Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-08
MATTY MAKES BIG
LEAGUE DEBUT AS
PILOT HERE TODAY
Veteran Twirler of Giants
Opens Five-Game Series
With Phils
HANDLES PITCHERS WELL
BY CHANDLER D. RICHTER

Chrsty Mathewson, for 16 years one OF
the greatest pitchers in baseball, will make
his local debut as a major league manager
this afternoon. when the Phillles and Reds
open ., five-game series II Is likely that
large crowd will turn out to welcome
Mathewson despite the fact that the Reds
appear to be playing poorer ball than at
any time this season. Matty always mas
been local idol. even though nothing
pleased the fans more than to see him
driven from the mound when he was hurl-
ing for the Giants and he will be given a
warm welcome
Matty probably now realizes better than
any one else what an enormous task It is
to make the Reds win games. The famous
hurler Is starting Just as Herzog did
and Is trying to get work out of his team
mates by kindness, but no doubt he will
soon realize that the only way he can hope
for success in Cincinnati is to clean house
and build from the ground up.
The Reds as they are lined up Mt the pres
ent time are a powerful combination on
paper. the team being particularly strong
in pitchers, IL they are handled properly
but the lack Of harmony and the general
lack of spirit among the players make re-
building necessary.
Matty has been handling the pitching
STAFF better than Herzog did. and the hurl.
ers already are showing the benefit of his
coaching, but as Grant Rice would say,
Observation-Disclosures When Mat
~ took the team the Reds had won 36 and
lost 81 games. Today they have 80 vic.
tories and 65 defeats, which shows that
the team is going back instead of improv.
ing.
Losing Steadily
Out Of the IA games played under
Mathewson the Reds have won only three,
though several extra inning defeats, in
which the breaks were against the Reds, are
included In this list
Matty admits that he cannot under
| stand the failure of the Reds to win, but
claims that he is we'll satisfied with the
progress made. The veteran hurler was
wise enough to insist upon three-year
contract, and he can we'll afford to expert
ment for the balance of the season. Next
spring he probably will start rebuilding.
and until the 1917 season is half over
Matty's ability as manager should not
be judged by looking at the percentage
column.
Sumping teams have n habit of coming to
life just when the Phillies are looking for
an easy series, and Manager Moran has
warned his men that they must play bet
ter ball than they did against St. Louis
II they hope to take the series.
Five games will be played with the Reds
in four days and the Phils must win four
or the series will not be a success Brook
lyn took five out of six from the Reds,
while the Braves won six out of seven, in
cluding three shutouts. AS the Philly
pitchers have been showing splendid form
and the Reds are in a batting slump, the
champions have a great chance to gain on
the Dodgers
Although the Reds are at the bottom of
| the ladder in the National League, the pres
| ent series will be a most important one for
| the Phils Brooklyn is certain to have
| trouble with the Cubs, judging by the way
| Tinker's pitchers are performing, and 1t
behooves the Phils to make hay while the