The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-03-24
PHILLIES ARE
SOME BETTER
THAN IN 1925
Evans Secs Il Bit More Pitch
ing Strength Through Adj
ditiOn Of New IIurlers
RY BILLY EVANS

ID QUAIL EN A.NsN
Bradcnton. Fla, March "a.
'NEA For several years it has
been much mooted question
among fans as to just what league
tho Phillies were in. Surely not
the National.
Keeping the Phillies in the
league is the task that confronts
Manager "Stuffy" McInnis, new
pilot Of the Philadelphia Nationals.
1t is quite some job.
1t is customary to blame the
failure of a major league club on
the manager, yet no man can win
ball games unless he has the ma
terial to work with. That has
been the prevailing fault of the
Phillies.
It's Up to the Players
No manager, no matter how
smart he may be, can make hits
in a pinch or strike the batter out
with the bases filled. That is up
to the ball players.
"Stuffy" Mclnnis, a brilliant ball
player in his day. with plenty Of
gray matter, trained under one of
basebalPs greatest leaders, Connie
Maek- "Stuffy" knows the game.
He is likable chap, and am sure
his players will give him their
best efforts. But it takes more
than good wishes and kindly feel
ings t. win ball games.
Philadelphia managers in the
past have been handicapped in
their usually futile efforts to es-
cane last place. 1t remains to be
seen how we'll McInnis can win
palI games with the material at
hand.
Being smart, "Stuffy" fully
realizes the task that is ahead. He
frankly admits that at least four
clubs, possibly five, have de-
cided edge en- him. He has no
visions Of first division berth,
although | am sure to land one
would be more than acceptable. |
imagine if he were able to finish
fifth. at the top Of the second di-
vision, he would get all the thrills
Of pennant winner.
Much the Same Club
The team that has been handed
over to McInnis is much the same
club that finished in the cellar last
season. Only in pitching will it
be materially different.
knowing the part efficient
pitching plays in baseball. Mcln-
mis-, through the medium of several
trades, has considerably changed
the personnel Of his staff.
1t is his hope that the veteran
John Scott, obtained from the New
York Giants, and Alexander Fer
guson and Herb Pructt, American
League discards, will help his ball
club. feel that this trio will do
that very thing. but whether
enough to keep the club out Of the
cellar is a question.
Scott Il Good Bet
John Scott, who has had Il me-
tcoric career in the National
League, varying from world Sc
ries hero to a pitcher waived out
of the majors because of a sup
posed ineurable arm, is still a pref
ty good bet. He knows how to
pitch and how to get the ball over,
two most important assets.
Alex Ferguson will be recalled
as the pitcher who kept the Wash
ington club in the running in the
1926 series with Pittsburgh by
working two great games. Pruett,
as. member of the St. Louis
Browns, gained fame by his abili-
ty to strike out Babe Ruth almost
as he pleased. He didn't find the
other hitters so soft.
McInnis believes these three ex-
perienced pitchers, plus Harold
Carlson, mighty fine performer,
and Wayland Dean, former Giant,
will help round out big league
combination.
OF his recruits, Edward Lefty
Taber, semi-pro, looks promising.
watched him hold the Washing
ton club to six hits and two runs
in five innings. Taber wears
heavy spectacles while pitching,
similar to those used by Lee Mead
ows when he starred for the Phil
lies.
1 wish "Stuffy" McInnis huge
gobs of success, for he is a fine
fellow, but l fear he will have
plenty to worry about before the
1927 season is over.