The Washington times., 1916-08-21
Pat Moran, Of PhiIIies, Satisfied
With Teams Position in
Present Race.
BY PAT MORAN,
Manager Of the Champion Phillies.)


am satisfied with the position Of the
Phillies. I do not think that any other
club OF the National League has . bet
ter chance to win the pennant. Brook
lyn. having played SO consistently and
led the race % long. must bear ssri-
Gus confederation. But. II II comes
down to . struggle between my club
ana the present leaders. as I think It
will. Ihave no fear Of tho result.
Ny team proved itself a year ago.
Through . whole seasons drive II held
safe an advantage gained the FIRST two
weeks. Often Its lead was threatened.
ChallenGers tot as close as half game
to US. But in the pinches my boys
always responded. They stood the
strain. They did not crack as many
critics predicted they would.
Now that experience Of a year ago Is
bound to be . big help In such q close
finish as this race is likely to be. a
success. Ny PSiilies have 4 that tore CONF a.
dence; The Brooklyn club has not. Mind
you. I do not insinuate that Brooklyn
will crack. What We did last year
Robinson's plucky boys may do this
Dodgers have yet to prove their me,tie
We showed ours q year ago.
have not eliminated the Boston
braves from my calculations. This team
will put up q hard fight to the bitter
tory to buoy It up. stallings' club 10
not 80. popular among It's rivals a. 1t
might be II the players were less bois-
terous and desperate in their behavior.
o SSs Mersns n sos de saE the fact
with determination to win.
Boston 10 Prominent.
That Boston 10 30 prominent a. II 10
In the race speaks volumes for the
generalship OF stallingA do not bo-
nevs he has as great playing strength
a. one or two of the clubs In the second
division. He has kept near the top be-
cause Of phenomenal pitching. The
Braves have been one OF the lightest
hitting teams on our circuit In many
years. The outfield II pretty nearly
helpless with the bat. The season has
gone SO far now do not expect that
tho Braves will show an wonderful re-
versal of batting form. I do not be-
iisvS -, that .tS pitching alone can prevail
driving power. and pitching. too. that
sizes up quite as strongly.
Now. the strength In the National
League lies In the East. There Is little
uOuDt OF tndt. Inc ToSult8 oil
It. Wherefore. ] believe the pennant
issue will be settled 10 the remaining
contests that Eastern clubs have among
themselves. ! do not expect the present
journey Of the Eastern club. through
bearing on the relative positions of the
three leading teams.
In thi. death grspple which IL bound
to develop through September. fee
confdsnt that the Phillies viii be able
take the lead and there will be nc
Earring them loose. Boston all year hai
been the most serious obstacle In Brook
lyn's pathway Strange to say. we
c been look Hs with sops 10
next time the schedule matches us with
the Giants while the Braves ant
Dodgers are engaged. Such q ciroum
stance proved very beneficial to US Z
few days ago.
Ability Not Doubted.
I never doubted tho ability Of MI
team 10 make q strong finish. I wal
moro than ever treasured by our recen
success against the Giants. McGraw
since he secured HersoE and sallee, ha
as strong q club as that which VOL
three straight pennants for him. ! d.
not believe that either Brooklyn o
future future" a. suoScs Gee .. my team m IL
. few days ago. which means. as "
have already crossed. our bridge. witt
them for the present. . general ad
vantage TO Us In the mad summing.
Ny club should continue to play bette
must be checked II We are to clint
The remedy lies with New York an
Boston. Naturally there 10 always tn
possibility OF the unexpected. Som
lightly regarded Western club Nigh
sIIriAris a IN LIZ nl lNm dun