The Washington times., 1925-06-05


To lead the league at this time,
one-third the way to the finish, the
Philadelphia Macks have played
great baseball and won the admira-
ton of all. But they have spurted
while the Griffmen have Wake d.
It is beyond the pale Of probability
that the Macks viii increase their
speed in the wearing weeks 10
come. It is more likely THAT they
win slow down.
The pIayers whose unusual
.sWatting has been winning games
FOR Connie Mack cannot hold their
mace OF the last several weeks,
k Is believed, and when they
slump so win the Macks. Tho
MacIEian pitching staff, weakened
by injuries, is holding up bet
tar than was expected under the
strain of extra work, but Nc
GilIicuddy Is praying for . quick
return OF his ace, Sam Gray
who won eight straight ganles
before feIIed BY injury.
It Is considered a fortunate cir
ctinnstance for the Griffmen that
the Maclmen and not they are car
rying the burden Of holding first
place at period when the race
IS getting warm. For even at shis
time, with other clubs or even one
close behind, the strain Of setting
the mace has its effect later.
A ball club knocked from the
lead, 1t is frequently the case, suf-
fers q reaction and once stopped
finds ii difficult to get going again.
Particularly is this true, baseball
men contend, in the instance OF a
comparatively young team and One
which has not previously expert
enced the acid test, such as the
Maekrnen.
No member Of the Washington
club doubts for 3 moment that the
Athletics viii be Overtaken. There
ara certain fundamental weak
meases in Connie MacIx's cOn1binar
fion that prevent It from being 3
championship team, on the face
of things.
Few teams have, ever won, PEN
nalts without infields' close to air
tight. II the bald truth be told,
the PhlIadeIphia infield is tar from
that. It's weakest spot is at first
base. Jim Poole does not measure
up to the standard OF Joe Hauser,
who may or may not be able TO re-
sline his old place and play up to
his former standard.
Poole started well. He cracked
the apple regularly for while.
But his hitting has fallen away.
Moreover he has shown a weakness
on low thrown balls that sooner or
later is bound to make itself felt
On the Macks' standing.
Jimmy Dykes at third base Is an
ball player, and SO Is
Chick Galloway in short. Bishop
looks good on second base. Simmons
has been hitting above his speed, all
baseball experts agree, and Lamar is
unlikely to. keep whaling the ball as
hard and as frequently as he has
been. The same goes for Cochranc.
Connie Mack's prized youth catcher.
There was little to that getaway
game i'm the Yankee stadium ex-
eept the pitching of Walter
Ruether, who came within an ace
0f scoring q beautiful shut-out.
Ruether. and Muddy RueI were
confident he had slipped q third
BITING U08l O0UO nuBU HI t1lO
eighth, bat His Umps said Il was
q bah and Bebe strOIIed. He would
have been the third victim.
The Babes ticket filled the bags
and Bob Meusel, the slugger. who
had been a thorn in the Griff side
during the series, whacked a triple
to left, giving the Yankees three
useless runs. However, they pre-
vented Ruether from scoring q
goose-egg victory. The score was
8 to 8.
Joe Judge was the swatting hero,
with two homers, one off Herb PEN
mock and the other off Henry John
son.
Walter Beall relieved .Pennoclz in
the fifth after Goslin had tripled
and Judge singled with none down.
He pitched good ball for several
innings, then gave way to a pinch
hitter