Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-05-28
ATHLETICS STILL FLAG
CONTENDERS, DECLARES
OPTIMISTIC MIR. MACK
If Pitchers Come Through
in Next Two Weeks All
Will Be Well, Says Lean
Leader of the White Ele-
phants.

Although the Athletics had a most dis
sstrous western trip and are at the
r,ssent time at the bottom of the ladder
in the American League race. Manager
Mack declared today, upon alightlng
from the train from Cleveland, that the
Athletics are still in the pennant race,
rrovidlng the pitchers show return TO
form within the next 10 days.
Mack says that the fate of the cham
plons will he known within two weeks.
n the pitchers fail him, he does not eX-
rect 10 finish very far UP in the American
league race, but II they come through
a. he -expects, the Athletics will be In
the remnant race to the finish. This
statement from Mack coming at this time
"a good news to followers of the Ath-
istics. as It was generally believed here
that the Mackmen were doomed to a sec
ond division berth.
1T was not a very good trip said
connle. But 1t was u most pleasing one
10 me in more ways than one. The WORK
Of the pitching staff was most dlsappomt-
ing but the rest of the team exceeded
nv fondest expectations. Had the pitchers
beld lp their end we would now be right
lin at the top of the ladder. We scored
enough runs to have won 10 of the games
played in the West had our pitchers done
MS / expected
'The pitchers have everything but con-
troll, and while l am sure they will show
from now on, will not say absolutely
Just what our chances are. ] will say
that I expect to know within 10 days
whether my pitchers are going to hold
us up. II the pitchers come through with
in two weeks time, we are in the pen
nant race to the finish.
"There is no reason for the poor show
Ing of the young, but rather experienced
staff of pitchers / have, and 1 think morn
ing practice will give them the control
they need. The poor control has been
largely responsible for most of the base
hits our opponents have made, as the
pitchers were constantly in a hole and
forced to groove balls for batsmen who
should have been easy. e.
HThe rest of the team looked great.
The work of Lajoie was really wonderful,
and all over the circuit they cheered him
wildly for some of his sensational plays.
Before he left for the West he was hav-
Ing trouble getting them safe, but the
way he hit on the road assures me that
l never made a better move than when
! brought Larry back to this city.
Injuries have failed to slow UP the
team. The absence of McInnis naturally
hurt our batting. but Strunk filled in
finely and so did -Iapp. My team as II
stands is good enough to win any pennant
II the pitchers come through. OF course,
we are quite a ways back, but / will
refuse to admit that we won't be back
with the leaders in time If the pitchers
come through
Z 'The White Sox looked mighty good to
me. and so did the Tigers, but / doubt IL
the latter team will hold up there long, as
its pitching starr seems to be weakening.
Clark Griffith is quoted as saying that
Eddie Collins is slipping, but don't you
believe 1t. Eddie Collins is still the great
est player in the country today and has
strengthened the White SoX considerably.
He has been in a batting slump but he
often has them. He will not stay in the |
slump long, however.
"Am l surprised at Jack Coombs' work |
with the Dodgers? No, 1 am not sur |
prlsed and / am glad to see MIN going |
50 good. l told several American League |
managers that he would come back, but |
they passed him up. He would be val
liable addition to the league, but l am
not going to miss him or any one else as
soon as my pitchers hit their stride.
Watch them when they do. They have
me so far, but they will
come through"
The rest of the team feels very much
as Mack does. The pitchers are natur-
ally peeved at themselves but they say
that they will work their heads off in |
the next few weeks and more than make
up for the poor work to date. "Stuffy"
McInnis expects to be back in the game
today or tomorrow.