Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-11
LUCK OF PHTLLIES
HAS CHANGED FOR
BEST, SAYS MORAN
Mayors Victory Over Toney
Called First Break of
the Season
BROOKLYN FARES WELL
By CHANDLER d. RICHTER

Manager Pat Moran, of the Phillles,
| Is convinced that the luck Of the cham
| pions has turned. Moran contends that
| the breaks have been going against the
| Phillies throughout the season, but he
| has never complained nor alibied de-
| feat by blaming II on poor luck but he is
| willing to admit that he got a good break
| yesterday, when Erkslne Mayer pitched n
surprising game against the Reds and won
pitching duel from Fred Toney.
While Moran insists that the victory was
| due largely to the break of luck going to
the Phils, no doubt he overlooks the fact
that he surely Is due some credit for his
shrewdness in picking the proper pitcher
Moran declares that he had no Intention
of using Mayer on the mound until George
Chalmers had warmed UP in poor style
ut was the first good break we have had
all the year" declared Moran after the
game. I'm the first place we were lucky to
win against the pitching served by Fred
Toney, and in the second It was largely
matter of luck that 1 picked Mayer TO
pitch Mayer pitched a grand game and IL
required shut-out hurlins to win. That is
why figure we got lucky break
II had no intention of using MRyer yes
terday, but after I watched Chalmers
warm UP felt that he was not right and
could not beat Tonoy. Mayer had been
showing lot Of stun in practice for the
last two weeks, so I thought that today
was as good a time as any TO see whether
he was going to be Of any use to me this
season.
Mayer Needed
1--WE have needed Mayer in his 1915
form, and 1 decided to give him a chance
to come back. He did, and think that the
victory is likely to start him OF on WIN
ming streak. Several times he was saved
by great fielding, and the victory was what
he needed. There has been nothing wrong
hos ha hn
strangely lacking in confidence. due no
doubt to the number Of reverses he has met
ut was pretty nearly time we got
break. Look at the way things have been
breaking for Brooklyn. Understand. don't
want to take any credit away from Robin
son and his team because they are lead
ing on their merits; but 1 never saw n
team getting better breaks l thought we
got some good breaks last season, but they
were nothing compared to the luck Brook
lyn has had this season.
Take the present week for example, Jake
Daubert, the most valuable man In Robby's
lineup, was hurt, and needed at least four
days OF rest to bring him around. Four
days is long stretch at this stage. and II
Is possible, and, in fact, likely that the
Dodgers would run into n slump without
Daubert but the rain kindly interfered. and
Brooklyn has played only one game since.
That was one break and then they had
another right on top of It. Pfefrer was
batted out Of the box last Saturday and two
other pitchers have shown signs of crack
ing, but the rain again saved Robby. PfefIer
has pitched only two innings all week, and
the rest will bring him back. These are
only a few OF the breaks that the Dodgers
have gotten. They have been getting them
all year. but think the lane has turned.
Anyway, you can count on the Phillles
strong, and 1t Is anybody's pennant."
Moran May Be Wrong
It iB refreshing to meet a manager who
will admit that he won a lucky game. The
majority OF them win always because of
some piece of strategy they have pulled
and seldom give the other fellow any credit
But as to Brooklyn getting the breaks this
week, we cannot agree with Moran.
There is no question about the Dodgers
luck throughout the season. but we are OF
the opinion that the present week may go
a long way toward stopping the Brooklyn |
winning streak. The loss of Daubert would |
have weakened Brooklyn but the rest OF |
the team and the pitchers have been going |
at such a terrific clip that they probably |
would have continued TO win without the |
brilliant first baseman.
1t Is possible that the western teams,
with which Brooklyn will have many
in the closing weeks OF the
season, will be trying out recruits. but that
is hardly likely. The western teams hardly
deserve censure for trying to strengthen
but President Tener should insist that they
put their full strength in the field against
the three pennant contenders during the
last month OF the season.
The rest Brooklyn has had is likely TO
throw the team of its stride, II onlyafor
few days; and they cannot afford to lose
any ground or be in poor shape at this
stage. The Dodgers surely will not be
right to battle against the Braves. even
though Pfefter may profit by the rest
II must be discouraging for pitcher to
lurl two successive losing games, such as
Nred Toney did against the Braves and
'hillies, only to lose because his teammates
annot get him a run. Toney held the
Braves to two hits on Monday, but lost,
o o, while yesterday the big fellow allowed
he Phillies three safeties. one OF which
vas a scratch but the result was the same
In 1915 Toney pitched the same brand
4 ball throughout the season and the ma
ority of his victories were low-score games
ut he was getting better breaks and the ,
seda were batting harder Losing games
Ike the last pair Toney has dropped goes
long way toward starting veteran on
he decline.