Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1915-01-08
CONNIE MACK s TEAM.
needs NO SYMPATHY
Athletics Better Fixed Than
Many Other Ball
Clubs
NO DEAD WOOD y
TO BE WELDED OUT

Connie Mack is receiving more SYM |
pathy from the fans throughout the |
country and needs less than any other
manager in the big leagues. Follow
ers Of baseball everywhere lament the
fact that the Athletics will be under a
terrible handicap" because of the alb
sence of Eddie Collins, Eddie Plank.
Jack Coombs, and Chief Bender. Of
course they will be missed. But what
about Harry Davis, Ira Thomas, STUFF
fly McInnis, Jack Barry Frank Baker,
Rube Oldring, Bressler, Shawkey,
Schang and several Others? Are they
not names TO coniure with?
Even without the quartet of stars
with whom Mack parted during the
present winter, the Athletics arc bet
/ ter off than most other teams in the
Ban Johnson circuit. Mack should
worry because he has a hole at second
/ base and has lost three pitchers OF re
nown. Who but Mack could have lost
/ four stars and still have a team re-
naming? Surely no other club in the
league. Mack can get along without
Collins. Plank Bender and CoOmbs
better than Detroit could dispense
with the services of Cobb. Why? Be
cause Detroit shines when Cobb
shines and the Athletics take turns in
turning on the scintillating rays of
light There is not a corner or angle
of the Philadelphia American infield
or outfield that does not spell cham
pion.
Another thing that should result In
plenty of peaceful nights for Manager
Mack is that his veterans" are
youngsters. Mack Is not burdened
with dead wood that must be weeded
out this coming spring. Neither has
he been for long time. That is one
place the great leader has had the
bulge on his opponents each year.
Mack eliminates the candidates for re-
tirement before they become candi-
dates, so to speak. He had plenty of
stellar material left and the team that
wins the American League pennant
this year, will have the Philadelphians
as stumbling block.
Another thing. If Mack does not
win the pennant this year there are
many who will say that the absence OF
Collins, Bender, Plank and COombs
was the cause. Maybe so. But. on the
other hand. is it not possible that
Mack may be content TO finish in the
first division this year in order to ex-
pertinent with young blood and build
up a world beater for 1916, which ev-
cry fan admits will likely be a much
better season financially than the past
or than that to come this year? Mack
has always been the best of advertis-
ers. He realizes the value of publicity
= and advertisement and if he can DIG
j. up only one star like Eddie Collins
for instance, and win a pennant, il
2 may mean a world championship the
following season. In the meantime hC
sets the tongues of the fans the coun-
try over to wagging and the sheckels
I pour in just the same.
i Philadelphia has tired Of a team
n that cannot be beat The lowly Phil
lies outdrew the Athletics by hun
n dreds a week during the season close,
last October. In the words of one Phil
l. adelphia rOoter il was a case of go Il
Shibe park and see the MackmeR NAL
Il treat three or four pitchers in terrible
fashion and make their opponentl
n look foolish. or else witness a pitch
ers' battle with maybe one or two hit
iAA Ntbhbht the Hahlt anu nNbIt y
one or two to nothing. On the othe
e hand, those who went to see DOOM
Il men play were assured of either
3 bang-up exhibition of scientific base
ball or a regular old-time sluggin
'e match, with about two dozen runs an,
is twice as many hits divided between
s. the two teams.
IS But Mack will come back. Leave
a.. IN
In lost prestige the Athletics have suffer
l. ed. Few know the tricks of the gam
like Cornelius the Lanky and non
X better how TO use them. The fans ma
in just as we'll save their sympathy O
II. deposit it upon the Feds or the Yankl
Id because there is none needed in Tn
is vicinity Of Shibe park. Philadelphia
u. S. A.