The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-08-25
EDDIE COLLINS SAYS
RED SOX HAVE FLAG
Athletics Are Out Of the Race Leaving Washington
as Boston's Only Contender Speaker and
Wagner Holding Team Together.

or four days rest to Be effective. That
is the beauty Of stahrs tvirling ret. He
has enough good pitchers so that he can
afford to lay the men up until they have
sufficiently recuperated to be at their
best.
Speaker and Wagner are both still
playing great ball and boiling the team
together. Stiil. up 70 one week ago.
expected the unexpected to happen. I
looked to see the Boston club break and
the Athletics TO stand up. but we have
broken and fallen away on the last week
of play. II they had dropped two or
three games and We had stood up. then.
N the final swing around the Western
circuit. we might have shot Into the lead.
The best that we have now 10 very
outside chance.
Never Been Normal.
The Athletics have never been normal
all season One week ago we were play
ing the best ball Of the year. Our pitch
ers looked better than they had at any
other time, and things were breaking
for US. Then the White Sox arrived and
very much upset our calculations. We
had considered the Chicago team easy
picking. but the loss of the double
header on Tuesday was the hardest blow
OF all to our prospects It has hurt the
players on the Athletics. This blow to
what looked like fair chance last week
has been a great setback to all of us.
One week ago We were playing the best
ball OF the year-fn fact, as well as We
had played In two ears. There was a
marked increase in the hitting with Old
rings return to the game strunk also
seemed to have taken q new lease on life
In batting and was playing a wonderful
game In the field. Plank. Coombs, and
Bender seemed to have hit their old pace
again and were swinging along finely.
Then suddenly We Were tripped.
Just what has been the matter with
the Athletics this year is hard to say. It
has been the lack of pitching as much
as anything. There was no time when
all the boys of the box seemed to be
right at once. The old reliable twiriing
of Coombs. Bender. and Plank. which
pulled us through so many close games
in previous seasons, has been missing.
The loss of Murphy hurt us badly. His
hitting has been needed all the season.
for he Is the sort of player who punches
them In the pinch But am not making
excuses for the Athletics. I am simply
trying TO diagnose their case. Boston
Is ahead now because the Red Sox have
played better ball than we have
washinEton q Contender.
Washington is still a contender. but
almost as much of an outside one as
the Athletics are. The Senators have lost
ground on the week. and Boston Is far
better on than the club has been at
any other time this season Washington
has had a slump which appears to be
the fault OF the pitchers. Walter John
son is still twirling the same phenome-
nal ball which he has shown all season,
and succeeded in breaking the American
rtff OIL TO-
last week. This was previously held BY
Jack Chesbro. 1t would not surprise me
a bit II johnson equaled or exceeded
the nineteen straight hung up by '.Rube'
Maruuard before the season expires
When Laporte was put into the game
at second base. the Washington club
seemed to begin to lose, which confirms
the old adage about not breaking UP
winning combination when you have one.
Now that Morgan has returned to his
old stand at second. the club is travelling
along about as before. This is not nee
essarily the fault of Laporte, but the sub
stitution of a new player on a team al
ways seems to make IL necessary for all
the others to get acquainted with his
habits and his little personal eccentrici-
ties on a ball field.
Not too much can be said Of Walter
Johnson His pitching, combined with
the managerial Judgment Of Clark
Griffith. is responsible for the fine show
ing made by Washington. II the Sem
ators are up close when IL gets along
In the first part of September, I would
not be a bit surprised to see johnson
pull the pennant out for them by work
ing every other day. as he has promised
Griffith he would il there was a chance
for worlds series money.
However. I may as well conclude with
the statement that the coming Western
trip is the one which should supply the
final answer. although III admit that Il
looks as II most of the returns are in
now and only a few districts remain to
De heard from. OF course. there is al
ways the outside possibility of Boston
getting into a bad slump, either from
injured players or things going badly for
he team. Then We might crawl VI and
pass them. but that is practically our
,nly chance now.
The other teams outside of Washington
md the Athletics cut little figure ex-
,ept as their playing may affect the
standings of the leaders. OF the teams
outside the pale of possibility the Chi
ago White Sox have shown the great
st Improvement on the week and arc
displaying some of their old form now
which they showed early in the season.
Callahan is frankly trying out recruits.
md johnson. at shortstop, looks like q
promising player Callahan has been
troubled with lack OF good pitchers
Ill season. and this has showed the
burden of the pitching on Ed Walsh.
his only dependable performer. He is
willing to work at any time. and this
heavy toilfhg Is telling on him. White
showed a flash of his old form against
but the other Chicago
,itchers have been in and cutters all sum-
ner. Benz started out like a house afiire
md promptly burned out.
Referring briefly to the other teams I
night say that Detroit has two men who
rave supported their regulations as ball
players this summer. These are Dubuc
md Cobb The former, taken back from
he minors after having had a chance
n the major league before with Gin
.innau, has been the bright shining light
II the club. Cobb Is almost sure to lead ,
he league in hitting as usual
Copyright. 1872. By Mcclure Newspaper sypdiczf4