Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-18
A CREDITABLE GAME
Playing Of the Senators During the
Week.
LOCAL FANS HAVE BEEN PLEASED
Gossip About the Visiting Play
ers.
HOPES OF THE SENATOR'S

HOPES OF THE SENATOR'S
The Senators have been playing very
creditable ball this week. Ward broke his
thumb in the first Cleveland game and Paul
Radford has been covering second bag in
the meantime. while bis "Bili' Hasamaear
has been taken from the bench and sta
TONED in right field. The most exacting
critic has no kick coming to him. and even
Harry Cavenaugh, who Is "thirty-third
degree" rooter. was obliged to admit that in
the Clevland series he could not find fault
with any of the home players or Tim
Hurst's umpiring.
A few days ago one of the local magnates
remarked that II Bill Hasamaear could only
field well he bat he would be one
of the star outfielders of the league. In the
next two games Bill did not do anything
but put up the most brilliant fielding game
that has ever been credited to any right
fielder Several of his catches of short line
hits to right seemed almost impossible and
he smothered sharp grounders and returned
the ball to the infield with quickness and
accuracy that quite astonished those who
questioned his capacity as fielder. Any
man whe can hit the ball as hard and as
often as Bill Hasamaear can afford to make
errors in the outseld. 1t is whispered around
that he may be given his unconditional re-
lease, because he is hard to discipline. II
Bill knows good thing when he sees 1t he
should endeavor to remain with the Wash
lnStOnS- lie is a young player this is his
nrst season in the big league and unless the
writer Is mistaken ne has many qualities
which combine to make winning ball
player.
There is reason to fear that Mercer NAV
be spoiled by the commentator that is
being plastered upon him by Oyer-enthust-
asuc admirers Many older and more ex-
perlenced Professional characters have been
carried on their feet by too much praise
Inc same tate may not befall the gallant
Iad VINO Is now pitching fine a quality of
Dali as Is being displayed before league
customers. He is probably the youngest
pitcher IN the league. but he goes about his
work with the GOODNESS and deliberation of
an old-timer. His exhibition in the first
game of tha Cleveland series. when he was
Stacked up against Farmer Cy'' Young
was the best piece of pitching material seen
here in many seasons. II was 'hoss and
boss between the Kid and the Farmer
for nine innings. with the KID having a
shade the best Of il. In the tenth inning a
foul fly curled off the bat of Mexican, Just
back of the plate. Mcclure was playing
back and Mercer was called to take the ball
IL was one of those deceptive twisters with
a tendency to recede toward the grand
stand. Mercer made a desperate attempt to
reach the ball. but he failed by several
inches The effort was apparently too much
for him, for after that he could not COM
mand the ball, and he confessed afterward
that ne -over-exerted himself. In such cases
II wouli be better to call for the catcher to
make the try for the ball and save the
pitcher. This season heady captains save
their pitchers as much as possible.
1t Is case of "eX-Cmpire" Gaffney
again The once prince of umpires has
fallen from grace again, Notwithstanding
the note Of warning which President " E.
Young sounded to Gaffney after his recent
fall in the west. At league headquarters AZ
Is held that it would be hurtful to the dis
cipline of the league staff of umpires II
Gaffne=s latest fall-down should be over
looked. in the face Of the last chance" let
ter of Mr. Young. published in these col,
umns several weeks ago.
Mr.. William D. Belts Of this city is likely
TO succeed Gaffney as member of Uncle
Harry Wright's stan. Belts is an intel
lgent, nervy, weil-developed athlete, with
about six years of experience as an UNI
pire in amateur and minor leagues. He
hrst attracted attention here as umpire of
the local league. Then he was selected to
preside over the games of the base ball
league Of the Amateur Athletic Associa-
ton Of the United States. Later, he has
umpired all of the college games played In
this city during the past two years. and this
Season he has aIternated between the Vir-
ginia State League and the Oil City and
Franklin League in Pennsylvania. He Is
an ideal umpire, from the fact that he
commands me respect Of the patrons of
the game by his intelligent Interpretation
of the rules. Next he compels the respect
OF the players by declining to dispute with
them after he has rendered his decision
He contends that only the captains of the
respective teams have any right under the
rules. TO question the rulings Of the umpire
and his work in Baltimore during the Gin
ctnrati series Is enthusiastically commend
ed.
Fatty Childs' absence from the Cleve-
land team makes a large hole in their in
field Patsy Tebeau Is a poor substitute for
His Fatletts" in the middle of the dia-
mOnd- He is not familiar with the plays
required of the man in that position, and he
would have greater trouble IL II were not
for the activity Of Mexican. who has to do
d. uble duty at short and second George
Tebeau Is a little awkward at first base but
from tie style in which he played the bag
here he is undoubtedly better qualified for
that position than station in the out
field
Catcher thinner losses the ball down to
second quicker and with apparently less eff
fort than any hackstop IN the league. He
played the mischief with tine base-stealing
aspirations of the home team. Charlie Alb
hey was the only man to get away with a
stolen bag during the week.
The hopes are that the Senators may pull
themselves out Of the tsil-end position dur
ing the present series with their western
visitors. 1t is observed that there is more
ginger in their movements in the field
and the base lines, and they are hitting
the hall about hard any of their rivals.
There is 10 attempt at team batting on the
part Of the WashingtOns. except in very
few instances. Time and time again the
local patrOnc are obliged to sit quietly by
and see the first man up for the home tea m
start OF with a single. a two-bagger and oc-
casiOnally a three-sacker, and there Is no
effort on the part of the man following to
sacrifice. Radford and Abbey sometimes
sacrifice. but the other members of the
team invariably try to kill the ball" The
result is usually an easy out to an opposing
inhelder. and the runner Is not advanced a
base. Team hitting might have saved the
Senator's many defeats.
Secretary Of State Gresham, Attorney
General Olney and Senator Patten of Mich
igan We're interested spectators at the ball
park on Thursday. All of these distin-
guished gentlemen are perfectly familiar
with all OF the nice details of the game.