The Detroit times., 1913-08-19
Philadelphia Wizard is Confident
Of Worlds Championship, But
Keeps Mum
HAS CONFIDENCE IN HIS
VETERAN PITCHING TRIO
Is Not Worried About Plank S
Slump-Eddie Has One a
Year, He Says
BY RALPH L. YONKER.

good as nailed 10 the fagpole in Shite
park, Philadelphia.
They are Pessimist Connie Mack.
Chief Optimist Clark Griffith, and
Scrapper Joe Birmingham.
Mack agrees heartily Gin interviews,
at least) with the publicly expressed
opinions of the Nationals and Maps
managers to the effect that IL is more
than possible for either club 10 over
haul the Athletics. With the Elephants
only 5M games ahead OF the Maps, and
Washington not far behind, Mack Is
, not at all sure OF his position.
But while Mack is talking cautious
! ~ about the chances of his club, Birm-
lingham and Griffith over at Cleveland
are Tightening his clutch upon the first
round OF the championship ladder
while smashing at each others fingers
entwined about the second and third
rounds.
The sage who warned us not TO
Count our chickens before they were
Matched has evidently kept Mack
awake nights absorbing his advice.
ssith nearly everybody having con-
ceded Connie the American league
championship for months, the Phila-
fuses to predict.
IF we had only three games to go
and we had our lead OF 51e games.
would tell you that | was sure that
we were going 10 win the pennant.
he said, this morning. But. you
know" he said, with quizzical smile
quivering about his lips and a sparkle
In his steady, light blue eyes. many
things can happen when We have 80
games to CO.
That Mack Is convinced that he will
win the pennant unless some severe
misfortune, such as an injury to Chief
Bender or Eddie Plank. is apparent to
those who talk with him despite the
fact that he won't admit that such is
the case.
He himself says that often in past
years he has been sure in his own
mind that he had the pennant won,
but that he has refused to say SO for
publication.
IL don't believe in making pennant
predictions which may not be full
filed" says Mack. Some managers
will predict pennants for their club
constantly. Perhaps they are abso-
iutely sincere in their statements.
Then again they may be claiming the
championship merely as bit OF adver-
Using
IF my baseball club can't draw peo-
pie because 1t plays the finest kind or
baseball. l don't want TO bring the
people out to see 1t by saying that II
Is q sure pennant winner. | would
rather win games and the champion
oh a., MY
after had repeatedly said that | was
going to-"
While Mack Is sure that 1t is wisest
not to make any claims on the nag.
he il willing to make some admissions
II you want to grant him the pennant.
II Mack wins the American league
championship this fall, he will depend
for his pitching almost entirely upon
those three veterans, Plank, Bender
and Coomb3.
Despite the fact that Plank has had
d losing streak, and that Coombs has
been unable to work, Mack believes
that they will De in tip-top shape by
the time the season Is ended and the
worlds series is ready.
IL know that Plank has been In a
slump" confides Mack, but he has
one of those every year, and | am not
taking 1t at all seriously. His slump
has to come once a year, and | would
rather have II come now than when
! we need him worse.
''Coombs will be In shape sooner
than l expected. ! thought once thai
! he would not be able TO play at all
this season, but now believe that ne
. will. He Is looking fine. The report
that he was seriously injured In Cleve-
land Is greatly exaggerated. The hurt
he received when Oldring batted ball
back at him won't bother.
Bender Is reliable this season, and
I have every reason to believe that
he will continue to be so.
las for the younger pitchers ! can
not tell which one of them can use
It In too early now, and the next &c
games will probably have to determine
that"
Il IL apparent that Mack thinks that
IL he does hook up with the Giants II
a worlds series he win Do able to beat
them
He says that his club Is playing
much peter DdseDtil tnlS year ludu "
was last. Tie makes distinction
between "a stronger club" and play
inR better ball" He isn't sure that
the Athletics this season are a better
club than those OF last year. but be
does know that they are producing
better results.)
when asked IL he believed his clut
Of last year could have beaten the
Giants had they gone into a world
series, ne evaded a direct answer u
the question by saying. You know q
nan always believes that what he has
n better than that another man his.
Therefore, II Mack believed that he
. haA a better club than the Giants las
aoason. and Il his club Is playing bet
ler bali than In 1912, IL looks az If ht
hSs confidence Of beating the Giants
+ n : worid's series.
The finest hotel In the world, &C
,xording TO the plans OF its protector
y NJ. Mallaby -Deeley, a member OF par
l1nooDt. II 10 be erected In London
oooo6ife the entrance to Hyde Park
y q VIII occupy nearly two acres ant
; Nm cost more than te,ooo,o0o.
E& y. ~ -t t.4l. .E