Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-01

NINETEEN HUNDRED AND SEVEN
IN TEEN will find the Athletics back N
the running for the American League PEN
nant am not predicting that we are
going to overpower the Red SoX, White SoX
and Detroit because they all will be just
as strong, if not trihe stronger, than in
1916. These three teams will have the
balance and experience, while my team
probably will be inclined to be erratc for
a month or two but there is no telling just
how far we will go, 1t depends entirely
upon the pitchers.
with pitching Of the Red Sox caltber the
Athletics would look just as good as any
team in the American League, but, or
course, ] am not hopeful of having such
staff lust vet Ny team will look better
than il has and / think it will be a team
that the fans will like. I have gathered
group of players whose individual styles
should be pleasing and l think my new
team will prove an excellent drawing card
I have been worrying more about my
pitchlng staff than anything else. In tact'
nv scouts paid little attention TO other
players because, while l Will have many
men of minor league experience in my line
un az the start of the season, | have not de-
narted from my original idea Of developing
my own players from my own particular
material
Progress has not been quite so rapid as
I eypected and it Is necessary for me to
denend upon minor leag@ players for the
time being, but ] will go right along De
yeloping my own players In the morning
workouts at Shibe Park and believe that |
will surprise the fans before the season
closes,
Wants Two Pitchers
The Athletics of 1915 were a much better
hall team than the final standing would
Indicate The fielding was horrible at times
while a large percentage OF games were
lost because Of iHeNpeflence, puI leI 'to
aa,, that the Athletics could hit and Ameri-
can League pitchers will testify that they
aid not relish facing my team last sea-
son. particularly If Bush or Myers nap
pened TO be pitching for us.
Last season looked mighty good with
bush and Myers on the mound, and Will
Iool, even better this season, because both
Zoe and Elmer are going to be better than
ever NV idea now is 70 try TO develop TWO
or three men who can keep pace with Bush
and Myers When / get them l viii nave
the team / want ! am not worrying
about any other department because teel
certain that | have the men. either az
hand or Dlanted, who will fill in the weak
spots,
intend to give Jack Nabors another
chance. The big fellow showed some flashes
Of very good form, and now that MS hand Is
strong he should come fast. l also am
counting upon Russell Johnson, who pitched
several splendid games last season. Last
wear / induced him to drop the spitball and
naturally he was erratlc and lacked conh-
dencs for time, but he was coming along
fine late IN the season.
Another youngster / like very much is
Sefbold the youngsteT who came TO me from
cedar Rapids as a shOtstop in the latter
mart Of 1915 / sent Sebold TO Harry Smith,
nv old catcher at Wheeling and he changed
him 10 a pitcher for me. Last fan he looked
very good and viii be very much surprised
IL he does not turn in some very good work
have eleven other pitchers. but aside
from Noyes purchased from Vernon Of the
Pacific Coast League, 1 know very little
about them Perhaps 1 may have one or
two surprises Ia this group, but 1 feel GER
tain that Hoyea VIII make good,
Ths rest Of the team looks good / could