The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-07-29
Brooklyn Manager Says N. L.
Battle Is No Cinch for Any
One of Four Teams.
BY WILBERT ROBINSON,
Manager Of the League Leading
Brooklyn Dodgers.

This National League race Will be
no cinch for anybody. Three or four
clubs are well bunched with nearly half
the season 10 go and with each trying
desperately TO strengthen for the final
thrust.
In Il situation OF this kind. the luck
Of the game is bound to cut more or
less OF a figure. I do not mean luck as
applied by those or superstitious mind.
BY luck, I mean tie ability to keep in
tact the most powerful lineup. There
are many important stars on each OF
those clubs which have the best PROS
poets for this seasons National League
honors. The chances Of any one OF sew
cral teams might we'll be ruined by the
loss through accident of single star.
/ have great faith in my Brooklyn
team. The boys have absolute conf
dence in themselves. That is half the
battle. My Dodgers are sure. but not
over-surc We have meetings every day
in which we discuss matters, pertaining
to the success of the club. 5efore we
left on the recent Western trip. ] ad-
dressed my men In this vein
Boys, our club has never been noted
as a great road aggregation. There Is
no reason why We shouldn't play as
well away as at home. We must hold
depends rpon il. Now I shall be salts
| fled IL we get back to Ebbets Field as
well fortified in first position as we
arc on quitting II. Just maintain your
present advantage TIL we return. ana
| ! think ] can promise all or you snare
in the Worlds SerieA"
Our second trip through the West
was therefore most SATISFACTORY 10
me; We lost none Of our iead-in IsS.
| successful trip in SO far as we failed
! to win the majority of the games. But
my players did everything l asked
OF them. And that Is why l feel SO
good on the prediction pulled before
we took to the road.
Broke Old Tradition.
There were certain depressing ira
ditions that had to be broken down
before Brooklyn could possibly hope
to figure in a winning fight. Years OF
failure had got the players thinking
their club was linked. They had little
| confidence in Themselves at home and
less of 1t away. This last trip has
done them all more good than any
perience in Brooklyn.
l have every reason to believe my
club Is little stronger than any
other National League team cam. this sea s
in front lends some color TO the con-
viction. You can't go behind arith'
metic. I have a well balanced team
and a fine hitting aggregation. The
ed so far was one at short field fol
time.
| with Herzog regularly In the inield
sna s 3ose n sGssTE an hs os
side-kicks, should do, much better tbs
rest of the way. Fletcher is about ready
to do himself full justice at the shor,
neld, so Herzog viii henSeforth play
third base regularly. Charlie Is as gooc
third haseman as can be found any
where; Mac gave up a great outheldel
Rousch will prove one Of the swelles
outfielders Of the game within the mex
J two years.
1, Grants Not Far Behind.
, The Giants are not so far behind tina
they may be dropped from the calcula
tions. Personally. am as well satisfied
that they are so far In our wake, afte
accommodating Herzog and Sallee. II Il
going to be far harder for McGraw L
make up his present handicap than 1
ever has been for any National League
manager in the past to gain as mucl
ground.
most serious consideration. Fred Snod
grass Is playing up to his best standard
His comeback has offset the slump o
Sherwood Magee. Magee was seriousl!
handicapped by broken wrist early II
the campaign. He Is bound to play
far harder game over the rest OF tn,
distance.
Evers Has Gone Back.
. Johnny Evers has gone back percep
: tibly within the past two years, espe
cially In his hitting and base running
But he Is stall a grand field captain
who keeps night In his fellow-associates
, Evers, however. is no longer indispen
q sable, Stallings' club has been force
to worry along SO much this year with