Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-04-11
By w. j. McBeth.

less questionable assets COM
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 1910
and 1911. Boston and Washington,
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 d.
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 fiag-McInnis, Col
Inns. Barry and Baker-all fast, heady
base runners, superior fielders and in
the aggregate far above the 300 class
In hitting.
His outfeld, reinforced by Walsh
and Murphy of last years Orioles,
should be every bit as marvellous as
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 HurIers.
Most baseball managers would take
chance with Comics tossers. He
has bunch of young fellows WHO
look exceptionally promising, but he
does not have 10 count on any Of
these II 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 service?
Plank older Than ATatbau~epy, -,
years and big league duty had one Of
his very best seasons in 1912. Bender
and Coombs trified and did not BE- IT
their share of the burden. Aside from
the pitching, the Athletics awere 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 Sox Troublesome.
Boston should be very troublesome
this season. one would be very fool
ish not to credit worlds champion.
But having seen Boston in the world 8
series against the Giants. the only
wonder is how Stahps array ever
managed to stay on top Of the puddle.
The sOrriest, cheapest worlds cham
pion in the world is this club when
at one stage of the proceedings hal
an advantage of three to one, ana
then, after eight games, had finally TO
cop the title through a couple of mis-
plays when Mathewson made them
look Ike 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
yelous consistency at least Boston,
he Ter am nral #hr-nrFcrrf
the whole season without one serious
injury and at various times caught
both its most aggressive opponents
very much crippled
II would be foolish to count Bos.
ton out Of the race. The Red Sox
boasts as fine an outfeld as could
well be imagined. The infield 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
king pin OF the season and the
worlds series.
The other side is not so certain.
While he played good ball in the
worlds series, Yerkes is not a fin
ished product. Jake Stahl has al
ways been an in and outer. He had
a good season in 1912. He may re-
peat, and he may not
Boston Infield Feeble.
Boston's infield does not begin to
compare with the Athletics. Neither
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
dent nor Hall would hold a candle
TO Coombs. Bender does not have to
take any lip from Wood when the
Chief is himself
In pitching, Boston has the younger
men. They are more likely 10 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 ad-
vantage
Washington has the great Walter
Johnson, and in him just half
PITCHING stan. johnson. however. can
not WIN a -Snnaut sinElA-ha uoei-
Groom and Walker got away -s,,h