotced.
 Now. when a batter hits a ball he should never for an instant look to see where it is going. The moment it leaves the bat he should think only of getting to first base and as quickly as possible.
 When a player is on the bases and 1t is obvious to him that batted ball is going safe, or has gone safe, as was the case with Hilderbrandt, he should think only of moving around those bases at a breakneck speed. To hesitate means very often that you are lost. ana 10 dellDer, eteIy watch a ball after 1t has passed safely into the outtield-well, such mis- take is really terrible. There was no req son in the world why Hiderbrandt should continue to watch that ball after 1t had passed through the infield. If 1t had been a fly, things would be diTerent, or If he thought some one of the infielders would intercept it. his actions would have been proper
 But in his case there was no chance to conjecture The ball was hit very sharp and passed directly over second base. When he saw this much he saw all that was necessary, and should have made for the plate just as fast as his legs plate would have been passed before the ball had reached it's destination, and all chances of a close play dissipated. By his watching the ball, however. he easily lost twenty feet, and would have been put out had not Providence been ex- tremely kind.
 sue when the simplest rules of the game are dsregarded, and it very often hap pens that a game is lost by players being so negligent.
 to see where 1t has gone. but get down that first base line. If It be long, saTe hit the coacher will send you on h and on on, to locate the ball and figure whether or not you can make the base and take in another. If you are on the bases and a ball is hit, one glance Is sufficient to en- tighten you as to whether it Is going safe or not. The moment your mind is made going safe lose no time in securing the next cushion, and watch the coacher, as he is there to tell you what to do next. Entirely. too much valuable time is vast ed by players in this manner, and as 1t is a case of stupidity rather than mis- Judgment there Is hardly, any excuse. This mistake, as 1 said before, was the only one visible In that game, and even with this fault the Athletics played wonderfully. They must, however, con- tinue to practice. If they neglect to do so 1t will show in their play. but it is hardly possible that they would so far forget themselves. At present many of the Gilt Edges, and 1t really looks as though that team, which has had full perience great difficulty in winning that championship. At the present rate warm games will be in order, and whether the leaders are headed or not the fight for the pennant promises to be an excellent one.
 The game to-day the managers say will be good one, and a large crowd will no doubt attend. The lineup is as folows:
 Athletics. Position. San Jose Eager. Catcher ......-........ Kent Fitzpatrick Pitcher ................D Donlen base. .Hanlon Reilly .SecOnd base. ERan Johnson. Third base ........ Mccarthy StultZ. .Shortstop .Brockhoff McLaug Left field .............. Hanley Sheehan. Center field .McGucken IIderbrandt. Right field ............. Foley