The Detroit times., 1912-03-30
TIGERS ADDED STRENGTH
N PITCHING STAFF AND
IN SECOND STRING MEN
First Team, With Exception of
Moriarty, Is Sure of Being
Back
MACK SEES RACE COMING
Athletics Will Be a Big Factor,
He Says, With Becoming
Modesty
MACK SEES RACE COMING
BY RALPH L. YoNKER.

III MALI ~ ~. oOhAHs
NEW ORLEANS, March 31.--The
Tigers will arrive In Detroit this
spring with team strengthened in
the pitching stan and In the material.
II Louden or Westerzil shows up a
great deal better than George MORT
arty at third, there will be strength
ening In the regulars there.
This increased strength In the re-
serve force and more especially that
OF the pitching stan may be all that
IL needed TO take and keep the lead
that the team OF last year gained.
Oscar Stanage will have ADLER as
sistance this year than he did last,
for young Kocher, who is now the most
likely looking first assistant. Is show
ing beautiful whip, good head and
hitting ability that Is no joke.
Among the pitchers, Covington Is
going TO be much improved this year.
He has learned lot this year under
Coaches Sugden and Mcclure. A slow
ball and a knuckle, ball he has add
ed to his repertoire, besides retain
ing all OF his old-time speed and
curves. That fast one OF his looks
like HIS most dependable Offering.
For Ralph Works there is either
one of two things in store during the
coming season. He has either fine
season before him or very poor one.
His fortune has been going In such
an erratic manner during the past
few weeks that no one Is predicting
which way 1t will turn during the
summer.
Among the other old-timers there
IL nothing that would indicate that
they are to be much better or much
worse than they we're last, except
that the latter is generally conceded
to be an impossibility. Each and
every one OF them claims that he is
in better shape than he was last
spring and each and every one OF
them would be expected TO claim thai,
60 there Is little TO Judge from there.
But the new fellows are continual
" impressing those who are watch
ing them. with their ability, and 1t Is
from them that the greatest boost Is
to be expected during the coming
year.
AS Hughie entered Connie left town
but before he went away he told one
OF the New Orleans newspaper men
what he thought OF the coming pen
nant race. I am stealing what ne
said to Wing OF the Item.
.Afhough- the Athletics will be
stronger In 1912 than in 1911, Connie
Mack looks for harder night for the
flag. Before taking his worids
champs from town, Connie said:
.The Athletics will start the sea-
son with the same club We had last
year. and IL doesn't seem possible
that we should be any weaker, but on
the other hand trifie stronger, ow-
ing TO the fact that the infield and
onffield have had another year OF
work together. Practice makes per-
feet and when one considers that our
club il composed OF mostly youngs-
thrs. who will be coming, and not go
Ing back each year, our prospects
look more than encouraging. TO say
now that we will win the pennant
again would be not only foolhardy,
int mere guess. Detroit, Boston,
cleveland. Chicago and New YORK
have ALI strengthened considerably
over last year, and before we can say
how much will have to see by playing
them all. which will take about TWO
months. Besides these clubs a dark
horse might spring up WHICH OILY
leads to one belief. that the race IN
the American league this year VIII
be a battle from start to finish and
the winners will know they have been
ih real race. Accidents cut great
figure in baseball, and II We can go
Through the season without any serl-
Gus ones, think we viii be pretty
close TO the top at the end one
grand race with the Athletics pig
factor-about expresses things
In speaking about his two ex-Attr
letics, Harry Davis and Topsy hat-
sci. he said: :, --..,,,.,.- !, : :.
Yes, l am pulling and pulling nsru
for them and fully expect to see tnem
make good. Harry Davis cant ian
and I'm my opinion will De one Oh Tue
leading managers OF the country