Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-21
CONFIDENCE PREVAILS NOW
IN THE NOMADIC CAMP OF
PAT MORAN'S CHAMPIONS
Phillies Feared TwoGame Series With Reds More
Than Any Other Scheduled on Final
Swing Around West
BY CHANDLER D. RICHTER

PITTSBURGH, Aug 20-Absolute con.
hdence prevails in the PhIlly camp that the
National League pennant will again fly in
Philadelphia. Manager Moran succeeded in
curblng all pennant talk throughout the 1915
season and during the present campaign
until after the series just completed with
Cincinnati Now there is no stopping the
men. They insist that the team will come
back home in first place. or so close to it
that the Dodgers will be eliminated before
September is two weeks old.
The phllles feared the two.game series
with the Reds more than any scheduled for
the western INVASION the reason being that
Manager Mathewson made the boast that
he would have Pete Schneider and Fred
Toney primed to put a stop to the Philly
spurt Matty rested this pair OF great hurl-
ers and they were in better shape than at
any other time this season, but they could
not stop Moran's men.
Primed for Phils
1t appears to be the habit of rival man.
ayers to prime and nurse their star hurl-
ers for games with the Phillies. but for
the last four weeks the champions have
treated all pitchers alike. All Moran asks
of Mathewson now Is for him to prime
Toney and Schneider for the Dodgers IL
this Is done Moran feels certain that two
more BaIleS VIII bB piNhtu hp VII NAto
leaders
Since Friday week ago three games
have been gained on Brooklyn and the
champions feel certain that two more Will
be picked up this week, Moran has round
ed the pitching staff into form just In time
to start the drive. Alexander and Ri&ey
are the two leading pitchers OF the league
with the lanky southpaw showing Alex the
way by a slight margin. while Demaree
has string of five straight victories and
Mayer is back into form.
Relief pitchers are likely to be called
upon often in the closing days of the race,
and Moran declares that Chief" Bender
is now in better shape than he was at any
time during the 1914 season when he was
the leading pitcher of the American League.
The Fitchburg genius says that Bender Is
able to go the full route, but that he will
be saved exclusively for relief work.
Moranmen Speeding
The dizzy pace set by the Dodgers until
the last 10 days has caused the fans to
lose sight of the fact that the Phlllles are
moving along faster than at any time dur
ing the 1915 season Nineteen out of the
last "a games have resulted In victories
and only two pitchers have been beaten
since the winning streak started. Oddly
enough two of the games were lost by Alex
ander, who Is right now in the greatest
form OF his career.
Personally we believe that the Phillies
will win the pennant with several games to
spare. We base our belief upon the con-
ditlon of the two men upon whom the
greater part of the pitching burden will fall
during the last three weeks of the campaign,
At this time u year ago Alexander the
Great weighed exactly 175 pounds, and
already was showing the strain. At the
present time the Nebraskan tips the beam
Mt 191 pounds. When the drive starts
Alexander can stand losing 10 pounds and
will bo just as strong as he was in the
closing days Of the race last year
Rixey Gains Weight
The same is true of Rixey. The lanky |
southpaw lacked confidence and weight last |
which Is IS pounds more at any time last |
season. If it comes to pinch Alexander |
and Rixey can work every other day with |
out feeling the grind for a few weeks
Conditions are exactly the opposite In
the Brooklyn camp. While Robinson has
shown five men who have pitched consistent
ball TO date, he also must depend upon two
men in a pinch. He has two high-class
hurlers in Pfeffer and Cheney, but both
are below their normal weight and are
likely to crack at any time
When the Athletics were in Daytona
playing Brooklyn during the training sea-
son. we happened to see Pfeffer step on the
scales. He weighed exactly zoo pounds
He carried inns weight until about one
month ago and was in perfect condition
Dut now he is down to 1872, according to a
Philly player, who saw him weigh in
Brooklyn just before the western trip
started, Cheney also has lost considerable
weight and 1t is likely that Roblnson's
stars will find the going rough in the last
month";
The fans also are losing sight of the fact
hat the Dodgers were within one-half
,ame OF the Phillies on Labor Day last
'ear, but finished five games I'm the rear
I Brooklyn holds its present lead until
.abor Day, It viii be a hard task for the
'hils TO win. but we do not think they will
e leading two weeks from today
Play
The maehlne-lke play of the PhiIlies is
eginnng to assert itself. The defense has