Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-24
Star Second Baseman Can See
Nothing but Success for
Mack's Men.
BOSTON RED S0X NEXT
Showing of Hub City Team De-
Ponds on Work of
Pitchers.
By EDDIE COLLINS
istar Second Baseman of the Philadelphia
lAthletics.)

At this time of the year, Just be-
fore the opening of the season, il Is
general custom of all those en-
gagged in writing baseball dope 10
venture a prediction on the outcome
Of the pennant races of the two major
leagues. POSSIBLY. to be more eX-
act, | should have said three as long
as tho Fedorals seem to be- SO active
among u.s.. Consequently I propose
to keep in line and speak a few words
Of prophecy myself only | will con-
fine my representations TO their pro
per limits, namely the American
League.
For me to name any other pros
pectise pennant winner than the
Athletics would sound strange and
unbeeqhing. In fact. If ] was not
offtiatt ppinon, I certainly would not
admit But as long as l am, my
consciente is quite clear when | say
that ! Mink our club will again be
returned\the winner. With the team
intact, and several OF the younger
members, notably Schang, Bush
Shawkey and Eddie Murphy, bene-
fted by last years experience. ] see
no reason why we should not main
tain our 1918 form and again lead
home the field. However, | deem 1t
more fitting for some one else 10 crit
icize the Athletics, as 1t is usually
much easier to overlook your own
faults than other peoples; so | will
try to analyze each of our seven OPP
ponents, taking them up in the order
of their Importance as contenders for
the American League championship,
as ] view them.
Assuming that the tales which en-
nfate from the various training
camps arc always of a boosting ma
cure, | have based my predictions on
how the clubs shaped up the last time
saw them, more than by what l
have heard, said or read about them
tilis spring.
Expect Fight from Red sox.
The Boston Red Sox I look to give
us The hardest run for our money this
year Ever since this team won the
pcnnant and the worlds series in 1912,
end then failed to repeat in 1913, a
vast majority of fans and writers
have been accustomed TO say on
that bunch played above their speed
But /, for one, do not believe they did
III they had made sensational gal
lop TO victory in the last few weeks
Of the campaign, or could show long
string of consecutive wins which put
them up in the running, then | would
he. apt to agree with the general opin-
cannot, Any team that asserted itself
so early in the season as the Red
Sox did In l9l2-the fore part of june
If my memory serves me rght-and
played as consistent ball all through
the season as this combination of
players did, deserves more lasting
praise than they have received.
When one stops to consider the re-
organization in management, and the
la ftf.iGa Ia Tla resulting in fem
porary retirement from the game,
that this club experienced last season,
] say it did well to finish in the first
division. Take Joe" Woods case
alone; think what the loss of a clubs
star pitcher for a period OF three
months means.
Can you picture Washington with
nut johnson. the Athletics without
either Bender or Plank, or the Giants
minus Mathewson? Would they have
done any better than Boston did
without Smoky Joe? | will answer
for you--hardlY.
The other Red SoX pitchers natu-
rally felt the loss Of Wood, and their
work fen off to a corresponding de-
gree. For time the whole team was
urder a spell Of decentralization, but
thew finally came out of it, and on the
windup was playing bangup game
OF ball.
win Twlricrs Produce"
To me the position OF tho Red Sox
looks to be entirely up to the pitch
ers. am sure that the outfield could
not be improved upon. In spite of
the fact that Larry Gardner is not
he recognized best third baseman
n the league, you would have to
look long and wide to obtain a bette
ono. Furthermore, Hene Wagner
last year experienced one of his best
seasons at short-although he was
unfortunate i'm being injured fire.
uucntly--and still they say he is all
In. Well fortified behind the bat, it
is simply a question with the Red
Sox Of "Will the twirlers producer"
a busted thumb seems trihe, an
Insignificant thing TO put a club
down and out but stop to consider
whose thumb was busted, and what
he had done, and it seems a little
more plausible doesn't it, With the
return to form of Joe" Wood. ably
supported by Hugh Bedent, no
slouch Of a pitcher himself, and Ray
Collins. the hardest one of the bunch
for me to hit, the Red SoX will sure
IL bear watching.
or the younger lot OF Boston pitch
ers, Lefty Leonard looks awfully
good 10 me. He needed experience
and he certainly had the opportunity
IN get a world of 1t last year and /
look for him to assert himself prom
inently in the coming campaign
Mosely, splitter seems hard
worker. and viii bear watching So
will Foster, who was handicapped |
understand, by a bad knee last year
sorry to See Hall Go.
I for one. was sorry to see the pass
IL F,-4. Z ,f..s.
league ranks He was one man who
Thought, never received his Just dues
for the part he played in winning the
remnant for the Boston club in 1912
The role Of relief pitcher is no cinch
of a job the continual warming up
daily down in the corner, which is
essential, is i'm itself more trying than
Il regular turn in the box, to say
nothing of being called upon to do the
latter work as well. Charlie never
had much success in starting a game
against our club, but let him relieve
any other pitcher, particularly II the
situation was tight one, and in
variably he would have the upper
hand over us. l recall Connie Mack
saving when he was asked to waive
on Hall, Il have good mind to take
that fellow myself Just to keep him
from pitching against the Athletics y
For some reason Han certainly had
our number. and now that he ism I
against MS amy more | wish him all
the luck in the world.
In closing. I would say, watch The
Red SuN You can lgt chat Connie
Mack and this team viii. Any club
that could break even on the season
SORES with us last year demands rec
oxnitiou