The Washington herald., 1914-04-12


American League briefly.
In spite of the fact that the
class of the league last season, II
with clubs that finished in the fl
changes, according to the hne-upS
accounts of exhibition games. MOI
ON new blood and risk the position
within the range of remote possibll
Ovcrconhdence Hurts.
to the championship. The Phila-
deIphia club itself looks much
stronger from all angles than it
did at this time last season, while
the only real contenders in the
league last year have fallen oil.
RtIt II is always the season when a
team looks sure that it cracks For IN
stance the Athletics had the appearance
~ Dositive winners when they began the
- ~ 1912 hut the result is now his
tory Oyerconhdence was more responsl'
HE for that defeat than any other tactor,
I hsIieve OF course, Boston played Sood
hall hut the Connie" Mack crowd kept
kidding itself all through the season'
while the Red SOx were out in 'front.' win
this remark: e.,
rrx,o or three members of the Philadel-
nbis team met during the course OF me
race said this to me.
RIt the Red Sox did not crack TINS
one experience as the result OF osei
= IbtIess taught the Athletics
there will be no loafing this
b will be on the jump from
flag, but 1t will be travel
andicap because everybody
that II will win in a walk
> team looks like a world
pitching staff is much
- .. jes the two veterans VINO
Z the burden last summer,
as some men who were
wear. but who have Deeu
ears major league eNpeTi-
lowed up in the world 5
;eteran and he is bound
90 his year through the run
a-..- He looked to me to have
% 80 ,.-tcher needs Besides Bush
ers, Brown, Shawkey, and
,editabIe work last season
the possibility that John
f.-ounhs NAV come back.
- Tt NAV be argued that in this state
nent on the Philadelphia pitching talent
/ have made no allowances for the Ee'-
erans. particularly Eddie Plank, going
back.
Plank SUN
Plank is getting old for a prolesSloiltl
hall player He has been IN lhe us
leagues lust as many years as nav,
and he is even older in actual age.
plank is the type of twirler who wears
we'll because he has always taken care
of himself and he also has an easy pllCh-
in, r,otion that does net use up his arm
Apvbodv who saw the Athletics soulh-
nav in the last game of the worlo Sc
ries last fall should be convinced that ne
has a lot of good games lett in MN l
know I was thoroughly convinced ho'A
my point of view.
Resides the development of his young
ritchers last season, Connie Mack Is
sure of one of the best catching stals
In baseball if not the very best, through
the addition and seasoning OF Schahs,
The only contender for this honor "ouiu
be the Chicago Cubs with Archer anu
Bresnahan. Schang was young last SUM-
mer, and he would not have had an op-
portunity TO perform regularly, but Tor
a sudden and unexpected shortage OF
catchers He turned out to be even Det-
ter than Connie" Mack had anticipated
and he should be the best backstop III
the game this summer. What impressed
me most about Schang's catching was ms
speed and his headwork. His throwing Is
also remarkable.
harder than any catcher l have ever
worked with" declared Collins to me one
day before the series.
/ thought Collins was blufting then, Dut
when 1 saw Schang work, l knew ne was
right. Schang certainly shoots the ball
and he gets his throw away from MN |
? fast He is also a marvel at the INSIDE
game could tell by watching him work
that he does not nun any signs or over
look any opportunities. In fact, all the
Athletics are especially trained in TINS
branch of the game, and their smooth
work in passing signals is marvellous Inc
missing of a sign, given by one man on
team to another, has lost many a con-
test and resulted in trouble between the
various players. It was the failure to
receive his signals that caused Cobb to
get into the Jam with Sam Crawford
which lasted until Hugh Jennings formal
" introduced the two players one day.
InfeId Powerful Quartet.
No follower OF baseball needs to be told
of the ability OF the Athletics infield.
To my way Of thinking. it is the most
powerful quartet ever turned out in base
ball Mack also has three steady out
fielders in Eddie" Murphy, Oldring, and |
strunk Strunk got his start with the
Athletics when he was very young and
has been improving steadily. He is now
= UuiSneo perlOrnleIp anu 10 SAliSHiSly
fast. With the possible exception or Col |
Inns. he is the speediest man on the
club
AMER going through the list of players. |
thn athletics look impregnable- 1t isl
hard 10 find a better pitching stan in
the ieague, a better catching staff, a |
>he1fsr infield, or a better outfieid. When |
Il club clearly excels in all departments, |
n locks like a winner. The pitching |
ItsR has been strengthened over last
&ear. and that was the only possible |
@ueak place for a long race. 1t will take |
either : phenomenal run Of hard luck. |
into which many injured stars are crowd |
ed. such as sometimes hits a club, to
keep Mack from repeating. OF course, |
II such men as Collins and Baker should |
each break a leg in the opening week |
OF the race and be kept out for half of
the season. some other club might have
a chance of nosing the Athletics out
Washington in1presses me as being the
or,iy possible contender. Griffith has
rood ball club. but IL does not compare |
Il any department. except perhaps the