The Washington herald., 1907-07-22
Watch the Athletics!


Connie Mack's aggregation. which in
the ante-season representations was not
considered as having any sort Of chance
10 be a real factor in the American
League race, to-day looms up as a most
dangerous rival 10 the Chicago White
SoX While the worlds champions have
quite an advantage over the other clubs,
there is no team on the circuit that has
played more consistent baseball during
the past six weeks than the squad in
charge OF cunning Connie.
on TO a rather poor start. the Athletics
finally settled in fifth place. and II ap-
peared, early in the season, as though
the club was destined to bold the position
at the top OF the second division TO the
end Of the year But developments of
the past five or six weeks have demon
strated IN no uncertain manner that the
Athletics are 10 be reckoned with for the
championship. for. continuing at the pres
eut clip, and with the assistance Of any
sort Of small slump on the part Of the
Sox, the Quakers viii be carried into
the lead for the flag.
In the matter Of accidents and other un-
foreseen handicaps, Philadelphia has
been one OF the most fortunate clubs in
the league. fOr, barring big Coombs. the
pitcher who may be out Of II for the re-
mainder Of the season. the club Is in ex-
cellent physical condition, and is playing
really wonderful ball when it is consid-
cred that there are probably fewer indi-
viduaI stars on the rolls than there are
on the other three clubs which have an
advantage in the race over the Phila-
delphians
One Of MaCks luckiest strokes was in
obtaining Simon Nichols. the Boyds (AId)
boy~from the Southern League. While
his fielding has been nothing startling.
Nichols has done really remarkable work
with the stick, particularly when men
have been on bases and hits were needed
for victories. Many doubt the wisdom of
taking Monte Cross out of the game in
favor Of the recruit. but Mack believes
that Nichols batting will overcome any
weaknesses that he might have I'm the
fielding line. and with a little more expe-
rienCe the inheld viii work more
smoothly.
Jimmy Collins has been playing great
ball at third base. while the work OF the
outield. Oldring, Hartsel, and Seybold.
leaves little TO be desired in that line
In the way of pitchers the Athletics
are unusually we'll fortified. Macks last
threat has } evidently brought Waddeu
20 his senses, and the famous south
paw IS holding the opposing batters 10
a few scratch hits each game. Eddie
Plank IS showing the form which made
him famous in past years. while both
Dygert and Bender can be relied upon TO
contribute their share Of victories
Philadelphia may not win the pennant.
but-well. just watch the Athletics.
Judging from the developments of the
past few days the spark of discomfort
which has been smoldering in the Cleve-
land camp is about 10 break forth into
a good-sized blaze and send a-glimmering
whatever chance the club might have had
of winning the championship.
With Lajoie on the hospital list and
Elmer Flick threatening to quit the game.
something must be done at once 10 avert
a slump that might carry the team into
the second division.
Individually. Cleveland has q wonderful
bali club. The Maps have couple of the
very best men IN their respective posi-
tons that there are playing the game
to-day. but the whole club is like a
ship without rudder Speaking Of the
trouble. Duke Wellington, Of the Cleve-.
land Leader. summarizes the situation in
these words: Tt might safely be said
that Flick is not the only one on the
Cleveland team who is dissatisfied: some.
possibly. because OF the fact that the
team is going bad at present, losing
games that should be won. but also on
account of differences with the manage
ment last spring when it came 10 Sign
ing contracts for the current season.
Flick. joss. and Rhoades held out last
spring. Others did not sign until the last
moment
There is harmony in the Cleveland
team. Every man on the team is playing
for his own benefit No team work.
One for one. Everybody for himself
That's how Cleveland is playing the
game.
1T doesn't win"
kid EIberfeld. Of the New York
Americans. is always ready TO talk base
bah on or of the diamond. Speaking Of
the spit ball recently the Kid" said:
They're OVERRIDING the spit ball thing.
They are killing it. Take II from me, we
win be hitting the spit ball all over the
lot by the end Of the year. We have
worked out a system to beat It, but as
it has not passed the experimental stage
vet. l won't say what lines we are work
ing on. But we will solve It vet. Before
they began to break the splitter two ways
it was not such a hard problem; now.
lr ran w rrs
likely TO break either toward you or
away from you.
We are getting so much practice at
hitting the delivery with every team car
rying one or two spit-bail pitchers. that
we viii have a system down pat TO beat
II before the year is over-then they can
forget the talk of legislating against il.
There are plenty OF pitchers using the
spit ball and about four or FIVE who
know exactly what to do with it.
Walsh, tiebhardt, Orth, Howell and
Dygert are about the best spitbaIlists in /
the business. Wait till fall and see where /
the pitchers viii be who have nothing 10 /
bank on but the spit ball-wait and /
watch"
In spite of Elberfeld's predictions the
spit, bail is growing in favor with the
pitchers.
Roy Patterson, Of the White Sox. is the
latest candidate on the worlds champion /
ship team 10 try for spit ball honors. /
The hoy wonder is working to get con-
troll Of the famous delivery that has
brought Ed Walsh and Frank Smith into
the hmelight. Fielder Jones saws thar
Paterson has as good a chance TO sue
ceed with the moist delivery as Walsh
had when he frst tried IT, As a maker
OF splt-Dall pitchers, Jones is in a class
by himself
Before Walsh took up the snit BAH