New Britain herald., 1923-03-31

 BY UP
I'VE ARE READY CONNIE MACK SAYS
Ky BijIv Eyans


 Montgomery, Ala, March 3l,-- ''lIave you seen the Athletics? How does Comics team look?"
 In every training camp that have visited those two questions have beer fired at me.
 An Of which makes it seem that the other American League managers have considerable respect for Mach's proteges.
 Well. l have had q chance to look over Mack's athletes. l am con vinced that the fear number Of clubs have for the strength of Mack's club are well founded.
 The Athletics have gotten over tho experimental stage, Mack hasn't very far to go before he has q we'll rounded ball club Comics team is certain to be a mighty troublesome aggregation on the American league circuit this year.
 About the New Players
 What new players has Mack picked up who are worth while?
 While only one or two of the re- cruits may break into the lineup very
 
 likely looking material.
 Of the outfeld recruits ''Wid" Mat thews, last year with Milwaukee in the American Association, has the best chance to win himself regular berth,
 Matthews isn't a big fellow. being much more on the Wee Willie Keeler type than the Babe Ruth model. He isn't going to establish any home-run records, but he is going to be on the bases lot more than players who will hit 30 points more than he does. The Milwaukee recruit is a left handed hitter and thrower and very fast He is a hard man to pitch to to and looks like an ideal leadoff man.
 He makes the pitcher get 'em over and then mixes things up.
 The home-run germ hasn't hit him because he is far too light to ever win fame as circuit clouter. Instead Matthews mixes bunt or drag with an occasional healthy swing. so that he always has the opposition guess ing.
 Sammy Hale, who cost Mack a lot of money, has been jinXed the great CT part of the training trip. A severe cold made him slow at the start and just as he was rounding into shape a spike wound laid him up for re- pairs.
 Hale it Hard Hitter
 Hale can hit. There is no doubt about that. Probably Hale will never equal Jimmy Collins or Bill Bradley as a fielder, but he will more than hold his own in that department. It looks as If Hale will be worth every cent Mack spent for him.
 Hale will round out Mack's infield with Galloway at short, Jimmy Dykes at second and Hauser at first. Quite some infield, young and full of pep It will turn in many a play worth seeing the coming summer.
 OutfieId is Doubtful
 For his outfield Mack has three veterans. lilly Walker, Frank Welch and Bing Miller, also three youngsters in McGowan. French and Matthews. The first three are right-handed bats- men. the latter trio left handlers. McGowan is a beautiful fielder. He has a nice position at the plate and should hit. If McGowan is able to hit there will be no keeping riin out of the lineup. He has every other asset. Looks as if l might start with Miller in right. McGowan in center and Matthews in left" was the way l Connie sized up the outfield proposi- tion. If any of the youngsters fail have my veterans, Walker and welch to fill the bill"
 With Perkins and Bruggy back Of the bat, which means that department will be taken care up, plus better than the average pitching, which it seems the Mackmen should get the Athletics loom up as a mighty tough | team to beat.