Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-29
BY ]. ED GR1LLo.

| There is, perhaps no club in the coun-
! try better fortified with utility men than
| the Athletics, and it is this fact which
gives Macks team a great advantage over
his rivals.
A mishap to one of the regular infield-
ers would, of course, weaken the Athlet-
les but not as much as it would some
other teams, for Mack has men on the
| bench who can plug up most any hole
that is apt to occur. Incidentally most
of these bench warmers. excepting Capt.
Davis. of course. are constantly develop
| ing, and may in due time become reg
ulars.
The Mack system of running a ball
team is ideal. He signs his youngsters at
figures that make it possible for him to
carry them several years without bank
rupting his treasury. and incidentally
places them in a position where there is
an incentive for them to strive for ad-
vancement When all is said and done.
Connie Mack is really in a class by him
self a sa base ball man. Not only is he
an expert on the game and the handling
| Of ball players, but combined with these
qualifications is a splendid business head.
| which has done much to make him a sue
! cess in the game.
! In the eighth inning of yesterdays
game Umpire Silk O'Laughl:n made a
ruling which on the face of IT Is con-
| trary to the letter of the rules, put In
| which he displayed good judgment.
With the bases full in this inning and
none out Gessler hit little fly some dis
| lance behind second base. Collins bareiE
got under the ball, but dropped IT,
claim was made for an inneld ny, nu'
| this O'Laughin would not allow. on the
| theory that the ball was hit out too Tar
to come under this rule, though an in
| fielder handled it.
The rule says: THE batter IS out. IL
| before two hands are out. while first and
| second or first, second and third are oc-
cupied he hits a fly ball, other than line
drive. that can he handled by an m
fielder. In such cases the umpire shall
as soon as the ball Is mt decare III an
| infed or outfit Id hit
When the ball went up it seemed more
likely that the outfielder would handle
it, though Collins did manage 10 get UNI
der it. OLaughlin's judgment IN this IN
| stance was good though it was viola
ton of the strict Interpretation oil the
rule.
| Only once in lifetime would man.
ager nick UP two such brilliant pan
players as Baker and Collins at virtually
| the same time. Mack made his team
championship aggregation with TINS par
Both are young and VIII last LOT MANY
manager would ever be so fortunate as
to pick up such a pair. Baker and Col
Inns would make a winning team out OF
any team now in the American league
Give St Louis this pair ana the browns
would beat out two or three CLUBS In the
present race. This gives an idea OF their
value and incidentally explains now
Mack built up a winning team when IL
seemed that the decadence OF ms oio
stars had left him with ioSer.
College players by the score are Joln-
ing the major league teams, ana IL VIII De
interesting TO note what a sinaIi per
centage of them will be able To hoid tneT
own Last year there was also Dig
crop, which came up from the colleges.
but only here and there have they neen
able to hold their positions. The diHer-
ence between college and major league
ball is even greater than the step from
the high grade minor leagues TO 1ast
company. This is particularly notlceaDle
in the college pitchers. who es' aoi,sn
great records at school and then Iaii
when they become professionals. Inis is
because the college teams do not hit and
consequently do not wait out pitcher IL
is different when they come INTO iast
company. where the ball must be put
over for nearly every man that races
them This results in letting up and aim
ing. and when pitcher does that moth
ing can save him.
Some of the advice that is shouted to
experienced ball players from the stands
must be amusing to the athletes, for II
shows that the fans who yell loudest usu-
ally know least about how the game
should be playe ed. Yesterday. when the
locals were many runs behind in the sec
ond game, some Of the fans worked them
selves into a frenzy because no effort
was made to steal bases, while there
was considerable complaint because the
batters were waiting out the pitcher.
Both plays were proper, however. There
H. 80 rx-fth ms - "
runs behind. and 1t is POLICY to wait out
the pitcher in the hope Of getting as many
men on the bases as possible
The bases must be reached before runs
can be scored and the percentage is
against a batter hitting safely regardless
Of who may be pitching. II these grand