Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-08-17

WELL PLEASED
Fielding Responsible for Phil
lies Occupying Cellar Place
in Standing
BY BILLY EVANS

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 17:-Few
managers are encouraged with a
seventh place ball club, but Arthur
Fletcher of the Philadelphia Nation-
ais is an exception.
From the low position of the Phil
lies n gets a picture of a disorgan-
ICED, dissatisfied collection of ball
players. But quite the contrary is
the condition in Art Fletcher's fam
lily, and Fleteh at present is seeing
daylight for the first time in his
managerial career.
The main difficulty with the Phil
lies, in Fleteher's opinion, has not
been weak pitching as has been re-
ported by the judges of the press
box. Far from that. 1t has been a
weak defense on the left side of the
infeld.
In the first place, 1t must moi be
forgotten that Fletcher had TO piece
together his infield from a rather
motley collection. He has Walter
Holke, last year with Boston, at
first; started with Parkinson and
now has Cotton Tierney, formerly
with the Pirates, at second; Heine
Sand, last season with Salt Lake, is
at short, and third base has been
turned over to Wrightstone.
Weak Defense Fatal
Up until this season these four
had never played together before.
Eve may look bad where we are"
remarked Fletcher the other day,
but don't judge everybody by their
ioeks-particularly this ball club.
MOI exaggerating, 1 know of at
least fifteen games that were lost
through weak fielding around the
left side of the infield-games, let
me tell you, that we had won and
were lost by one fielding slip.
I'VE had the Giants beaten in six
games this season closing the sew
enth inning, and lost them down the
stretch. Figures will support my
talk. Can't beat that for tough luck
whipping the -yorld champions
right down to the stretch aud then
losing.
II cannot say too much for the
boys on my club-each and every
one of them. People who have not
seen us play probably imagine that
1t Is a joy-ride with us. Far from
1t. That's not my style. The spirit
is excellent and you see us hustling
whether we are ten runs behind or
ten in front.
what better illustration would
you want than the home-run record
being made by Cy Williams? When
players are sulking and loafing they
aren't hitting home runs. There is
a fine morale around the camp but
you know it takes time to rebuild
a ball club.
my neighbor across the street.
Mr.. Mack-will vouch for that.
Real Praise for Ring
Let me name n pitcher who is
entitled to praise this season. He
is Jimmy Ring. When great pitch
ers r mentioned for this season,
don't overlook Ring.
II am not talking about the
future, but you'll see the Phillies in
the first division within two years
and once W. get that high you're
going to see us mighty close to get
ting up as a pennant contender"
The biggest shock of the National
League season was presented by the
Phillies when they bowled over Pat
Moran's Cincinnati Reds in a double
header. winning 2 to 1 and 5 to 1.
With the Giants on the ragged edge
entering the west for their second
Invasion there was the opening for
a team behind to come along and
pass them.
The Reds were favored by the vast
majority and just when it looked
as If they were going to make the
grade, the Pills came along and
whacked them twice in a single
afternoon.
That double defeat served more to
discourage the Reds than any defeat
this season. And if they lose the
pennant just trace their collapse to
the afternoon of July 31-when the
Phillies beat them In a double
header.