The Washington herald., 1907-09-30
BOTH TEAMS PRIMED
Detroit and Athletics Ready
for Big Double header.
DONOVAN MAY PITCH TWICE
should "W1d BIZ" Win the Opener
He VIII Be willing to Pitch the
Second in an Effort to Keep the
Tigers in Van in Race-COnnIe
Mack viii Use Plank and Dygert.
- % The washlnstan 80.

Special to The Washington Herald.
Philadelphia. Sept 29.-The Athletics
and Detroit viii play a double-header to-
morrow that will come near settling the
question Of the American League pen
nant
If Detroit should win both, the Ath-
letics would have an impossible task to
again get In the lead. This Connie Mack
IS conceding tonight. but it is both the
games that Mack is quite confident OF
capturing, which will put the Athletics
In first place by margin that will prac-
t!cally insure victory.
Plank and Dygert win pitch for the
Athletics and Donovan and Killian will
work for Detroit.
Great reliance is placed in Dygert who
is pitching wonderful ball Just at present,
his great success being his spit ball.
which IS unhittable. Plank is confident
that he can win against Detroit to-mor-
row. On the other hand Donovan as
sorted tonight that ne would go In to
pitch thesfirst game tomorrow and felt
sure that the Athletics would be unable
TO bit him, and # successful in landing
the opener, he would also pitch the sec
ond contest. Powers will catch Plank
and Schreck VIII handle Dygerts deliv-
cry. Payne will be back of the bat in
both games for the Tigers.
Bender's indisPosi.ion has been a great
handicap 10 the Athletics. For more than
a month the big Indian pitched wonder
ful ball, ana the Athletics were practi-
cally sure of a victory when he stepped
in the box. but being far under weight,
he has lost considerable strength lately.
and just at present has no strength in
his arm.
Mack Disappointed.
The failure 10 play yesterday was felt
keenIy by Manager Mack. Detroit was
the one club with which I wanted to get
in the entire series. The others didn't
bother me much" said Connie Mack
was so anxious to play the three remain
ing games with me Tigers that he pro-
posed TO Jennings that the teams play
three games on Monday-one in the morn
ing and two in the afternoon. But Jen-
nings turned down the proposition in
short order There is no way that
Hughey could figure that his club could
gain anything by playing a morning
game On Monday. on the double-header
Jennings figures that he is sure to at
least break even
The Detroit players. now that they are
on top. have renewed confidence. and
they feel that an even break on Monday
viii make the pennant reasonably sure.
Each club has four games 10 play with
Washington, while the Athletics have
three with Cleveland. and Detroit has
three with St. Louis According To the
way the Detroit men figure, they have
slight advantage over the Athletics
claiming that Washington viii be equally
easy for each. but that Cleveland VIII DE
harder for the Athletics than St Louis
viii be for the Tigers
Rain to-day would be welcomed by De
troit as II would make il a sure thing ior
them 10 leave Philadelphia in the lead.
Manager AIack's confidence In landinE
the pennant has not been shaken. and
he feels that his team can take both
games, which would put the Athletics
seven points in the lead.
DOnOvan'S Hardest Game.
BIZ Donovan. speaking about Fridays
great battle. said. That was the hard
est game Of ball I have pitched this
year The weeks rest / had did not
benefit me any as 1 was going along
shutting clubs out or holding them TO
one run when I was pitching every other
day, and felt no III effects from the work.
"On Friday, I pitched more balls than
in any other contest this season. but Mr.
Connolly was rather severe on me I'm
calling the balls and strikes. but I didn't
make a kick. With men on bases I grew
more effective and stopped the Athletics
from hitting just when they needed an
other hit. That is how I have won a
majority Of my games this season, and
with our boys well in the lead on both
occasions when the Athletics scored on
me. I never felt worried. I viii probably
pitch the second game on Monday"
A big crowd of Boston sports followed
the Detroit team to this city TO get down
few bets on Jennings team. sport
Sullivan, the biggest bettor on baseball
in Boston. said tonight that he was out
all day looking for bets. offering 10 TO s
that Detroit would win the pennant. "AU
] could get down was $780," said Sullivan.
and tonight I will leave for home. It's
all over according to my dope, and
have no further interest in the game in
this city. To me, the remaining games
are like n champion team against a scrub
nine. and that sort Of ball won't hold
me over. The others in the party will
remain for Mondays double-header''
An immense floral horseshoe was sent
out TO the grounds by friends Of Pitcher
Donovan yesterday to be presented to
wild Bill" Il was so big that it could
hardly be brought through the door Of
the Office at Columbia Park It will be
held until Monday, when the presentation
will be rnnde