Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-25
Analysing the Playing Of the Senators
While Away From Home.
SACRIFICE HITTING NEEDED
The Western Division Of the League
Doing Unusually Well.
LATE BATTING AVERAGES

If 'all the world loves a lover what is
more true than AL the world loves WIN
ner?" When the Washingtons were play
irg ball that took them up among the lead
ers nothing could be said of the team that
was too laudatory. Errors were made in
punches, but the batting of the men saved
them time after time. Nothing was said
of the weak playing Of their opponents.
both at the bat and In the field, but that
they won was sufficient
Then came the state Of affairs designated
IS the slump while in reality it was
simply a bracing up of all the clubs along
the line. The same kind OF game Is played
today that was played in May and June,
but defeat after defeat comes the Sena-
tors way instead of victory Local enthu-
siasts are too prone to form quick conclu-
sions without going into details. and as a
result when their hopes and predictions
go awry an unreasoning censure is bound
to crop out
In the long string of victories that are
credited to Mercer fully one-half were won
by the stick work of the team behind him.
Then the pitchers of the opposing teams
were whipped in shape and the hitting of
the Senators fell off. and defeat came their
way. AS result of these defeats no credit
Is given the pitching abilities of their op-
ponents; that the Senators have lost their
every one.
When the Washingtons made their first
Trip the st. Louis and Louisville clubs
We're disrupted by releases and factions
through weakness in their infield Since
then the signing of Sullivan and Turnt
and placing of Tommy Dowd in CON-
mand have braced the mound city team up
TO a wonderful degree Of effectiveness
Their pitchers have always been good, and
their good work is beginning to tell. In
chicago that gentlemanly and exception
ally fine second baSeman. Fred Pfeffer has
resumed business at the old stand and in
MS old form, and a result the Chicago
team Is in fourth place. In Louisville our
own Jack Crooks is giving that club the
benefit of his experience and ability coupled
With the energetic work of Jimmy Rogers
and as q result the Kentucky Cherry Pie
is not as easy to digest as in the first part
OF the season. Cleveland, Cincinnati and
Pittsburg are playing the bail that has all
along been expected of them.
Coupled with these conditions are the
fact that the umpire will favor the home
team three times out of four and the home
rooters are just as effective in other
cities as in Washington.
Tom Brown was signed much for his
experience to steady the younger PLAYERS
as for his fielding and base running. For
the last month he has been unlucky in get
ing hurt. and his great strength is missed
When Crooks and Rogers were traded
for O'Bren there was hardly one man
out of ten that didn't agree with the man.
asement IN the exchange. but recent de-
velopments have demonstrated that the
exchange worked more harm than good
In Rogers case the loss was not felt. as he
was on the bench. In Crooks loss the
infield was disarranged and all the signals
and team work had to be gone over again
. Brien is good man. and he will demon
strate his worth before the season is out
and for many seasons to come. With
Brown back in center and harmony re-
stored in the infield az to working to-
Sether there can be no question as to the
Senators winning games
Now is the time for the real well-wish-
ers of the Washington club to stand by
the team
Remember. the Philadelphia club has
won but two games on this trip. and no
one ever claimed the Senators to be a bet
ter team than the Phillies
anybody can stand by a winner. but It
takes sand" to stick to a loser Tho
local enthusiasts should have more nerve
and sand. and instead of hammering a club
CO nfronted with all manner of handicaps
Greer them on, and as a result a good rec
ord will yet be obtained.
The latest batting records are just out,
and that kid at short stop is leading
the washington team in batting. being tie
with Hamilton Of Boston with .343 Sell
bach comes next with .337 O'Brien who
was batting up around .3GI for the -LG<lis-
villes. has dropped down to .32a and is
list above William Joyce. who has :s21 to
his credit Mcclure. Mercer and Brown
have dropped out of the 800 class Bur
kett still leads the league batters, but has
fallen eff slightly. and now leads Jennings
by only two points. These two players
are the only ores in the league that have
an average of over 400. Most of the
players have slumped off a little, but Del
ehanty and DeMontreville are the excap-
tons and both have made advances The
following table of figures shows the stand
ing of batters having averages of 800 or
over: