The Washington herald., 1916-04-27
.MACK'S CLUB IS
NO JOKE OUTFIT
Athletics, with Kind of Pitch
ing Shown Yesterday, Will.
Give Any Team a Battle.
OTHER SPORTING GOSSIP
Harper and Bressler. Southpaw TwirI-
ers. Likely to Toe the Slab
Today-Comment.
OTHER SPORTING GOSSIP

After taking a good look at the Phil
adelphia Athletics anybody who consigns
them to the joke class this season
should have his head examined by a
specialist.
Connie Mack's prediction that his club
will not win a pennant this year can
well be believed, but this same bunch
will make it tough for lot Of teams
who are there with a fighting chance
for the flag, and in this class can be put
the Nationals.
Give the Athletics the kind OF pitching
that Bush showed yesterday afternoon
and they will win three-fourths Of their
games, for there is plenty OF offensive
strength tucked away.
The Athletics will give every club in
the American League this season a battle
second division, but watch this crowd
next year?
Connie Mack's 1916 aggregation is no
joke outfit as every fan who witnessed
yesterdays game will attest
The work OF two players on the Ath-
letics stood out prominently. Shortstop
Witt looks like a mighty fine prospect.
He is fast on his feet a fine fielder and
handles a bat as II he knew what it
was for.
Catcher Meyers, who is only a kid, han
died Joe Bush in great shape. Bush is
hard man to catch, but Meyers appar-
emily had no trouble holding his delivery.
Both Meyers and Witt will be heard
from before the season closes.
II the rain holds of today the Griffmen
and Athletics will be at each others
throats in the Florida avenue pasture.
Harry Harper is slated TO pitch for the
Nationals. while Connie Mack stated last
night that he would more than likely
work Rube Bressler, his south-paw.
While bemoaning the loss Of yester-
days game and blaming Henri Ronde u
for his share when he slipped and fell
before he could field Oldring's drive in
the eighth inning, 1t might be well to
point out the fact that with a dry dia-
mond Pitcher Bush would probably have
scored a shut-out. for the two hits cred
tied the Nationals in the seventh inning
swinging bunts from the bats of Morgan
and Moeller. would have been fielded
cleanIy IL Bush had not mussed up both
chances by sprawIing on the turf.
Charley Pick robbed Morgan Of a single
in the ninth inning by going to his right
after a vicious grounder, knocking down
the ball with one hand and getting the
runner at first base. Pick has been play
ing ball for Connie Mack this spring.
Wise old Larry, / joie made a play on
Ray Morgan in the Nationals half Of
the fifth which a younger man would
probably have booted. Morgan was on
first base when Henry grounded to La
joie. who got the ball while standing
directly in the base line. Morgan dodged
the big Frenchman, who made one stab
mtssed, and then proceeded to retire
Henry at first base. Umpire Owens called
Morgan out for running outside of the
base path, just as Lajoie figured.
Lajoie is serving his twenty-first year
in the big leagues and he is still popular
In Washington. as was shown when the
crowd cheered him upon his first ap-
pearance at bat yesterday
Joe Judge connected for a timely single
during that seventh inning batting rally
There was no fluke about Judges hit it
was a clean drive to center field
Danny Moeller fooled Amos Strunk in
the third inning by shooting the ball
after Strunk has singled to Joe Judge
at first base instead Of making the
customary heave to second. From the
press box it looked as II Strunk knocked
the ball out of Judges hands after the
first baseman had tagged him before he
could scramble back.
WILLIAM PEET.