Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-05
PRAISED JOYCE'S MIN
John Wards Comments on the WASH
inEtOn Nine.

John Wards Comments on the WASH
inEtOn Nine.
John NJ. Ward, the ex-Giant, has begun
his journalistic career, and in the New
York Journal sizes up the league clubs
from the standpoint Of an expert. OF
Washington he says:
>"Washington comes next on the record,
and, strange to say, is right up with the
leaders. But the strangest part of 1t is
IL at they are where they are, not by any
fiuke, but by earnest, clever, legitimate
play. They put up a game against the
Bl ooklync at Eastern Park last week that
strong In catchers have several good pitch
ers, one, Mercer, star, and the rest Of
the field seems very evenly balanced.
Joyce, who is at present acting as man
ager and captain, seems to have instilled
much of his own earnest, hustling spirit
into the entire team: Their crucial test
will come, however, when the first real
serious streak OF ill-luck overtakes them
If they give up under the strain they will
soon settle down to a position among the
tail-enders, but if some one can manage to
keep up their courag e so that they will not
lose confidence in their own strength there
Will be good chance for the Washington
team of 80 to do considerably better than
any Of it's predecessors
Ward hardly thinks the Phillies pennant
winners, and considers the BoStonS more
difficult factor to size up. The Brooklyns,
he says, look too pretty to win hard games,
and adds that the Orioles are stronger than
last year, and when once they start they
will come with a rush. OF the Giants,
states John NJ. it is impossible to prophesy.
The club certainly needs Rusie.
Base Ball Notes.
Pitcher Boswell, late of Washington, was
in the box for Columbus yesterday, and
held Indianapolis down to six hits.
ART t,r ruin iS han hat a
Giants have won two games in succession
Umpire Lynch distributed a few fines
among the Baltimore and Pittsburg play
erS in the game at SmoketoWn yesterday.
Kelley, Doyle and Merritt became obstrep-
erous, and wouldn't cool down until they
were touched up for $40 each.
Shearon, the new outfelder of the CleVe-
land team, is said to be one of the finds Of
the season.
There was a rumor afoat in New York
yesterday that the differences between
Amos Rusie and the New York Base Ball
Club management had been adjusted, and
that Rusie was on his way to New York
President Freedman said that it was pos
slbie that some arrangements had been
made between Irwin and Rusie since the
New York team left home.
The feature of yesterdays game at De-
troit was a scrap between Captain Stall
lngs of Detroit and Catcher Smink of Grand
RAPIDS. Detroit was at bat in the fifth
and had fouled the last ball out of the
grounds: Umpire Jevne called for three
new balls. Captain Carney protested, and
all gathered about Detroit's bench. 1t is
alleged Smink had two old balls secreted
about his person and tried to ring them in
the play. Captain Stallings talked very
plainly. and Smink struck him in the face.
In an instant Smink was in the dust one
OF the players rapping him hard just below
the eye. 1t looked for time like a free
for-all fight. but order was again restored
and play resumed.
A special sent last night from Louisville
says: When negotiations We're begun with
Ward 1t was then decided that either the
New Yorker or some one else would sup
plant McCloskey. The situation assumed a
new phase yesterday afternoon, when it
was stated that the Louisville PLAYERS
threatened to strike If McCloskey was re-
leased. Vice President Dahler received a
telegram from Ward today, In which he
asked the Louisville people to await the ar
rival of letter posted last night in New
York. In this. the directors think, Is a ia
vorable reply, although he has previously
declined the propoSition suhmitted To him -,