Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-10


lands it must be remembered that they took
playing the strongest game of any western club
on the eastern trip. Better things are hoped
for when the lamen ted Louisvilles and the Chi
Cages come. The other eastern clubs have all
had whack at BARNES boys and have bettered
their positio ms in consequence. 1t would be
hardly just that our men shouldn't have share
of this travelling pudding, and next Saturday
should see the Senators back in sixth place or
better. Meanwhile baltimore, New York and
Cleveland, our nearest rivals. will be tackling
some difficult clubs themselves and are liable to
take a drop in consequence.
The most noticeable thing about the playing
Of the Pittsburgs when they were here was
their coaching. They were at it all the time
and it was the noisiest kind Of bowling. This
gave the spectators the idea that it what
made them win games. That idea has been
pretty well dispelled. The New York papers
called attention to it. and contrasted the quiet
work Of the Giants and claimed that the Giants
lost in consequence. The Giants turned around
and won the next two games. That a COM
plete answer. 1t was the same here. The
Pirates were noisy. The Senators we're quiet,
and the Senators won two of the three games.
No, it isn't noisy coaching that wins games.
The Pittsburgs and the Clevelands. too. showed,
however, tDat lQey eAcelIeu the senators In team
work. They would sacrifice their men around
the bases and score them with a good hit. 1t
occurred consequently that hit with them
meant a run. With the Senators it meant
nothing. Repeatedly the local team had man
on first with no one out. Instead of bunting
and sending the runner to second the batsman
would try to knock the ball out of the lot. The
result would be a pop-up fly or the runner
would be forced at second
OF course it will happen that after a runner
is sacrificed to third the necessary hit will not
be forthcoming Well. that's hard luck but it
has been correctly played. nevertheless. and no
one can be blamed. Poor whist players will
sometimes beat those who observe the rules of
correct play, but no one would say that correct
play should be disregarded in consequence.
Manager O'Rourke. of course. is well aware OF
this. 1t must be in Difference to the howls OF
the crowd that the batsmen try to kill the ball
instead OF sacrificing. OF course there are
times when it wouldn't do to sacrifice-when
the club is far behind and one run couldn't
amount to anything. Then the only chance "a
to hit the bail hard. But ordinarily run is as
much as a nine should strive for IN one inning.
Another point in team work in which the
home club is weak Is in fielding balls batted to
the infield. 1t should be understood when q
ball is hunted who should field it, the pitcher,
third baseman, first or second baseman, accord
ing to the direction Of the ball when hunted.
Several blunders have recently occurred through
two fielders running for a ball which one could
have taken. Larkin, Vie and the pitcher
should understand what sort of a ball each
should field and when each should cover first.
Perhaps there is such an understanding, but by
the way it is executed the spectator would not
imagine any previous thought had been given it,
There seems to be a lamentable neglect to
take advantage OF points offered. Doubtless
Manager O'Rourke has drilled the team In all
the points of the game and has given instruc-
lions to meet certain cases. but it is vexatious
to see other teams come here and play all the
points while our own players have the same
opportunities and throw them away.
OF course team work takes time to acquire,
but it doesn't seem though the local team
has gained anything since its first games.
There's lots of room for improvement. Yet
with all this fault finding it must be said that
the team has been dong some fine fielding. No
fault can be found with the way any position has
been played. Every player has felded bril-
Iiantly at times. The batting has generally
been hard. The team Of course, is weakened
by the absence Of Mulvey, although Farrell has
been playing very well at third. Mcclure has
added strength at the bat. and ia rapidly get
ting into condition behind the bat, where he
was somewhat rusty at first from lack of prac-
tice. The pitchers show signs of improvement,
but still betray painful ignorance of the local
ity of the plate at times. However. on the
whole there is every reason to look forward
with confidence to the work of the club. 1t
belongs in the first six, and undoubtedly will
soon get back there.