South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-03-30
WE WON 7 FINISH
LAST, SAYS MACK
Leader of Athletics Confident
His Team Will Not Trail
This Season.
International News Service


NEW YORK. March 3O.-"Don't
consign my team 20 last place" is
the advice OF Connie Mack Just
because the main portion OF it will
be composed OF youngsters doesn't
mean that the 1916 Athletics will be
easy to beat I've got enough vet
Grams 10 serve as the foundation for
my new machine and among my
new boys are some rafting good
players 10 replace 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
outfit he will lead in 1915 will be
TOO green 10 make any real show
ing. Looking over the roster Of the
Athletics. reveals many unknowns
In keeping with his policy Of other
years Connie hasn't purchased any
high priced talent from the minors
Instead. he has gone out into the
highways and byways and picked up
youths from sand lots and college
diamonds
Faith I'm Youngsters.
81 am confident that out OF my
present lot OF youngsters / can de
velop a few real stars" asserts Con-
ME Maybe he can. but the chances
are that the development WON'T
reach its crest this year-that il will
be along in 1917 or 1918 before the
Athletic team shall become a feared
one.
Mack's outfeld OF 1916 will be vet
Grams. with Strunk In right. OIdring
in center and Walsh in left Old
ring has been fading and isn't as
good as he was in the bygone days
bat Connie feels that he is far bet
ter than any Of the youngsters pick
ed up since last season. Walsh. Old
ring 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 Macks
big problems. He has a bunch Of
candidates for the positions. but
none Of them have shown anything
marvellous. Crane. however. has the
call for the shortstopping job, with
Healy and Ritter leading the Others
slightly in the battle for the honor
OF being the regular third baseman.
Malone. who was with the Athletics
last year. will continue as Lajoie's
understudy.
Pitchers Are Weak.
The pitching department will he
the weakest It's makeup for reg
ular working purposes is uncertain
Just now. but the tipoff is that the
following five will carry the brunt
OF the Athletic defensive burden.
Joe Bush, a good pitcher. but not
sensational performer: Wycoff. who
is improving right along. Brces.er.
young and errauc; Majors, Who has
much TO learn before he can become
a star; Meyers who owns n good
arm. but still is subject 10 nervous
ness.
Connie has a flock Of other pitch
ing youngsters. but none has shown
signs so far of pushing any of the
above quintet out of regular turns
on the mound. Schang will do the
bulk of the backstopping. with Nc
Avoy and Perkins. a youngster. as
first aids 10 the injured.
If the Athletics had a great pitch
ing staff II might carry along the
patched-up indeld and the only or
binary outdeld. or. If the outfeld
and the inheld were powerful both
ehensively and defensively. they
might sweep the pitching staff
through 10 victory But there is too
much weakness in every depart
ment OF the machine for even the
stauncheSt Athletic rooters 10 con-
eede IL better than seventh place i'm
the 1916 fracas.