Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
NEVER SAYS He
WILL WIN PENNANT
Manager Mack Is Not Predict
ing, But Is Very Optimistic
Over Prospects.

Over Prospects.
PHILADELPHIA, January . Tho
Athletics may not win the penuant in
1900. L never say that my team will a.
complish that. But I want to tell You that
every team that meets US next year VIII
know they have been in a base bail
game"
That is the message which Connie Mack.
the genial and ever-optimistic manager 90
the Athletics, sends out to the fans OF
Philadelphia New Year greeting.
Connie is sanguine-when was nc ever IN
a different mood? But he knows that he
faces n season OF hard work. probably the
hardest he has ever done.
Connie in flaming Bee"
Surrounded by number of associates
and players the lanky chieftan OF the
white Elephants was found last night
in the midst OF flaming bee" He had
just dispatched thirty contracts for 1919
to as many players and was in a happy
frame OF mind as he worked out combna-
tons by which he could make a winning
team out of the bunch, many of whom
are youngsters who promise great things.
Naturally. the question first in the
minds of the fans, just now is, Can YOU
win the pennant" was the greeting
thrown at Connie right off the bat
Say. did you ever know that | never
predict that | have winning team" an
swered Connie. Lots OF men in this game
start right in to talk pennant at the be-
ginning of the season. Often at the fin
ish they are found at the bottom But not
for me.
last season [ thought 7 had winning
team when | went south for spring train
lrl,,'+ l,pr rT,rull h.A lAe1
Then Seybold and OidrinE went 10 the
bad and other unforeseen things occurred.
But at that I did not give up. Later in
the season, just before that last trip ar
the western teams to Philadelphia. had
it all figured out Row we could finish In
the race. Ny dope again went wrong.
Predict Athletics to Be Last.
Lots of base ball managers and play
Eers are predicting 1 viii finish last in
, 190o-in fact, say we have the weakes st
team in the league. Just tell 'em Ia
wait and see. We may fool a lot OF en-
1t seems to be the general impression
that Connie Mack is going 10 build his
| team entirely out of the youngsters that
| he has That is "A mistake, according 10
/ his present plans. Few changes in the
makeup are contemplated at present.
| Davis at first. Murphy at second Bar
nv at short and Baker at third look good
| to me lust now said Connie. flartS'l
| in left field and Oldring in center are
| hard to beat and Jackson may be the
| other outfielder.
Not Unlike Last Years Team.
That will not look unlike the Athletic
team which was in the field last sea-
son. But Connie expects 10 have every
man in better shape and working togeth-
er as a machine, which will be hard TO
down. Thirty men is big roster for
team to have. but the Athletics viii car
ry almost that entire number throughout
| the season.
II used to farm out my youngsters
and then bring them back near the mn
ish of the season." said Connie. But
have changed my ideas on that plan !
am going to sit nearly all OF them on
fine bench, and call them utility men.
What they see will benefit them more
than playing with minors. Then II l
need them l have. them"
4 glance over the Athletics players lot
newt wear is interesting. Doc Powers
viii still be the dean of the catching
staff He is still good and can be de
pended upon. Mack thinks Blue. wnoln
he obtained from st. Louis. Is , lhe
goods" He says rheumatism KEPT nm M,
back in his work last season and VIII
send him to Marlin Springs In Feoruaty
to get rid Of it, if possible lie expects
to have a good one in him
Lamp, who did such good work with INV
.
| SON has many possibilities, according IN
| the crafty manager. EaSap, VINO cams
! from Utica, and Thomas. VINO was ior
merly with Detroit, are both tired PACK
! stops The eX-Figer Is especially prom
| Using and will undoubtedly be a regular.
Has Thirteen Twirlers.
Thirteen pitchers - never mlnu INC
"hoodoo''-are eligible. First of ALL there
are Chief Ben Ter, Eddie Plank Jimmy
Dygert Coombs, Schlitzer and Flchers'
all of whom are well known to the local
fans" and who WILL with possibly ono
or two exceptions. wear uniforms with
| an a. on them next year.
Plank will not be the only southpaw.
| for Connie has krause, Salve and kei-
logg. all of them likely youngsters.
Krause is a former Harrisburg twirler,
! Salve came from Columbia, ;. G., ana
kellogg did good work with Scranton last
season Flater an eN-Williamsport
pitcher; Martin. who was with the Rox-
| boro independents. near Boston; Showers.
who pitched for Macon last season. ana
| Curtis, formerly with Milwaukee, are four
youngsters who will aid the riSht-handefs
| Capt. Davis, Eddie Collins Nichols,
Murphy Barr and Barry will be intielders
who were seen on the diamond here last
year But Baker of Reading, whom
Connie has already picked as regular;
Manush of Columbus. Mass; Mclnnis OF
| the New England League, who Is
| disputed player, but likely 10 cOllle Ntle
and Lynch OF Reading are youths who
/ will be hard to let go.
Hartsel in Left Garden
"Topsy'' Hartsel. "Rube' oldring ana
Joe Jackson will be the men in the outer
garden who have been seen here, the lat
ter having decided to leave his southern
home and play ball again. Connie says
he believes jackson is conner, Strunk.
the Shamokin boy; Huelsman. an ex-Har-
| risburg outfielder. and Heitmiller. who
! halls from, Oakland Cal. are three men
who will be valuable acquisitions.
Il expect to keep eight OF the pitchers
named. three catchers and, besides tho
! seven regular outfeiders and infielders.
+ five utility men. In all | expect to carry
| about twenty-four men all season.
| ''Oh, yes | have some new plans map
ped out for our training period at New
| Orleans" answered Connie when queried
| as to his spring workouts. But cannot
! talk about that Just yet. | VII know
pretty well just what we can do by the
| time we leave the south
Water Polo Rules.
| NEW YORK, January "A suggestion
| has been made by a prominent water
polo player regarding the modification OF
| the rules covering the American game,