Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-21
CONNIE MACK WRONG?
HIS ECONOMIC SYSTEM
FAILS TO PRODUCE GOODS
Little Possibility Now OF Athletics De.
fclopinS Ability Predicted for Them
Early In SCusOn-Nctcrnnn Needed

Little Possibility Now of Athletics De-
fclopinS Ability Predicted for Them
EARLY In Scnson-Nctcrans Needed.
Connie Mack's economic baseball sys-
TEN may be all right. but after re-
ceiving several years treatment under
1t the Athletics appear TO be ailinE al
| most as badly as ever
Maybe Comics prescription would bo
! eflicacious In Il case Of scven-ycar itch.
but II is beginning TO appear that as
remedy for chronic loser In tho
major leagues Mack's economy has
| fivvcred.
when the season OF 1917 began there
were those who predicted the Athletics
would be tremendous surprise de-
spite the fact that most of the scrib-
ing fellows picked them for as good
as seventh place. The Athletics have
been surprisc--they have surprised
the critics who thought they were due
TO come to life and crowd out clubs
like the Browns. Indians and Yankees
During he first few laps Of the
american League race the Mackmer
lar ana threatened To dive into ninth
place. The only thing that kept them
from 1t was the scarcity of ninth place
in the American League.
mere Is still hope for the Mackmcn
TO finish better than last. for the sea-
son mas some "HNG To run, and
strange things happen in Il season. Hut
i'll face of the prediction made by Mack
when he broke up his famous machine
and all joking aside. II seems doubtful
that the Athletics will manage to be-
come tcrrors around the Ban Johnson
ian circuit while the economic policy
is applied TO them.
Three years ago Mack predicted that
he would build up another great ball
club II given sufficient time. and at
pionship team he had torn to pieces.
Mack then pulled the economy brake
and went out after some good. cheap
youngsters to wear the boots of Barry,
Collins, Baker and few others. So
far thcse boots have proven away too
large for their new owners Mack has
some good youngsters. and club that
becomes mur'crous with tho bludEcon
at times. He also has some mighty
| capable pitchcrs--a very bright star in
| 10" Eush-but still he isn't plotting a
winner.
| Thrashcr. Mnck's now out1clder:
! Grover. Witt I.awrv. Bates and some
| Of his young pitchers show champion
! ship flashes now and then. on the field
; and AZ bat they often make some of
Tho stars of tho American League look
not consistent with it. and they do not
| play hanr-up hill against clubs like
the White SoN. B"d SoN and Yankees
| In Amos Strunk Mack has ono Of
the greatest outfcld"rs IN Tho business
In Jack McInnis n" HIS "A first bascmnn
who need not don his kelly 10 any
! In Wallie SchanC no has wonderful
backstorrcr Old Ping Eodic liz PLAY
iur hett"r hall for Mack than Ito did
for the White Sox. and ~ that Mack
| had 10 nav come real dough for E"dic
which is not in limo with the economy
h" breaches
CHANGING At N" Athletics from Soma
angles. on" finds II h"rd - 500 why
'h"y ar" not a good hall club vet thcT
have not been proving II. and the surcst
| sign of q good club shows IN tho left
hand sid" OF the percentage column
every time
Baseball mon have howailcd tho fac,
: that r"od college PLAYERS arc almost
thing Of tho past, and that the on
| coming crop Of phenoms from the
bushes has l"cn badly rlildcwed ~
snots. Perhaps the alleged scarcity 81
crack young ball plr v"rs within the
past two or three wears IS the .nswor
in tho cas-" OF the Mackmcn. Pcrhaps
N" youngsters were NOR" plentiful
| when Nscl; built his erstwhile cham
rionS than they are now. and better
h"l pl2%nrS along with II. and pcrha rs
! MACK VII have to go ont and peel or
| some Of the biz; money for players be
tore hy turns out another club like the
/ ola Athletics. II is "a good guess that
| ne VIII have 10 do this very thing