Evening star., 1913-07-28

PHILADELPHIA, July 2S-Perhaps
Clark Griffith would not have made the
broad assertion that Washington will
beat out the Athletics for the American
League bunting had he first glanced over
the schedule and then turned his atten-
ton more carefully to the consistent work
of the house of Mack. which shows no
signs of falling off. Surely, he is not
fully aware of the great odds against
his Washington Nationals or else he fig
ures his team able to perform the mirac-
ulous.
Just for the sake Of making COM
parison of the work cut out for the
teams. we will grant that Washington is
the Athletics greatest competitor. Just
what the Nationals will have to accom-
plish to beat out the Athletics Is inter-
esting at this time.
Both the Athletics and Washington have
played the same number of games to
date. out of ninety-three contests de-
ciced the Mackmen nave won siXty-five
against twenty-eight defeats. Griffith :
Nationals have won only ffty-fOur and
lost thirty mine. In other words the
Nationals are eleven complete box scores
in the rear of the Macks.
There remain sixty-one games to be
played by both teams. AS to the at
home and away games, the two teams
share similarly. Let us just assume that
the Athletics get about an even break or
win one more than they lose OF the re.
naming contests-add thirty-one to the
won column and thirty to the lost Then
ninety-six victories and fifty-nine de-
feats. Although it Is dollars to dough-
nuts that the Athletics will do better
than this. We will just assume that this
occurs for comparisons sake.
Under these conditions. Washington
will have to win forty-three games while
losing eighteen or triumph in slightly
more than two of every three con-
tests played. to be one game ahead at
the finish. Chances are Washington will
not in the first place. make record for
the remainder OF the season of this cali
ber On the other hand, something must
go radically wrong with the house OF
Mack to win only thirty-one Of the re-
manning tiltS.
OF the sixty-one games the Mack
men have yet to play this season, only
twenty-four are listed away from home.
This leaves thirty-seven contests to be
decided at Shibe Park where the Mack
men aer virtually invincible.
Cleveland would have to make practi-
cally the same showing in the remaining
contests as Washington, as the Maps
AT the present time are only one and
one-half games ahead of the Nationals
!. ~
from home. so their pennant aspirations
need not be taken seriously.
Providing there are no serious accl'
dents fifth American League flag will
be the order this fall. :.
At no time this season has the Ath-
letics' pitching staff looked more for
midable. Bob Shawkey's splendid show
ing against the Detroit team in the first
game Of the series last Friday was bit
OF gratifying news for the fans. Shaw
key in his debut here held the hayd-hit-
ting Tigers to four widely scattered hits
and gave every indication of being win
ming twirler Shawkey's addition to the
staff forfifies the Athletics In case the
strain of the season tells on one OF
Mack's veterans.
This gives the Athletics six first-strin:
pitchers and a seventh one to join the
squad within the next ten days, possibly
the first of August. The fact that Jack
Coombs will be back with his old team
mates in the near future was another bit
of gratifying news to local fandom and
followers OF the Mack ship. John. Wesley
has about regained his old-time strength
and stamina and believes he viii besable
to check bats Of the opposition az OF old
by the middle Of next month. When