The Washington herald., 1913-04-06
ATHLETICS READY
TO START SEASON
Connie Mack Expects to Start
Trouble Early in Spring.
Team in "the Pink"
VETERANS ARE in SHAPE
coombs, Plank and Bender Said to
Be in Old Time Form-Mur-
ply on Deck.

Away to a flying start in the 1913 Amer
lean League pennant hunt is the slogan
of Connie Mack's Athletics In past years
the Athletics have been slow starters,
mainly because they have depended upon
veteran pitchers who were not favored
with the proper kind of weather to con-
dition them for the first few weeks of the
season. 1t is different this season. All
OF the pitchers are in prime shape right
now, and only serious accidents or COM
plete breakdown in this department can
prevent the Athletics from going off to
better start than they did in the two sea-
sons they were American League and
worlds champions. at least this is the
dope the Quaker City scribes are handing
out.
Seldom, if ever, has a big league club
been in as grand condition at this time
OF the year as are the Athletics. Al
though it is awfully early to be making
predictions. there is not a member of the
regular team who has not the absolute
feeling that the Mackmen will cop the
bunting. Manager and players have ex-
treme confidence that when the worlds
receipts are divided next October, those
wearing the sweater coat with the White
Elephant emblem will cash in for a major
share of the spoils.
There is no secret about the team which
Schoolmaster Mack pins faith on to carry
him across the wire winner When the
fan takes his seat at Fenway Park, Bos-
ton, and peruses the score card for the
opening clash between the Red SoX and
the Athletics the latter's lineup will read
like this: r. Murphy, right field; Rupe
Oldring, left field, Eddie Collins, second
base; j. Franklin Baker, third base; Stuffy
McInnis, first base; Ames Strunk. center
field; Jack Barry, shortstop; Jack Lapp
or Ira Thomas, catcher; Albert Bender,
l. -r.11
Brown, pitcher.
This does not constitute the complete
makeup of tire House of Mack. On their
toes. ready to answer a call 20 get into
active service at any time, Will be: Capt
Danny Murphy and Jimmie Walsh, out
fielderS: Harry Davis and Orr, infielders:
Ben Egan and Schrang, catchers; Byron
Houck. Herb Pennock, pitchers, who were
with the team last year, and at least
two more young twirIers, who are likely.
to be Weldon Wyckoff. who played with
Rucknell University last year, and Bull
let Bush, who was with the Missoula
Club of the Missouri Union League in
19l;
An will admit that to be a pennant con-
tender A team must have an excellent
1,itching staff-one that is favored with
the breaks of the game. and one that can
stand the gaff The Athletic veterans have
proven that they can stand the gam 10
date the Mack pitchers have been favored
with the breaks in the form OF So"d
weather Eddie Plank, Chief Bender, ana
Jack COMBS do not need the breaks IN
other ways. They need good early-seasoh
weather. particularly Bender and Coomps'
Eddie Plank has always been a good cold
weather pitcher. At San Antonio, for ten
days. Coombs and Bender had the wealth.
Ct in which they delight to pitch Inc
warm climate of these first ten days uld
IFS work well. The pitchers passed the
stage of the spring training where throw
ing curve balls was agony.
Three pitchers cannot win pennant,
however as was proven when Cy Morgan,
one of Macks reliables, blew up THIS
YEAR Mack is taking no chances and has
Carroll Brown. Byron Houck, and Hero
Pennock. Of last seasons staff, as well
as the young crop to pick from in secur-
ing the four regular members. Brown
has shown wonderful Improvement and
looks TO be in shape for a splendid season.
Houck too, will be more valuable to the
team. In Herb Pennock. Manager Mack
has a brilliant understudy to Eddie Plank,
and it would not be surprising in the least
TO see the youngsters alternate on the
slab with the veteran when 1t becomes
the day for a southpaw TO work
OutfieId Is Strong.
Added strength is found in the outfield,
which should give a far better account OF
Itself in hitting and fielding than the per-
Torrance of the trio that covered this
territory the middle of last season. Speed
IS written on the faces OF Eddie Murphy,
Rube Oldring, Amos Strunk, and Jimmie
Walsh. Then there is Capt. Danny Muir
ply, who has helped the Athletics WIN
three American League pennants, to be
called upon in pinch Eddie Murphy has
about cinched his place at the top of the
batting order. It does not take critic |
eve TO notice Improvement in the work of
Oldring, Strunk, and Walsh over their
form of the latter part of last season.
There are seven other clubs in the |
league. which Manager Mack fully real
ICES He may be reticent about matters
that concern his team, but he feels more |
free in discussing other clubs as he sizes
them up Boston is another club that |
should stay up there a long as they |
have that great pitching staff" he said |
Naturally, wei be watching the Red
Sox all the time. But don't think they |
have as good a ball club as We have. I
Washington ought to be just as good as
they were last year. They have great |
pitching staff, and that will help to keep |
them in the race. Cleveland is a greatly |
improved team, and Birmingham should |
land the Maps higher up this year CO.
miskey's White Sox are greatly strength |
ened, and may give us all some trouble. |
Detroit Is a hard combination to beat at 4
any time. New York has great pitching /
staff. Chance has chance. st. Louis |
will probably be stronger, too George |
Stovall has one of those clubs that is like /
ly to give you trouble at any time"
II In apparent that Manager Mack looks |
for added strength on every club, with |
the possible exceptions Of Boston and /
Washington.