Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-07
CANNOT 4LAY Up"
IN THIS YEARS RACE
Manager Mack Has Sounded
Note of Warning for CON-
ing Campaign.
CONSIDERS ALL TEAMS
AS HAVING STRENGTHENED
Points Out That There Might
Be Repetition of Washing
tons Remarkable Squirt.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, February I'm his
speech at the Sporting Writers dinner
the other night Manager Mack of the
Athletics made some remarks that should
be borne in mind by all of the fans who
are wondering where the teams of the
American League will finish this year.
Connie remarked that it would be well
for the public to remember what Wash
ington. which had never before had first
division team, did in 1912, and he declared
that the team which finished second last
year had been strengthened, and would
bear watching.
Those remarks are worth remembering
1t is not often that the leader of the
White Elephants does any prophesying
and when he does he almost invariably
hits the nail on the head.
A year ago nine out of every ten fans in
the country thought the Athletics would
walk away with theid third successive
American League pennant. The first day
the then worlds champions struck San
Antonio Manager Mack made a speech in
which he said: " Watch Boston,
Connie made no secret of the fact that
Boston was the club that he feared dur
ing the 1912 race. The seasons results
showed that Manager Mack had the sit
uation sized up to a nicely.
Now Connie has served notice on all
of the clubs that he intends to bend all
of his energies. and those of every man
on his team as well. to bringing the
championship here this year. He has
also told the fans that he has sized up
the teams which finished in the second
division last ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Detroit
st. Louis and New ork-to be stronger
than they were in the last campaign.
This means that Manager Mack has 1t
figured out that there must be no lay
ing up in the coming battle. There
have been times in the past when Il
club could rest up star twirlers GER
tain fielders against second division
teams. in order to prepare for the
stronger clubs.
If Connie has the situation sized up
right. this will be almost impossible. In
such a case. it is the wise manager who
will prepare for the situation in ad-
vance. This can be done only by having
reserve force Of unusual strength:
that is, substitutes of ability almost the
equal of those playing regularly. 1t
looks as if Connie had laid his plans with
the idea in view that there can be little
or no laying up next season.
Look at his outfield: He has Strunk
and Oldring, OF known caliber; Eddie
Murphy. who played like a flash after
| joining the team last September: Jimmy
Walsh, who started here slow, but looked
| better in every game; Pete Daley, the
| Pacific coast star. who may make up
| for the disappointments of other Cali
| fOrnians; Hene Heitmuller and Bill HO-
| gan, WIN Danny Murphy, let us nope,
able to play at least occasionally. or to
| pinch hit.
| Last year Manager Mack was a sadly
disappointed individual when he failed
| to land young infelder who could
take the place of one Of his stars. For
| the spring try-out he has gathered in
Harry Fritz. young coast phenom
named Orr, youngster named Flick
| with a wonderful record as a fielder.
| and others. Behind the bat he has
| Sch3nR, who made such grand show
| ing in Buffalo last year that no less
| than fifteen major league clubs put in
drafts for him. In addition, Connie
last year developed some good perform