Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-25
PHILLIES BLOW?
WELL, SCARCELY,
AYERS c. MACK
Manager of Athletics De-
clares Moran Has
Great Club
STRAIN ON CONTENDERS

Don't worry about the Phillies crack
ing. They will not crack. and there
never was a chance of them cracking
after the series with the Giants" This
is what Manager Mack of the Athletics,
thinks of the dope that is being handed
out that the Phillies are likely TO crack
before the worlds series.
THE New York series was the critical
point in the race for the Philles, l
think" continued Mack. After they
get back two of the three games they
lost in Brooklyn was certain they would
win the pennant. because the strain i'm
mediately changed owners.
"Wnen a team can go into the last
month of the race with a three or four
game lead have always found that the
strain is on the teams that are trying to
come from behind. 1t does not matter
whether II has been making the pace for
the entire season when the race reaches
that stage. The possession of the lead
is half the battle in the last month of
the season.
'It is a difficult thing for any man or
body of men to keep their confidence and
fighting spirit at the proper pitch when
there is a team Just ahead that refuses TO
lose. The Phillies showed in the New
York series that their nerve was not
gone. and with great pitchers, there was
no chance for the rest of the team to
crack after that.
Just try coming from behind in any
thing, and you will see how hard II is
when there is only a certain length OF
time left. The Braves came from behind,
but they were chasing a team that was
slipping fast, and even at that doubt
very much II the Braves would have
passed the Giants II McGraw had been
able to keep his team I'm front until the
middle of September.
"A club that is pursuing another in the
final stretch of a pennant race Is under
a greater strain than the leader. because
tho men have more to think about and
they invariably worry more. The leader
is thinking only OF the game at hand and
knows that the loss OF one game does
not mean so much to hom as II does to
the team that is trying to pick up game
each day,
with but few exceptions / have not
seen a really good ball team overhauled
this late in the race nor have j seen
team crack before the worlds series be-
cause of the hard race. The team or
teams that are after the leaders in
variably give up suddenly. As they see
the season drawing to close with the
leader playing with great consistency.
they get the idea that the leader will
never lose and finally say: What's the
use they won't stop"
''Teams In this position also have the
tendency TO crab toe much because the
other teams are not coming to their aid.
and that hurts them. / know the Phillies
have a good ball team. and good ball
teams do not crack In a pinch, particu-
larly when they have great pitching.
''rhe strain is on the Braves and
Dodgers and has been for some time.
and they are likely 10 give up the chase
any day now. That forlorn hope OF the
last two series Is fine TO figure on paper.
but when those series come / think you
will find that the Phillies will more than
hold their end up II Is a fine team and
has been handled in wonderful manner.
OF course / have not been able 20 see
them, but ! follow them pretty closely
nevertheless and know what they are
capable Of
About the worlds serles2 Well, pre-
fer not to talk about that. Z ain an
American Lacquer. manager and
magnate, and that naturally counts some;
but i want to say also that J am a
Philadelpblan. 1 have been for Is years
and always expect 10 be Philadelphian.
and / want TO see the city get everything
II can. The Phillies are a great team
and they are playing a great team. II
they win the city should be proud OF
good. clean club that Is credit TO the
game. and I'll tell you that Connie Mack
VIII be proud OF them too"