Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-01
OFFICIALS Of
CRACKER CLUB
SORE At TEAM
BY Percy H. Whiting.

ABOUT Inc NTdfkeT Dali tilp
something revolutionary torrid
tempestuous, Just what it is VIII de-
velop later. For the present there
will be more pitchers bought Pitts
burg Is offering A good man, subject
to the securing Of waivers. II he
comes through it will be moderately
helpful
Maybe there will be bigger things
happening
The directors Of the Atlanta Base
ball Association held an Indignation
meeting Monday. Il was an execu-
tive session and none Of the direc
tors would talk after II was over.
What they decided to do they viii
not say. But they were warm enough
under the collar to do most anything
THE local directors are sore, good
and sore. and getting worse every
minute. They can't make up their
minds whom they are sore at but
they are thinking 1t over.
They feel that they have spent
enough money to hay a good team.
They believe they HAVE good team,
If It would only play ball They don't
know why it isn't playing good ball,
but they are earnestly trying to find
out
one source OF irritation IL Pitcher
Dent. They gave up not less than
$1,000 of real money for this man.
Griffith, II is understood. wanted
S2.500 for him. but reluctantly com
promised on $4,000
That il would have been a poor
buy" at $500 is the present opinion
OF the directors They figure they
were stung and they have a sus-
picion that Griffith engineered II.
How it's all going to end isn't for
a mere baseball writer 10 pre-
dict The directors themselves prob
ably are pretty much at sea. They
know only that they are desperate
~ tired OF making explanations. ~
inventing alibis and Of spending big
money and getting small returns
1T would not do to have the d.
rectors nor the public expect too
much Of the Crackers this year
We told the directors that at the
frst OF the season. explaining that
Two year tail-ender was glued to
the bottom and could hardly be run
UP 70 a pennant in one year.
But they wouldn't see it-said il
was bosh and that with a new team
Of good men a pennant would be
easy.
It looked for awhile as though they
were going TO come clean with It.
too. But now the team is in a slump
II the club finished one two three
everybody ought TO be delighted If
they finish worse, 1t viii be disap-
pointing, Of course.
To tell what is the matter with the
bunch would take an expert
diagnostician.
Here are a few Of them.
Weak pitching all the season.
Only passably good catching.
Failpre to take the thing seriously.
Weak utility man.
weight.
Occasional bursts Of poor fielding.
Lack OF pepper.
Lack Of teamwork in COVERING
bases, taking" pop flies and the like.
Lack Of CAB" and noise.
Poor base running.
THIS is not intended for a knock.
either
The Crackers look Ike pennsnt
winners But they aren't aimed for
any pennant II IL m interesting
question to ponder why they aren't.
couple more good pitchers would
help. Councilman seems like corker.
despite his bad showing the last out.
The rest Of them are good sometimes
and sometimes they are not.
With the pitching stan strength
ened. Catcher Chapman going right.
little more pep" a little harder
work by the players TO get themselves
down 10 condition little more
earnest effort to steal bases ought TO
help some
But Heaven forbid that should try
70 tell anybody how TO run the bail
club. Newspaper dependence
courses along that line have never |
been successful
II is up 10 the manager.
Now is the time for Bin Smith to
rise to the occasion and MAKE his
team finish -two-three.