The Washington times., 1916-09-03
BY WILBERT ROBINSON,
Manager Of the Brooklyn Dodgers

I'm might sorry Brooklyn was not
able to land Heinie Zimmerman from
Chicago. But now that he has been
turned loose by the Cubs, l am equally
glad he went to McGraw. lie would
have been a most dangerous factor
against us. either with the Braves or
the Phillies. provided these strong oppo-
nents Of ours had not been compelled to
weaken their clubs In other positions to
land the Bronx slugger.
zimmerman, as a Giant. may be able
to do about as much for Broklyns pen
nant cause as he could have accom-
plished In the livery of my team That
may sound strange. but listen: ! am
not trying to impugn the integrity OF
Heine at all. Ny club has seven games
remaining with the Giants. The Giants,
without Zimmerman. gave the Braves a
good, stif1 fght-a miraculous battle COM
pared to what McGraw accomplished
against Brooklyn and Philadelphia.
To date New York and Boston have
that these two clubs have eight waiting
yet to be settled. New York so far has
won Ave and lost eight In its series with
Boston. New York has copped only five
games and lost thirteen of its series
with Philadelphia. The Giants have
even dozen. Zimmerman will be In the
Giant lineup against Boston eight times
before the season ends. tie will face my
club seven times at most, and the Phil
lies no greater than three times. But
he may be able to get in some good
licks against the others at q time to
help Brooklyn most.
At any rate. I'm not worrying so
much about the Phillies as I am about
the Braves Just now, for Boston has
baseball. That Is the club, l guess. to
give us the stiffest fight. Brooklyn this
year has won quite as easily over Phila-
deiphia as 1t has over the Giants. We
have taken ten and lost four to each.
was sorry to have to part with
such Q good catcher a. Lew McCar-
thy. But there was no alternative. 1t
was case Of getting a reliable first
baseman at once after IT was appar-
ent Jake Daubert was injured more
seriously than at first believed. Me-
Carthy was catcher; he was not q
first baseman. But I think Fred Mer-
kle Will more than counterbalance
the loss OF McCarthy's trusty stick.
Are Not Discouraged.
My boys got bit discouraged over
the loss Of Daubert which was follow =
ed 80 closely by the injury to Jimmy
Johnston. They, as well as myself,
appreciated the yawing gap around
first base which Doubert had made one
of the real strong spots Of the infieId.
But / noticed just as soon as Fred
Merkle came to US. everybody in our
camp looked on life with the old op-
tisimism that has been n great factor
OF our success this year.
Fred Merkle's worth as q first base
man needs not my endorsement.
Through nine years as a Giant he has
shown what he can do. He was un-
fortunate in New York this season.
He wasn't himself. The team failed
where great things were expected OF
1t. Perhaps Of the failure Of his com
head was down. He has told me so
But he has told me, too, that he feels
altogether differently now that he
is with a club that has a chance for
the worlds series prize. No one car
question Merkle's gameness. I am con.
fident that the change will revive his
playing as doubtless II would
have revived had the Giants been
able to maintain the startling class
they displayed on their first Western
trip.
They speak OF the gsmeness OF the
Braves. No one can doubt the spirit
OF Stallings' band. But think my
own team quite the equal in its more
quiet way. Many times this season
our lead has been cut down right
with the Philiies of a year ago. the
boys have responded In time. They
have won plenty OF games for me or
nerve and grit through the closing
innings. Our belated rally OF Tuesday y
against st. Louis was worth half q
dozen ordinary victories.
Now that Merkle Is with us. do mo-
believe Boston will be able TO stoI
us. Jimmy Johnston will soon be back
and then wen be about as nicely fixed
at any time this season. jeff Pfeffel
was not At his best the last couple
Of times he started, but we have n,
occasion to worry In that quarter. H,
Will be there In the pinch, never fear
do not think Boston's pitching stafi
Will have anything on ours the res
OF the way.
Are More Determined.
My boys are more determined thar
! ever to get home still in the lead. and
| II they do this. the national commission
might as well get busy figuring on Q
schedule that involves Ebbetts Field
There Is nothing In the league any bet
ter at home than we. The fight. any
| how. centers directly among the three
most interested Eastern clubs. The las
Eastern invasion by the Western club
10 not likely to cut much figure. Tht
same against these weaker teams.
or course. this point must be consid
cred. All OF the Westerners have i'm
proved since their last call East. Also
\ tneS are unutI no StTdin, Iol tney INV
all to gain and nothing to lose. Pitts
burgh. OF late, has shown some very
great Improvement. Now that Mamau,
has been restored to grace. 1t Is likel,
to cause any OF us all the trouble W.
can stand. But Boston takes the same
risk we do. st. Louis was In the throei
of despair last time East. Huggins go
his team Strengthened out wonderful,
after he reached home. Then came thu
injury to Hornsby, and his punch wa
pulled. The Cards henceforth shoult
prove easy picking for all. But ther
you never can tell what will happen II
| this game.
| I'm perfectly satisfied with the out
look. | am sure that Boston nevel
would have crept so closely to us bu
| for the breaks Of luck-injuries to Dau
bert and Johnston-over which We hat
no control. But with the opportunity W.
had to rejoice, in getting Merkle t.
end real menace, the experienc,
should prove beneficial In the end.
hope the best club wins. for 1 am sur,
the Dodgers are best.
Copyright. 1916. by John N. Wheeler
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