El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-24
TEw YORK. March

NJ con.ts eo& my ,. @a'' to last as.u pI Do c :
is the advice of Connie Mack.
Just because the main portion of it
viii be composed of youngsters doesn't
mean that the 1916 Athletics Will be
easy to beat. I've got enough veterans
TO serve as the foundation for my new
machine n among my new boys are
some rafting good players to replace
the missing parts So watch us closely
this season. We may spring a surprise
Connie, however. is almost alone in
his belief hat the Athletics viii finish
better han seventh or eighth. The con-
sensus of opinion is that the outfit he
viii head in 1916 viii be too green to
make any real showing.
Looking over the roster Of the Ath-
letics reveals many unknOwns. In keep
ing with his policy Of other years. Con-
ME hasn't purchased the high priced
talent from the minors. Instead. he has
gone out and picked up youths from
sand lots and college diamonds.
Too Early for Stars to Rise.
Il am confident that out OF my pres
ent lot of youngsters I can develop a
few real stars" asserts Connie. Maybe
he can. He's a genius in that way. But
the chances are that the development
won't reach its crest this vear-that it
will be along in 1917 or 1918 before the
Athletic team viii become feared.
The Mackian outfield of 1916 will be
quite v%eteranish, with Strunk I'm right
Oldring In center and Walsh in left
Oldring has been fading and isn't a.
good as he was in the bvEone days. but
Connie feels that he is far better than
any of the youngsters picked up since
last season. Walsh, Oldring md Strunk
are good fielders, but their batting eyes
seem dim.
McInnIs on First.
McTnnis will be on first. with the aged
Iajoie on second. ShOrtstOp and third
base, however. are Macks big problems.
He has a bunch Of candidates for the
positions, but o Of them have shown
anything marvellous. Crane. however.
has the call for the shortstopping job,
with Healy and Ritter leading the 9TH
ers slightly in the battle for the homo
OF being the regular third baseman.
Malone. who was with the Athletics last
year. will continue as LajOie's under
study.
Pitching staff Weak.
The pitching department viii be the
weakest It's makeup for regular work
ing purposes is uncertain just now, but
the tiD-off is that the following five
will carry the brunt or the Athletic de-
fensive burden:
Joe Bush, n good pitcher. but not a
sensational performer; Wyckott, who is
improving right along: Bressler. young
and erratic; Nabors, who has much 10
learn before he can become a star Mey-
ers. who owns a good arm. but still is
subject to
Connie has a flock OF other pitching
youngsters. but non 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 back
stopping. with McAvOy and Perkins, a
youngster. as first aid to the injured.
IF the Athletics had a great pitching
staff. it might carry along the patched
infield and the only ordinary put
field. or. if the outfield and the infield
were powerful, both offensIvely and de-
fensively. they might sweep the pitch
staff through 70 victory. But there
is too much weakness i'm 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.
what VIII Rowland DO:
Clarence Rowland holds the fate OF
the 1915 White SoN in the palm Of his
They viii rise to the heights or
fall according to the way that Rowland
assemblies into n machin the wonder
full material at his disposal
II properly managed. the Sox ought
10 get away with the April leaders. hold
pace through the summer and stiu
rave enough left to swing into the Oc-
stretch at a terrific clip.
But is Rowland the proper manager
That's the big Chicago question. Row
land had a great ball team in 1915 but
the best he could do was to drive them
into a poor third. His showing last sea-
son was n distinct disappointment to
the White SoX faus-and they aren't
overly confident now.
However, ROwland's friends claim
hat his experience last year was just
The thing that he needed and that he'll
come through" in 1916 in a way that
will rank him as II of the truly great
eaders.
What He Has.
Rowland's equipment for the hattie
his year consists Of one of the great
st pitching staffs ever gathered under
me flag, a sensational backstop. the
lashiest second haseman in the game.
great outfielders and three or four
who rank high in the base
,all's Bradstreets
Benz Russell. Cicotte and Faber. who
reformed so brilliantly in the box last
will form the regular quartet
VIII be assisted. whenever Deccs-
AIRY. by four or five Of the promising
-oungstcrs SHARED from the bushes and
Ed Walsh.
The infield problem isn't settled def