El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-15
Mack Has Star InfieId of the Majors
Managers League Looking
the Inner 0 Campaign
By W. I'M

can recuperate quickly Jake Stahl is
a rafting good first hasemau, but he,
too, is beginning TO feel the JOuSt with
Time The double responsibilities Of
manager and player took a lot out Of
him last year. This spring he IS
schooling an undcrstudy in the hope
Of retiring to the bench
Larry Gardner at third, is one
Jewel. Aboua the best third sackeT
in the league, this fellow, and there are
some mighty good third -basemen IN
Home Rum Baker Eddie Foster and
Harry LOrd-thOugh Lord must now
be considered an Outfielder
Gaps in Both Leagues
Let us briefly size up the two major
league situations. The Cubs have to
fill the gap caused Dy the loss OF Joe
Tinker. Tinker will have TO prove ms
value as a playing manager at snort
for the Reds. Brooklyn has to build
up about the keystone while the Phil
lies are so beset that they are think
ing Of yanking Sherwood Magee IN TO
first base. The QuakerS are bit up
in the air at third, too. where there rs
considerable uncertainty about Hans
Lobert regaining his Oldtime form
The Pirates have been looking Tor a
first baSeman for years. Boston mas
only one infleld surety Sweeney at
second, while the Cardinals have TO
do a lot Of strengthening 10 figure IN
the hunt
. Han Chase is the only approved in
I fielder on the New York Americans.
unless Frank Chance is able TO play.
In which case Chase VIII have 10 pc
remade into a second sacker DetrOiL
has nobody but Bush at shOrtstOp-
WASHINGTON lacks q competent second
baseman. The White SON have not
solved the wing problems, while CleVe-
land seems tOttering generally all
along the inner line The Browns are
decidedly experimental save for Jimmy
Austin, the very weak hitting thlIc
sacker-
/ Athletic InfIeId Is strong.
Under these circumstances it is
rather delightful TO turn back to Con-
ME MaciI's wonderful quartet Inere
have been some wonderful fOur-ply
combinatiOns-nOtab the old orioles
and Cubs-but none surpassed IN all
round perfection the present Athletic
array. Speed. agility, consistency and
strategy are all to be found IN de1enee
as well as offence. Collectively, the
four bat far above the 300 mark.
Barry the weakest sWatter is one OF
the most dangerous in d pinch and ne
pounded at a PSI clip. in 1912. 'StuI-
fy'' McInness. who supplanted the vet
cram Harry Davis sWatted. .321 last
year, As a fielder. none surDasses him.
save Hal Chase
Eddie Collins, aa second, Is the real
speed marvel of the bunch. In 1903 he
surprised the country by pilferins 81
sacks, the greatest number OF steals
since the DAYS Of Bill LANCE, when the
/ baIk rule was not so rigldIy enforced
Last year Collins grabbed So cushions,
twice stealing one point better than
home run Baker.
His wonderful iDfield makes Connie
Nack's Athletics one OF the most highly
esteemed aggregations that ever
started a campaign. In Murphy and
Walsh. he picked up a wonderful pair
of outfielders from Baltimore. It is
simply a case Of pitching with him
Let the old boys, Bender, Plank and
Coonbs show average effectiveness.
ana Connie Mack viii give all rivals
the fight Of their lives.