Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-30
BIG OFFER
It Should Have a Good Effect on the
Local Team.
SHOWS A DESIRE FOR THE BEST MEN
Excellent impression Made by
Joyce's Acquisitions.
GOSSIP OF THE PLAYERS

The offer of Mr.. Earl Wagner of So, 800 to
Mr. Freedman for the services Of Amos
Rusie has proved to be the sensation OF the
month in base ball circles, and at the same
time gives positive indications that Wash
irgtOn has given goodbye forever to the
tafl-end division of the National League.
An offer of that size shows that the local
management is endeavoring and willing at
all times to strengthen the Senators. and
where such an offer fails once. it will be
accepted nine times in other places With
Rusie in the box for the Senator's a first
division place would be assured, and in the
natural course of development of the play
ing ability already on the pay roll, cham
piCnship honors would not be out of the
way next season.
1t is an easy guess who the players are
that Freedman wanted. Mercer, Setback
and Cartwright would strengthen the
Giants fully 30 per cent but in the mean
time what Would become of the local club?
Joyce might play first. and then again he
might not. The position is apparently, easy
to play. but how often have we seen clubs
breaking their necks after good men for
the initial bag? New York already has two
first basemen that were touted to be first
class, yet Ca wright is wanted. IN a con-
Versation with one of the Cincinnati players
a Star reporter asked him what he thought
of Cartwright. He replied:
mere are Only TWO 1ESt DaSSmen IN the
league that can give him points on fielding,
and they are Tucker and Beckley. Our
captain is a good one, but just consider the
almost perfect throwing he has to handle.
Germany Smith. MCPhee and Irwin seldom
make a bad throw, but get them to Ewing
regularly on 4 line. With Cartwright it is
different. JOyce's arm is weak and his
throwing erratic; De Monueville is young
and wild as a steer and. while being a good
short stop. has lots to learn in the way of
getting them across the diamond perfectly.
and Rogers is in about the same class. These
three infieiIers would make monkeys out
of BrOutherS. Conner, Bill Clarke or Doyle,
not to mention our worthy captain. In bat
ting he is better than either Tucker and
Beckley this year. hut, of course. falls be
hind couple of other first baSemen who
are signed simply for their batting ability
Take my word for it. you fellows have a
good man at first. and you will only find it
out when his place is filled. if he is shifted
to another club"
In the ease of the other two players want
cd by Freedman, Mercer would fill Rusie' 5
place better than any other pitcher that
can be thought OF. and Ruste would easily
fill the void for the Senator'S. In the loss
OF Selbach the void becomes more serious
BILLY" Lush is a good PLAYER but hardly
up to AIS standard: therefore at first
and left field the club would he disarrangeI
ana consequently weakened. how much
time alone would demonstrate. Under
these circumstances Mr.. Wagner knew ok
actly what he was talking about when H.
refused TO allow any of his players to 90 to
New York The team is doing well. and is
Bound to improve Mercer has experienced
his Waterloo, and won't he hit as hard
again this season. Maui should improve
German is all right. Boyd and McJames
may prove TO be crack-a-jacks. silver
King Is the lottery ticket He will never
pitch poor bali for Washington more than
twice 1t is a case where he must be good
or back to St Louis he Will go not at the
invitation OF Mr.. Wagner, but of ''SiIver's''
- has Il
game simply because he thinks ne can
pitch as good ball as ever. and when it is
demonstrated that his right arm has lost
It's cunning. no man will bow to the in
eFltab!e with more grace and resume the
business cares of life with more satisfac-
Louis
That homecoming of the Senators was
not altogether brilliant Tuesday. but then
expectations We're soaring abnormally high
LOO huch credit cannot be given the Gin
Gihnatls Tor the game they put up here.
The senators did not play absolutely bad
bail. but II looked that way when placed in
comparison with the exceptionally high
class DaII put up by the Red Legs. This is
the one club from the west that will fool
the boys on the eastern circuit Why their
abllty TO play hrst-Class ball has been
rooted at by a majority of the eastern and
western base ball writers is a mystery.
II must be simply because the club is made
up Tor the most part of old pIayers But
Is TINS a disadvantages Washington has
mao young players for years. and the only
t nm, we nhlshed up Well in the race was in
49, Wnen the team was COMPOSED of
veterans Louisville has also been expert
menting with young players. and every
body knows the result. This year the SEN
ators are getting out of the kid" class
and look at the difference in their play-
ing. The Cincinnati infield is as strong
as any IN the league. not excepting Ralti-
more and Cleveland. They play the good,
TO- ~ Il
HELD Is the only weak part of the team.
ana that is more apparent than real as
Eddie Burke and Dummy How are pIay-
ing very fast ball. and nothing need he
Sald or Dusty Miller. as he is in the
Hamilton-Duffy-B urkett-Iapga class The
pitchers are old-timers but they are
pitching brainy ball, the sort of twirIiny
mat wins this year Don't overlook the
Reds when you are picking dark horses
Tor the league championship Captain Ew-
ing IS getting good ball out of his men. and
the " a5hinSton people are beginning to
reahza what a winning percentage is added
The storm Thursday afternoon demon
StTated that The grand stard or the one
half of it, has been put I'D to stay Whom
the Storm struck National Park the ticket
ofl-es swayed back and forth like a swing
me new sjs nd offered an excellent mark
Tor the wind. and that it came through il
UnScathed places the staup of stahiIi+v
blown Gown, hut that is The sum total of
lhe damage done in a part of the CITY
where thc storm was the fercCst.
Looking over the situation after the first
three games between the east and the Yves;
on me forEscrs grounds, it would appear
as II the west is OutClassed. The main d:f.
hcult;' Is that three of the western clubs
have TO do all the playing for the wes-
and the ether three set thrown down wifi
such regularity that the average against
that section looks very bad. In the cas-
there IS really only one weak club this
season, New York. and it is bound to dc
better work before the clubs &c west again
In the west. Louisville. 81. Louis and Chi
CdGO rep e>ent t." weak portion. and these
clubs VIII he thrown down with a regular
ity that will make their trip east take on
the proper tlDuS of continuous Waterloo
Ihe clubs that have the seasoned pitchers
this year are doing the best work and foI
this reason Washington is stronger thar
New York and will continue to improve
while the latter city will stand still ON.
cinnai. Cleveland and PittsbUrg are al
right. having seasoned players and expert.
snced pitchers. and with fair division OF
luck Shc1ld fight it out with the leaders
Terry. an old-timer. is doing the best work
for Chicago. ditto BreitenStein for ST
Louis: but outside of these two men the
weak end of the western section has not q
pitcher that belongs above the third class
II the Louisville or st. Louis win game
on this trip they should check il off as he.