Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-03
Lack of Cohesion Re-
sponsible for Failure
of the Team Last
Year
BY CHANDLER D. RICHTER

NTHEN the Chicago White SoX got of
w TO flying start last season. fans
throughout the country expected Row
lands team to make a runaway race out
of the American League campaign The
team was hitting at terrific rate, the
pitchers were going good and complete
harmony appeared to prevail On its
first swing around the circuit the White
sox looked so good that the opinion was
unanimous that the next pennant would
fly In Chicago
with lead of five full games going
into June the White Sox suddenly went
completely to pieces Game after game
was lost and before it recovered from the
slump the team was in third place and
never got started on another winning
streak. At the close of the season the
Sox did not look much better than the
second division teams although they fin
ished third
Manager Rowland was accused of ruin
ing the pitching staff. He was voted a
failure as a manager 1t also was re-
ported that there was friction i'm the
ranks and that either Eddie Collins or
Frank Isbell would pilot the team this
season. Owner Comskey quickly dis
PEELED this rumor by appointing Rowland
Hdlldbtl lbI uIlDlutT year ana DN ISSUING
statement eXonerating the new leader
from all blame for the failure of the
team to win the pennant.
At the recent meeting of the American
League, Rowland explained to the writer
just why the SoX went to pieces, and his
explanation Is plausible. He was making
no attempt to alib himself, or he would
have explained in Chicago last fall for the
benefit of the fans.
Rowland Explains
I'VE went to pieces last season because
we got such good start and were going
too good early in the season. Early in
the year we were hitting hard and did
not need a lot of inside stuff to win, but
when we struck our batting slump and
were playing close games we were shy
teamwork Perhaps 1t was my fault, but
attribute it to the fact that the players
on my club were stars who had come from
so many different teams and were used
to so many different styles that it was
impossible for them to quickly fall into
new system.
I'VE might have perfected our team
work by mdseason If we had not gotten
off to such good start. When n team
Is hitting and scoring a lot of runs 1t
seems foolhardy for a manager to expert
ment with various styles of play That
is the position I was in. At the close of
the season we were just finding ourselves
and playing the kind of ball that does not
make heavy hitting imperative, though we
did not look so good Unless l miss my
guess, we will start right where we left
off last fall, and the SoX will not go to
pieces the first time they strike q batting
slump"
Rowland is not claiming the pennant for
the SoX, but declares he can see no team
in the American League which looks as
l. l. ,11
he will not have to make any explanation
next fall.
The sudden collapse of the outfeld and
Blackburne's failure to live up to eXpecta-
tions at third base were other causes of
the slump last season. Rowland believes
that he will not be troubled with weak
ness in these positions this season. The
addition of Joe Jackson and Eddie Murphy
has solved the outfield problem, while two
and veteran will try to plug the
gap at third.
Pitchers Were Good
For years the White Sox pitching staff
has been rated as one of the best in the
If its veterans do not start to
go back this spring it should t. even
stronger, as the addition of Williams, the
Salt Lake wonder, and Dave Danforth,
the strike-out king, from Louisville, and
the further development of Urban Faber
and Mel Wolfgang, will bolster up this
department.
Scott and Benz are veterans, who could
be depended upon to win at least 60 per
cent. of their games in the past and, as
neither has reached the age where they
should be going back, it is likely both will
star again. RUSSELL the Texas southpaw,
who was of little value to Rowland last
season, is due for a great year. If he
don't start off we'll he will be released, as
Rowland has lost patience with him.
Russell should weigh about 1856 pounds
In perfect condition, but last spring re-
ported for spring training weighing 225
pounds. He found 1t impossible to get
down to his normal weight, much less be
in shape to pitch Had Russell been in
shape he might have carried the team
over the slump. He is a great pitcher
and an Iron man." and his absence was
felt
There Is a chance that Ed Walsh may
be of some use to Rowland this season.
The veteran can hardly be expected TO
lake his regular turn on the mound, but
mis- experience and knowledge of batsmen
may prove of great value for relief pitch
Ing and to help out when the double
headers come thick and fast.
SchaIk a Marvel
With the wonderful Ray Schalk TO do
practically all the catching, the White
Sox have a decided edge on any team
IN the league in this department. II
schalk can keep free of injuries, the
pitchers are not likely to go to pieces
with this brilliant youngster behind the
bat.
Mayer, the second catcher, is capable
receiver in every way and above the
average. He gets little chance to work
with Schalk on the same team, but is a
handy man to have around. The sale of
Daily leaves the third position open, with
hree recruits fighting for the place.
The miserable fielding of the heavy hit
ing Fourier caused Manager Rowland
o purchase Jack Ness, the Oakland first
Daseman, who broke the worlds record
'or consecutive hitting last season Ness
played great ball in the Pacific Coast
league, and is a better fielder than Four
ler, but II is doubtful II he will be able |
o hit American League pitching Four
lier may improve in fielding, but, IL he
should fail, he will be more valuable than
Ness unless the latter can hit better than
ne did in his last trial In the American
League.
The peerless Eddie Collins, king of sec
md basemen, will be at his old position, |
and will captain the team. Eddie had a |
great season in a team which was shot |
o pieces after the middle of June and he |
should be even better this year, as team
play, which Is his forte, will be developed |