"Well, I'll give it to him. We play Boston next week. They happen to be in the second division just at present, although they seem to be going up fast. I'll let Joe go up against them."
"That won't be as good as letting him go against New York," said Boswell.
"Well, it'll have to do," decided the manager, who could be very set in his ways at times.
The Braves proved rather "easy," for the Cardinals and, as Boswell had indicated, there was little glory for Joe in pitching against them. He won his game, and this, coupled with the fact that the reporter friendly to Joe made much of it, further incensed the other pitchers.
"Don't mind 'em," said Rad, and Joe tried not to.
The season was advancing. Try as the Cardinals did, they could not get to the top of the second division.
"And if we don't finish there I'll feel like getting out of the game," said the manager gloomily, after a defeat.
"Pitch Matson against the Giants," advised the coach.
"By Jove! I'll do it!" cried the manager, in desperation. "We open with New York at St. Louis next week for four games. I'll let Matson see what he can do, though I reckon I'll be roasted and laughed at for taking such a chance."