Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-10
BY W. J. McBeth.
,Dvrisht. 1913. National News Association.

u less QUESTIONABLE dSStlS Nb4li-
prise Ban Johnson's American
League of 1913. The good thing is
Connie Mack's Athletics. This slug
ging aggregation should win the pen
nant almost as easily as it did in 1870
and 1911. Boston and Washingtl n,
| outclassed on paper, may give a fight.
But Philadelphia appears the real
class Of the circuit.
Philadelphia is taking itself seri-
ously this season, which it did not do
year ago. The spirit has shown in
the series with the Phillies. Connie
Mack has one of the most wonderful
machines ever put together His in
field is undoubtedly the greatest ever
, played under one tiag-McInnis, Col
Inns, Barry and Baker-au fast, healy
base runners. superior fielders and in
the aggregate far above the 800 class
in hitting.
His outfeld, reinforced by Walsh
and Murphy of last years Orioles,
should be every bit as marvellous rs
the inner line. Thomas and Lapp are
two Of the best catchers in their com
pany The only question is the pitch
ing staff
Has Three Star Hurlers.
Most baseball managers would take
chance with Comics tossers. He
has a bunch of young fellows WAC
look exceptionally promising, but he
does not have to count on any Of
these il his veterans behave. Where
can you match Bender. Plank and
Coombs as a twirling trio, despite the
fact that they have seen so many
years Of service2
nl 50,
years and big league duty. had one Of
his very best seasons in. 1912. Bender
and Coombs trifled and did not balT
their share of the burden. Aside from
the pitching, the Athletics We're al
most as effective in 1912 as they We're
in either of the previous seasons.
They made enough runs. but their
pitching corps could not withstand the
attack.
Red SoK Troublesome.
Boston should be very troublesome
this season. one would be very fool
ish not TO credit a worlds champion.
But having seen Boston in the worlds
series against the Giants, the only
wonder is how Stahl's array ever
managed to stay on top of the puddle.
The sOrriest, cheapest worlds cham
piOn in the world is this club which
ar one stage of the proceedings ha
New York hanging over the ropes Dy
an advantage of three to one. AMI
then. after eight games, had finally TO
cop the title through a couple of mis-
plays when Mathewson made than
look like so many "bushers."
Still, getting back to fact, Boston
last year never lost more than two
games in a row before the gonfalon
was cinched. Which shows a mar
velOus consistency at least. Boston
il must be remembered. went through
the whole season without one serious
injury and at various times caught
both its most aggressive opponents
very much crippled.
Il would be foolish to count BOs
ton out of the race. The Red Sox
boasts as fine an outheld as could
well be- imagined. The inheid is ex-
ceptionally strong on the third base
wing. Larry Gardner is one of the
very best third basemen in the game.
Heine Wagner. at short. was ;he
hng-pin of the season and the
worlds series.
The other side is not so certain.
While ne played good ball in. he
worlds series, Yerles is not fin
iShed product. Jake Stahl has 81
ways been an in and outer. He had
a good season i'm 1912. He may re-
peat, and he may not.
Boston lnfield Feeble.
Bostons infield does not begin to
compare with the Athletics Neithe-
does the pitching staff despite
Smoky joe Wood. Bedient, Of
course. is good. so are Ray Collins
and Charlie Hall Collins could not
be Classed with Plank Neither Be
dient nor Hall would hold d candle
TO CoOmbs. Bender does not have r.
take any lip from Wood when thu
Chief is himself
In pitching, Boston has the younger
men. They are more likely to he
steady and TO improve all the time.
But for the coming season Mack has
a much more promising pitching staff
than has Stahl- The catching depart
ments are Just about a toss-up. On
form Philadelphia has a decided al
vantage.
Washington mas the great Walter
johnson. and him Just half
pitching stan. Johnson. however. can
not win "a RunauJ single hanGed.
Groom and aihe. got away with g.