The Washington herald., 1914-10-19
MANAGER MACK
MUST GET BUSY
Athletics Have Lost OId-time
Fire and Dash-NewBlood
to Be Injected.
OTHER SPORT COMMENT
Georgetown Coaches Have Task on
Their Hands Preparing the
Team for Pittsburgh.
DE- WILLLAlf PEET.

The vast army of fans who did not
see the worlds. series last week are ask
ing two questions, which nobody seems
TO be able to answer.
First. Are the Athletics slipping2
Second. Was the team in a slump when
the Braves were encountered?
The only intimation that Mack's team
was in a slump came from ,the pen of
shrewd Philadelphia writer three days
before the opening worlds series clash.
Billy wsaEt, Of the Telegraph, wrote
q little piece for his paper which caused
at the time little more than passing COM
nent.
Mr.. weart said that unless the Mack
men took a decided brace and showed
more Improvement in hitting they would
more than likely be licked when they
met Boston.
That he knew whereof he spoke sub
Eeouent events have shown but this hard
Iy answers the foregoing questions.
The Athletics, barring two or three
men, are young. They should be good
for many years. As a team, however,
It is an old combination. Five years IS
quite some time to keep so many regulars
together.
The club has lost much Of its old fire
and dash. Victories fail TO enthuse and
the men are more anxious for the first
and fifteenth of the month to roll around
when pay checks are due, than formerly.
Young blood is needed to stir up some
of that latent enthusiasm, and this IS
one of the problems which confronts
Connie Mack He will probably put in d
busy winter trying to effect cure.
The writer believes that the Athletics
are slipping only in the matter of en-
thusiasm and ginger. They go about
their work in too cold-blooded and mat
ter Of fact fashion. Some changes in
the lineup next year may be expected.
As for the team being in a slump when
It met the Braves. They did not look
like the slashing crew that has beaten
the Griffmen so often in seasons past.
The Athletics undoubtedly were in a
slump, but it is doubtful if they could
have won the series this year had they
been in their best condition.
Football coaches at Georgetown this
week have a gigantic task before them
In whipping a team into shape to sue
cessfully cope with the University of
Pittsburgh in the Smoky City next Sat
urday.
Georgetown came out of the Washing
ton and Lee game in good shape phySi-
caIly. which speaks well for Trainer
O'ReilIy's work on the hilltop during the
short time he has been on the job.
The Washington and Lee game dis
closed a weakness in the ends which to
those who have followed the team all
season comes as a surprise, as the
HiIltOppers have a wealth Of~good ma
terial for these positions.
The backfeld combination is the real
source Of trouble and it is not at all
unlikely that several new men will be
tried during scrimmage this week.
John Petritz, center on last years
team has announced his intentions of
coming out. He has prevailed upon his
parents for permission to play. If he
does report to Coach Exerdine he should
have little trouble regaining his old job.
The hardest part of Georgetown's sched-
ule is yet to come, but the best of spirit
prevails on the hill. The men are will
ing workers and there still remains
time to develop a team that will be z
credit to the institution.
According to Joe villa, Of the New York
Sun. unconfirmed gossip has it that
conference was held in this city a day or
two ago between representatives of the
Chicago National League club and GER
tain Federal League interests. The in
ference is denied stoutly by National
League authorities.
However, it has been learned that
tiTnorous element of the parent major
league a short time ago advocated the
plan of accepting the hackers Of the
Chicago and Brooklyn clubs into major
league baseball. The scheme, so it is
said, involved the sale of the Cubs to
Weeghman, Walker and Chicago associ-
ates and a transfer of local American
League interests to the Ward brothers.
The matter however, for several good
reasons never got beyond the stage of
idle speculation. For one thing Frank
Farrell proved quite conclusively that his
club is not on the market, while Ban
johnson turned down his thumbs at the
mere meStion of the enemy. Gov. Tener
of the National League was as pointed
as Mr.. johnson against any policy that
smacked Of the recognition Of the Fed
eral League or Federal League interests
in any quarter.
The most judieious and wise club own
ers of the National and American leagues
realize that the present war must be car
ried to such length that one side or the
other is forced to the wall. Compromise
might relieve the present situation but
could MT guarantee future safety. II
kimply would be inviting trouble in the
auture.
NThe most enthusiastic Federal League
hackers now agree that there is not room
fol three major leagues. It is said that
the independents would agree readily to
minor league rating provided the Federal
might consolidate with the American As
sociaAion and International League. This
most logical solution would entail not
only complete surrender on the part of
the revolutionists, but possibly the ac-
ceptance Of humiliating conditions.
IAT0NIA ENTRIES