New Britain herald., 1916-05-01
PHILS ND LONGER
 CONSIDERED A JOKE
When They Led League Just One
 Year Ago No One Worried

i
 the Phillies led the National League race much as they do today, but didn't command much attention. Pat Mo- ran was an experiment as manager
 His club was considered more or less as a misfit aggregation of castoffs from rival teams. The wise ones were inclined to laugh at the squirt of the Quakers. They had seen other Phil adelphia National League clubs spreadeagle the field the first few weeks, only to drop back in the rucG
 by the first of July
 But there are seven club mana gers of the National League who arc not grinning this morning at the standing of the Phillies. All of Moran's iea'- ous rivals see growing menace in the continued winning consistency of the National League champions. Pats clan has outgrown it's joke days. It won Q pennant in 1915 by gettinr the jump on the field in the first ten games played. After that time both Boston and Brooklyn won as great a percentage of victories as did Phil adelphia. But neither was able to Whittle down the lead. Both in t1r,1 got within a, game Or two of the pace- makers, but neither was able to r~ad the leaders Philadelphia absolutely refused to crack under the strain
 The Philadelphia club of 1918 is performing much after the fashion of It's predecessor. Supposedly the strength of Tener's circuit lies in the East. Philadelphia has played ten games with Eastern rivals and has won seven times. It has beaten New York four out of five, Boston three ctr iuJ,t games played with Brooklyn
 Philadelphia, therefore, stands just about where it did al the same stage of the race one year ago. The Phil lies are in better condition to repel a serious challenge than they were one year ago. The club has been welded into one harmonious whole by one full summer of pennant success. Then. too, Moran has been able since las. fall to supplement the secondary strength of his Quakers and add to the general speed of his ensemb ble-de- partments in which he was somewhat shy twelvemonth ago.
 Wilbur Good and Claude Cooper both exceptionally fast afield and on the paths and hitters of at least aver age ability, are in reserve to plug any vacancy that may crop up in the picket line. Either would be at home in a Gavvy Cravath's territory. GavvN a slow man, has not hit up to his reputation so far. He has to hit above 300 to be of real service to lis fellows:
 Moran's infield, lined up as in 1915. seems vastly improved. Milton Stock and Bancroft (the latter last seasons sensation of the infelders) have had the experience necessary to develop them to their best worth Niehoff a rather mediocre second baseman in Cincinnati, developed quickly under Moran last season. He is improving stead dily. Llderus, a somewhat poll derous fellow, he is, nevertheless, a plugger and a slugger and a mighty valua ble asset as a first basenan. Wherefore, on the whole, the infield and outf1eld of the champion Phillies must be considered improved might ily. It remains to be seen whether the conceded improvement of rival clubs outmeasures that of the cham pions.
 Bill Killifer mainstay behind the bat in the pennant fight of the Quakers, is reported to be recovering fast from a shoulder injury that in ca pacitated him just prior to the last worlds series. This unfortunate ac- cdent to- Killifer discovered another crackajack catcher in the Moran camp. Eddie Burns, who has done all the heavy work behind the bat since Killifer was hurt, has shown sterling worth in all his games this year. Killifer is perhaps a better hit ter and a faster man. But so long as Burns is able to appear regularly Bills absence will not prove of vital conse- quence. If he comes round all right Killifer will add a new note to Phil adelphia's tone of confidence. But he is not indispensable, as he was this time last year.
 Alexander the Great has shown that he is to be reckoned with as l much as in 1915. The best pitcher in the National League was overworked through the drive of last summer. He seems to have recovered from the strain. It is not likely that Moran will have to call upon his big ace so frequently this year. Al Demaree, l George McQuillan, Chalmers and | Rixey are all veterans capable of talk ing a regular turn. Then there is l Chief Bender to be counted upon later. l
 PIRATES READY TO START
 The Pirates of this city vii open 1 the season with the Outing A c |