The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1889-1889, 1889-04-03
SPORTING sMALLTALK.

SPORTING ShA Liz LIN
The Press, in spcakin Of O'Tjricn's work
n rig ut field yes erday az Baltimore, says:
1.-THE game was lost 10 Washington through
wild pitching and the brilliant stroke Of
genius which placed o'Brien in right field,
where he covered about ms much ground as
q toad in an acre Of tar. With two men out
in the second inning and two on bases a
short fly was sent up, which Billy went for
in approved ice wagon style and didn't
reach This failure and wretched mum
by Wilmot gave three runs" Scores Baltl-
more, 3; Washington, 3.
Keefe was wild, sending six men TO bases.
In the fifth inning the batteries were
changed, Foreman and Quinn being re-
placed by Kilroy and Fulmer while keetc
and Mack gave way TO Winston aud Eb-
right. Winston is youngster from Bris-
tol, Tenn He never saw a League or AS
ISOLATION team before and was badly rat
tied. The first four men could not get near
enough to the ball to hit, and were given
their bases, hut after all only one run was
scored. aud he then pulled himself together
and did good work in the last inning. Car
noy was very active at first and saved sew
er0l bad throws
The Baltimorcs will open the exhibition
season at Capitol Park this afternoon at
$50. O'DaY and Ebright aud Haddoek
and Banning will alternate as batteries and
Mr.. Quinn Will umpire.
Well, Pittsburg was 'done up too,
which is some consolation.
Looks likes Wise and Morrill, now.
The Phillies meet the Jersey City tc- lay.
st. Louis has offered Devlin TO Columbus.
Mccarthy and Latham have Joined sc.
Louis.
Fouts will captain the Brooklyn Club
this season.
stratton has finally signed with the
Colonies.
Jim Mutrie declares himself as pleased
with Wagenhurst's work at short.
Billy Greenwood has been elected as as
sistant captain OF the Columbus Club.
Fogarty will play center field for the
Phillics, Andrews left and Thompson right.
The New Yorks will not have the Polo
Grounds.
slattery of the New York team opened
the season with five hits to his credit on
Saturday.
The Cincinnati Club was compelled TO let
Vinu, the pitcher, of Sunday games before
he would consent TO pitch.
John Morrill, has refused TO captain the
Boston nine selected for him for the Fast
Day games. lie says ho will play IN any
position, but he will not undertake 10 cap
tam hUcn n nlUc 10 VICTORY. lie docs not
think the directors gave him square deal
when they gave him the nine.
President Hcwett has returned from his
fruitless trip after Ward. In speaking
about the matter he said:
81 had decided some days ago not to
waste words on Ward. I made him an offer
of a salary larger than is or ever has been
paid to any ball player. | had reconciled
/ iEycc'' 20 bis refusal before | received it.
confess am disappointed and must say
| that do not think Ward has treated us
just right. However, what's done is done,
and must grin and bear IL, suppose. L
| shall not waive my claim TO Ward, and
John b. Day is the only man who can sign
| him.
"Ward advances as his reason for not
going to Washington that they are weak
| team and he does not care to take such
heavy responsibilities. He also says he
dislikes that city as n place of residence
and he prefers to remain in New York and
thus be at home with his friends"
| Ward summed up the situation In the
following sentences:
"At present am in the hands of base
ball trust, which can give points to steel
| trust. am on the reserve list OF the New
York Club. They can sit me on the bench
and keep me there until diei If they choose.
Nothing has been said to me by the New
York management about signing. The
facts are that am New Yorker, and want
to live in New York. Although II is a
chestnut, still II is true, but intend giving
up baseball within two years don't want
to 70 to n town as small as Washington,
but / should be perfectly willing to go 10
Boston"
Umpire Gaffney favors handicappng the
stronger clubs In baseball organizations, in
order TO give the weaker teams a show.
Said he: ut has been found necessary to
handicap In almost every other athletic
sport so why not in baseball? The proper
scheme would be to have committee,
composed OF one representative from each
club, meet and agree upon the handicap.
Take 1t In the American Association, for
instance. The Athletic, Brooklyn, St.
Louis and Cincinnati clubs are surely
much stronger than the other four clubs,
and there would be little difficulty in in
duciug them TO agree to give the Columbus,
Louisville, Kansas City and Baltimore
clubs a start OF a few games Say the
Columbus Club was given fifteen games
start, Louisville twelve, Kansas City ten
and Baltimore eight.
"The result would be that those teams
would play good ball longer than they do
under the present order OF things, for the
| players now become disheartencd when
they realize that there is no chance tor them
to win good place In the race. The Balti-
more club affords very good example OF
the disheartening influence OF lost hope
That club almost invaribly starts out we'll
In the spring, and the team plays together
so long as the men feel that they have a
chance for place, but 1t goes all to pieces
about the middle OF the season when tho
leading clubs get a dozen games ahead.
The public likes close contests, and with
little headwork on the part of club owners
the pennant-winner in every league or as
ISOLATION can be kept In doubt until tho
very close of the season.
1t will be In order now TO heap all man
ner of abuse on Ward for simply asserting
his own rights in this matter--the right OF
aman to decline an offer that is not agree
able to him. 1t is probable that If he play !
with New York when he plays
he will be greeted with groans and his
The Washington public had become 80 ac-
oustomed to looking on Ward as thei J,
property, In consequence Of the deal n o
gotiated In his absence and without III !
knowledge, that they are naturally m uch
disappointed at his refusal to come here.
1t is hard for us to understand how
player like Ward can accept subordinate
| position, where he will be simplyone among
many, rather than come here and have
chance to win distinction in developing
team by putting into practice some of his
pet theories But there are two sides TO tho
question.