The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-08-30
MACK OPTIMISTIC
Athletics Manager Believes His
Team Will Win.


"All our cripples are coming back
in good shape and the team is be-
ginning to play the same old game,
said Connie Mack, the manager OF
the Athletics, as he discussed base
ball affairs with New York sun
man on recent morning. I'VE nave
had our share of hard luck, but
guess the worst is over. am Will
ing to predict that we will win the
American League pennant, but ia
rather not talk about the worlds series
with the Giants just now. There IL
plainly of time yet
rs Jack Coombs out OF it?' Mack
was asked.
He is pitching to our batters
every day" was the reply. "and
seems tc have plenty OF strength. he
Is heavier than before he was taken
III, but looks we'll. That story told
in Cleveland that Coombs had his
kneecap injured so that he would
never play again was little bit exag-
eerated. Why, Jack didn't know that
there was so much as bruise on his
knee until the next day. He wasn't
carried off the field. He walked and
he's been walking ever since. ! can
tell you definitely what can be ex-
pected from Coombs in about fifteen
days. He is going along slowly and
will not be hurried.
"If Coombs doesn't round into his
best FORM please remember that we
have a few other good pitchers.
Chief Bender and Plank never were
better and they are grooming them
selves for the worlds series. Then
we have Shawkey, Houck and Carroll
Brown, all first class young pitchers.
Shawkey has lost only one game for
us. l to pitchers battle with heb
Russell of the White Sox. He trim
med the Clevelands in his two starts
and made a neat job of it. He is 5
feet IL inches tall. weighs ITO pounds
and Is one of the best right handlers
ever saw come out of the minors
rs your team stronger than in
1912
Il think So Our infeld remains in
tact Where can you beat it. Then
again we baye batting strength in
The outfeld and are stronger behind
the bat. lap is recovering from a
split hand and will not catch in The
series with the New Yorks here
Schang and Thomas are all right
though. BY The way. wasn't play
ing In good luck when failed to
trade Schang to the New Works for
Paddy Green? ] had The wrong dope
on Green and really was rather glad
at the time Farrell and Chance
wouldn't let me have him. for
thought that if Green PANIED out and
Schang failed I'D be accused OF put-
ting something over Schang has
caught wonderful ball for us.
Danny Murphy is in rather poor
shape and will probably quit the
game at the end of this campaign
Our other vet, Harry Davis. came to
life as a catcher the other day and
believe me, he surprised all of us be-
hind the bat. He looked like a regu-
lar backstop.
You haven't bought any expensive
players for next year, have you?"
INC: we don't need them. Be
sides the minor league clubs have
been asking too much money. | saw
0UdpDtii VI lHe W nice CDA IN our re-
cent series in Chicago and while he
impressed me favorably ! don't be-
lieve he was worth the price paid
fer him. He'll be a valuable man in
time. however. Hal Chase played
great ball against us. He hit hard
and hustled all he was worth. sup
pose he's anxious to have Comiskey
renew his big salary"
Have you any opinion as to Maisel
OF the New Yorks?'
walsh, Eddie Murphy and Shaw
key. who played with him in Balu-
more. say he is a wonder. Jack Dunn
also tells me that he will be a star
under Frank Chance. Shawkey also
says that Chance has corner in Cir
hcoley."
What about the umpires this
year?
Il never bother my head over
them and I make my players let
them alcne The umpires are just
like ball players They try to do
their level best in order to get in
creased salaries. They are com
pelled TO give devisfous one way or