San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-23
F[ETCHERHAS
CHEEKY WORDS
FOR THE pills
Manager Says Spirit Is
Fine But WobbIy Infield-
ing Handicap.
BOOSTS JIMMY RING
Former Reds Pitcher
Praised by His New
Philadelphia Boss.

Philadelphia. Aug. 23.-Few man.
ayers are encouraged with seventh
place ball club. but Arthur Fletcher
of the Philadelphia Nationals is an
exception.
From the low position of the Phil
lies one gets picture of disorgan-
lied, dissatisfied collection OF ball play
ers. But quite the contrary is the
condition in Art Fletchcr's family,
and Fetch. at present is seeing DAY
light for the first time in his brief
managerial career.
The main difficulty with the Phil
lies, in Fletcher's opinion. has not
been weak pitching, rs has been re-
ported by the judges of the press box.
Far from that. 1t has been II weak
defense on the left side of the infield.
In the first place it must not be
forgotten that Fletcher had TO piece
together his infied from n rather mot.
ley collection. He has Walter Holke.
last year with Boston. at first; start
ed with Parkinson and now has Cot
ton Tierney, formerly with the Pirates
with Salt Lake, is at short. and third
base has been turned over 20 Wright
stone.
Weak Defense Fatal.
Up until this season these four had
never played together.
We may look bad where we are. ="
remarked Fletcher the other day. but
don't judge everybody by their looks
particularly this ball club.
Not Fxaggcrating, | know OF at
least fiftecu games that were lost
through weak fielding around the lcf'
side of the infield-gamcs. let me tel!
you. that we had won and were los
by one fielding slip.
ave had the Giants beaten in six
games this season closing the seventh
inning. and lost them down The
stretch. Figures will support m,
talk. Can't beat that for tough luck
whipping the world champions right
down to the stretch and then losing.
II cannot say too much for the boys
them. People who have not seen US
play probably imagine that il is n
Joy ride with us. Far from it. 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 be
ing made by Cy Williams When play
rrs 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 ball
club.
MY neighbor across the street--Mr
Mack-will vouch for that.
Real Praise For Ring.
"Let me name one pitcher who is
entitled to praise this season. He Is
Jimmy Ring. When great pitchers
are mentioned for this season, dom:
overlook Ring.
Il am not talking about the future,
but you'll see the Phillies in the first
division within two years and once
we get that high you're going to see
us mighty close to getting 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 n double
header. winning TO / and ) TO ].
With the Giants on the ragged edge
entering the west for their second in
vasion there was the opening for .
team behind to come along and pass
them.
The Reds were favored by the vast
majority and just when it looked ms
if thew 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 il they lose the PEN
nant Just trace their collapse to the
afternoon of July 31-when the Phil
lies beat them in a doublc,header.