Norwich bulletin., 1916-03-27
MAcK's YOUNGSTERS MAY
SPRING SURPRISE
Feels He Has Enough Veterans to
Serve as Foundation for 1916.


Don't consign my team to last
place" is the advice of Connie Mack.
Just because the main portion of IL
will be composed of youngsters doesn't
mean that the 1916 Athletics viii be
easy to beat. I've got enough voter
ans to serve as the foundation for my
new machine and among my new boys
are some rafting good players to re-
place the missing parts. So, watch
us closely this season. We may spring
a surprise"
Connie. however is almost alone in
his belief that the Athletics will finish
better than seventh or eighth. The
consensus Of opinion is that the out
fit he will head in 1916 will be too
green" TO make any real showing.
Looking over the roster Of the Ath-
letics reveals many unknowns. In
keeping with his policy Of other years.
Connie hasn't purchased the high
priced talent from the minors. In
stead, he has gone out into the high
ways and byways and picked up
youths from sand lots and college dia-
monds.
The pitching department will be the
weakest. Its makeup for regular
working purposes is uncertain Just
now, but the tip-off is that the follow
inc five will carry the brunt of the Ath-
leTic defensive burden:
Joe Bush, a good pitcher. but not a
sensational performer.
Wycoff. who is improving right along.
-sressler, young and erratic.
Majors, who has much to learn be-
fore be can become a star.
Meyers, Whs owns a good arm, but
still is subject to nervousness
Connie has a flock Of other pitching
youngsters, but none have shown signs
so far of pushing any of the above
Quintette out of regular turns on the
mound.
S,,L.,,,,- lii l. 49,, hill - - -,
stopping. with McAvoy and Perkins, a
younESter, as first aids to tho injured.
If the Athletics had great pitching
staff, 1t might carry along the patched
up inield and the only ordinary out
field. or, If the outfield and the infield
were powerful, both Extensively and de-
fensively, they might sweep the pitch
ing staff through to victory. But there
is too much weakness in every depart
ment of the Mackian machine for even
the staunchest Athletic rOOters to con-
cede it better than seventh place in
the 1915 fracas.
i am confident that out of my
present lot of youngsters 1 can de-
velop a few real stars" assets Con-
ME. Maybe he can. He's a genius
in that way. But the chances are
that the development won't reach its
rim 1917 or 1918 before the AthlC &c
team shall become n feared one.
The Macllian outfield of 1916 viii
be quite veteranish, with Strunk in
right, OldrinE in center and Walsh in
left. Oldring has been fading and
isn't as good as he was in the bygont
days, but Connie feels that he Is far
better than any of the youngsters
picked up since last season. Walsh
Gliding and Strunk are good fielders
but their batting eyes seem dim.
MCInnis will be on first, with the
aged LajOie on second. Shortstop and
third base, however, are Mack's bis
problems. He has a bunch of Candi-
dates for the position. but none OF
them have shown anything marcel.
bus. Crane, however, has the call fol
the shOrtstopping job, with Healy and
Ritter leading The others slightly IN
the bttle for the honor of being reg.
ular third baseman. Malone, who
was with the Athletics last year. viii
continue as Lajoie's understudy.