The Washington herald., 1915-04-28

Connie Mack Admits
His Club Lacks Punch
Athletics Leader Refuses to
Predict Where Team Will
Finish This Year.
OTHER SPORTING GOSSIP

Yes is looks as II the American League
race this season would be rather close
and probably exciting. We made TINS
| possible when Eddie Collins was sold to
The Chicago White Sox. Frank Baker
| quit, and releases were handed out TO
Plank. Bender. and Coombs.'
. The foregoing statement came from
Connie Mack manager of the Athletics
whom the writer interviewed last night
Where will the Athletics finish this
season." Mack vas asked.
It's pretty hard to tell right now. We
have been playing fairly good ball. but
somehow or other the punch seems to be
lacking. and you know We always had the
punch he replied
"Today's game" continued the tacIturn
| leader. was a good one. good one for
us. I mean. because Shawkey really
pitched fine hall. and with one exception
We have had poor pitching since the sea-
son opened.
Without Baker and Collins my club
does not look so bad. | expect them to
win a lot of hall games for me. but
really 1t is too early for ME to venture
a prediction as 10 where We will finish.
Referring to J. Franklin Baker. the
great sluGger. Manager Mack stated
that he he'd been misquoted and inter
viewed so often that he had about made
up his mind not to discuss the sub
Ject again.
Mr.. Mack did say that so far as he
was concerned Baker would not play
with the Athletics this season unless
the player himself agreed to come back
and work under the terms of a con-
to run.
What are you going to do for a
third baseman?" Mack was asked.
I've just got to keep on trying to
find one. that's all. or course ii will
be hard to fill Bakers shoes. but I am
going TO get one somewhere"
In discussing the American League
race Connie Mack paid the New York
club a high compliment. saying:
''Donovan has those fellows hustling
for him-they are playing good ball
and winning games"
Detroit. Boston. and Chicago are
clubs that Mack has placed on his
dangerous list and he is magnanimous
enough to admit that Griff also has a
chance TO grab off the coveted flag
For the second game OF the Athletic
series here this afternoon Walter John
son is slated to pitch. and he will prob
ably he opposed by Welden Wyckon. the
clever Highlander of the Mack corps.
Last year Johnson found the Mackmen
mighty tough club to heat. but II he is
right today. the Athletics as now con-
stituted will probably find Walter pretty
tough customer.
d., .;.,,, L..
+e.rs ~ io,. 70 ,ha .,as 30 Han.enr
Griffith. for Morgan until yesterday had
been a big disappointment.
1T looks as if Ray had finally started
compent fron, +b. oIa Eox ,t,or ~.
rama e'
....
Danny Noe,Ier wbo struck ont or tbres
sena occasions yast.rday sho,,ld not
he blamed for the reason that ba has
been on tho bench for nearly week
and had little onportunitv for nrac,ice
Danny will probabIy do better ,odav
..s
Bert GaIIia won his second game ~ the
Jason Yesterday. and even the Athletics
admitted last night that GaIIia was
II looks ss If Grim wac cr.zv Oise
fox when he sent Gallia TO Kansas CITY
last summer for experience and then
recalled him when the American A.so-
citation season was over.
The Athletics looked decidedly queer
terday, when Mack's Young men appeared
all decked out in uniforms of the latest
style. Gone is the snuff-colored toy
gerry and those old fashioned caps.
Chick Gandil, the Nationals first base
man. is the only player who can throw
his knee out of Joint and then resume
play the same afternoon. Gandn ran
after a foul in the sixth inning of Mon
he reached the front of the grand stand
near the Yankees bench. he stepped in
a hole and fell TO the ground. His knee
Martin said, and Umpire Evans called
time Martin and several Washington
players tugged at GandiTs leg while he
writhed in agony. After five minutes
had elapsed the knee was pulled back