New Britain herald., 1930-03-17
ATHLETICS SURE
 ID REPEAT WIN
Confidence Seems to Be Borne
 Out in Training Camp


 Although the full cast of worlds champions, for various reasons, has not been completely reasscmblcd in training camp. there apears ample Justification for the confidence among the Athletics that they will enjoy another seasons run at the top of the American league heap,
 The benign leader. e year old Connie Mack. and his agile mon arc in" holding bascball's highest Of flee with an outfit that seems to be decidedly on the upgrade, rather than showing any signs of disintcgra- ton. The burden of proof is on the seven other clubs and so far with the exception of the New York Yankees. no particularly damaging evidence has been offered to threaten thc reign of the House Of Mack.
 The Athletics, barring accidents. will take the field 10 defend their honors this year with the same team that scanpcrcd victoriously from the world series battle with the Cubs last October.
 Max Bishop, the second sackcr, re- ported late: Bing Miller, veteran out fielder, took q week away from camp for his honcymoon; and Al Simmons, the cloanup slugger, has conditioned himself at Hot Springs, rather than run the risk Of impcrilinG his some what tender ankles on the Florida sand. but all three stars will be at their regular posts when the bar Tier lifts for the pCnnant dash.
 Mack is the only manager in either league able to stand pat on his l42N lineup. As q result he and his chief aides, Eddie Collins and Kid Gleason, have concentrated on in spcction and development of a wholesale crop of youngsters. Many Of them 10 be tagged for future de- livery: scant few to be kept for inl- mediate tryouts.
 The net profits of the training siege are likely to show in better re-
 
 important addition 10 the pitching staff that is already among the best in either league The outstanding twirling newcomer is Leroy Mahaf- fey. q big South Carolina right handler. who came to the As via Portland of tho Pacific Coast league He has shown sufficient stuff to stamp him as a probable starting regular.
 Tn" tip-off on Mahaffcy's ability is the fact that the players call him speed" on q club which boasts three of the greatest fast ball fingers in the game in Lefty Grove. Rube Walberg and big George Earnshaw. The big recruit is expected to round ont a five man starting staff with . Texas Bill Shores. This would per init Mack to hold in reserve. for re- lief duty or an occasional starting | turn. three such abfc veterans as Knucklc Ball Eddie Rommcl. old | Jack Quinn, who admits to mere | A years; and Howard Ehmkc. world | series hero, serving also as q pitching coach this spring.
 Outside the box, the only position l in doubt when the camp was pitched | was Shortstop, where the youthful | southern recruit, Erie McNair, ap- | pcHrcd as q rival for the veteran Joe 1 Boley. This doubt has been removed | by Bolcy's steady work and evidence that the veterans arm still can keep the ball ahead of the fleetest runners McNair, who is only 20. nevertheless will be kept in reserve. along with bib Williams, promising second Sackcr, up from Little Rock: and Jim keesey, first baseman recalled from Portland. Roger Cramcr and Roy Tarr ar" two other promising inhelders
 Robust Jimmy FoNx at first, hit ting any and all kinds Of pitching out or the park; Bishop at second and tho irrcprcssible Jimmy Dykes | sparkpluG or the tcam at third base. | round out the inticld. Ii may not be the greatest defensive combination of tn" game but it is reliable Qartcrs with two of the teams most danger ous hitters in I'oXx and Dykes. 1 Despite his 33 years Dykes appears faster than ever.
 Otherwise there is not the slightest cause for concern on Mack's part. with tn" greatest catcher in the game, Mickey cochranr. 10 do at least 99 per cent Of the backstopninp and an outHeld trio composed of simmons in left, George NIulr) Haas in center and Miller in right Homer Summa and Dewitt Lcbour- Neap' the little California speed mor- chant, have made strong bids for ro- serve outtield duty and the veteran NaIly Schang and ~ Perkins can gI'" Cochrane relief, ir hc needs if,
 UhUL Cn0DMC DJMnI