Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-24
MACK TO HAVE
STRONG PITCHING
STAFF FOR 1917
Crowell, Myers and Nabors
Have Proved Worth as
Good Hurlers
OTHERS SHOW PROMISE
Nv CHANDLER d. RICHTER

bY CHANDbbh ~ NlSI
Local fans were greatly surprised at
the splendid showing made by two OF
Mack's young pitchers in their first local
appearance against the Red Sox. After
today's game with the worlds champions
the Mackmen will leave for Washington
for series with Griffith's team. After
the series in Washington the Athletics
will have a long stretch of games at
Shibe Park and before this home stand
Is completed the fans will see other young
twirlers who will just about convince the
skeptical that Mack already has the
foundation for stan as great as the
famous one he broke up.
elmer Myers and Jack Nabors made
great Impressions on the fans by trim
ming the Red Sox in nice style and MI
Crowel, the Brown University lad, is
certain to make n greater hit. Then there
is Jack Ray, the Greensboro southpaw,
wild Bill Morrisette and Tom Sheehan,
who also will be seen in action often.
When the youngsters were haYing
everything they heaved plateward batted
to all parts of the field we ventured the
prediction that Mack had three young
pitchers who were going to be mainsteys
of the new staff and who would develop
into hurlers almost as great as the lead
ing trio of the famous 1910 to 1914 staff
Nabors Is Surprise
youngsters mentioned with Nabors as
wonderful prospect for the future. Nabors
has surprised Mack. Davis and Thomas
by developing much faster than was ex-
pected and he will be permitted to gain
the experience he needs 80 badly In regu-
lar games. Mack had intended to keep
Nabors on the bench for the greater part
of the season, but has changed his mind
Myers also has made his debut and
made a hit with the fans Crowell
pitched even better against Sew. York
than Myers and Nabors did against the
Red Sox, but he lost his game, to l,
through errors of his teammates. Local
fans have not seen him yet this season,
and Ray has not been given a chance to
start game.
Crowell appesSG to be further ad-
vanced than any 5f the youngsters, and
he Is looked upon as the successor to Jack
Coombs. Ray is a southpaw who should
develop into another Plank II he can get
enough ambition to absorb the teachings
of Mack, Davis and Thomas.
Laziness Proves Handicap
Ray has absolutely everything any
other southpaw has and disposition
which makes II impossible to worry or
rattle. Rays disposition is an asset in
some respects. but II also is holding him
back, as he is inclined to be lazy and does
not learn fast enough to suit his tutors.
Plenty of work may enable Ray to over
come his faults, and he will be sent to
the mound often after Mack has weeded
out the squad
One of the best of prospects is Nor.
risette. the Richmond recruit, but he may
prove the greatest disappointment. He
has greater speed than any pitcher in
the squad; more work on his fast ball
than all but Crowell Is great splitter
and is more experienced One will won
do t1yhNy tIfth nj hat 10 nnt
a star, but Morrisette has not learned n
thing since he has been with the team.
He would be better II he had come
from Class l. league instead of double
A, because he has contracted habits and
ideas which are harder to break In an
experienced hurler than in a r.. 'uit. Mack
has great faith in Morrisette and he will
receive more attention than the average
recruit. He is either going to be a mar
vel or a dub, There is no happy medium
in his case.
Sheehan Looks Good
Tom Sheehan made an excellent i'm.
preston last season and he probably will
improve greatly. Tom Is slow rounding
into form and II is still trifie early to
figure just what are his possibilities.
Theresi nothing wrong with the rest
of the team, 1t must be strengthened in
one or two places to make 1t n pennant
contender for 1917, but II is strong enough
to finish close to the first division In any
league If the young hurlers develop fast.
This is going to be trying season for
the regulars, as the young pitchers prob
ably will throw away many games
Though lack of experience
Nothing disrupts team or destroys
its ginger and fighting spirit so quickly
as unintelllgent pitching, and there will
be plenty of 1t at Shibe Park this sea-
SON. The natural talent is there, how
ever, and the fans can rest assured that
Mack W h have a young pitching stan
which win rival any in the country when
the 1917 season opens