The Washington times., 1914-08-28
ATTRIBUTES WINS
TO THREE THINGS
Spirit, Great Defensive InfieId,
and Pitchers Boost Braves,
Says StaIIings.
EVERY POSITION FORTIFIED
0utfieId. Particularly, Has Been
Built Up From Weak De-
partment in 1913.
By GEORGE STALLINGS,
Manager of Boston Braves.

ST. LOUIS, Aug. eS-With the sea-
son two-thirds over. I'm perfectly sat-
isfSed with my team. We're ready in
every position to make the finish of
our lives I would not venture to pre-
dict ANYTHING, but if we don't cause
some excitement I'll be a very much
disappointed individual. The Braves
nave been going at a wonderful clip
lately. and. unless something entirely
Unforeseen intervenes, will keep right on
AT the same job.
The great sweep over all corners may
oe attributed to three things:
The wonderful spirit. the old winning
spirit, Of every man on the outfit
The great condition of the three reg
liar pitchers.
The almost perfect defense which the
.nfiald IS able to put up in the lace OF
al kinds of hitting.
Regarding the pitchers. / feel that II
would bewasting words to tell about
re performances Of Tyler, Rudolf. and
ames The three have been winning
lght along Each is as strong as a
n6rse and thrives on hard work. That's
vhy have been using them and letting
ne others sit on the bench. I didn't
,rant 10 break a winning cimbination.
have almost too many, If such
hing is possible. My so-called second
zrring men are far and away better than
le first string hurlerS of most OF the
ans in the league.
Hess, Strand, Crutcher, Cottrell, Davis
md Cocreham are one and all as good
rs they make them Before I come
back from the present trip around the
Circuit / expect to show the baseball
uanagers of the National League some
thing in the line of crack young pitch
era
All the youngsters early in the season
mad some faults, to be sure, but care
rul coaching by Fred Mitchell has sue
ceeded in wiping out the most OF them.
Tust you watch.
Finally, to get down to our defensive
strength Maranviile and Evers around
second are the greatest combination
that ever played the game together, bar
none. Between them they can pull off
almost anything. They have killed off
more hits this year than have most
antire teams.
Schmidt on first base has always been
p strong favorite of mine. When he was
ust getting used to himself as 4 big
aaguer he looked rather rough. But L
-hink that lately he has shown that he
nerited all the confidence placed in him.
Over at third base we are doubly ior-
flied. Charles Deal, though he has been
lck all season long, has been playing
lightly fine ball. With a short rest
ae'll be as good an infielder as there is
nywhere. And he sure can hit-any
dnd OF pitching, too.
Red" Smith, whom We secured from
3rooklyn lately. is another great ac-
G.. Iisition. 1 don't understand yet why
ne Dodgers were willing to part with
hin. He's brainy ball player. can hit
and field. and is full of fight. Whitted
I'D Dugey are two mighty capable
subs" Won't be long before the pair
Z them will be knocking at the door
stamped regular jobs either.
IN the outfield, where we were weak
asst year. We sure have a great bunch
Z talent now. l have three good men
no can bat right-hended and face all
l-inds of pitching, and three more who
Il from the OF side, and consequently
N work havoc with right-hand pitch
Re. Best thing about the most Of them
that they're young and coming all
ne time.
Behind the bat also. with Hank Gowdy
q nd Bert Whaling. there's no cause to
~ orry Hank has surprised me by the
ronderful improvement he's shown IN
. ne last month or two. Today there are
ew. II any. backstops who have any
o hing on him.
Bert Whaling. too. is a good. reliable
atcher, one calculated to keep pitchers
own on the ground all the time. Also
2 can hit a bit, especially in the
inches.
Then, to fall hack on we have "Jigss
Donahue. a Somerville youngster, who
rome day is going to be star, and Fred
Mitchell. who does most Of the coach
1rg but who can go in and catch
anne any time ! need him.