The times., 1897-05-10

The Washingtons Will conclude their at
home sprlng series with the champion
BaItimores, commencing this afternoon, at
4:3o O'Clock also play tomorrow and
Wednesday.
Thursday, the Senators viii open their
tour of the middle West, at Pittsburg, and
will then go to Cleveland. Chicago,
St Louis, Louisville, and CINCINNATI, IN
succession, making total of eighteen
games lain or other unav oidahle ex-
istencies not arising.
The series with Baltimore, to be in
aueurated this afternoon, will allow the
local supporters uf the club TO get exact
lines on the team, and afford an OPP
portunity of Judging what can he expected
of them on the Western trip.
Should they give the champions hard
rubs in the trio of games, whether they
win or not, hope Will be revived, and there
will he anticipation of an even break n
the games TO tie contested on tie setting
sun side Of the Alleghenies.
1t is like threshing old straw and re-
telling an oft repeated tale to say that the
Senators present trouble is due entirely
to weakness with the bat. The pitchers
seem TO be in good form, and the fielding
of the club is gilt-edged.
And while not accredited as sluggcrs,
vet it is a fact that in O'Brien, De-
Montrcville, Selhach, Mcguire, Farrell
Mercer, Maui, Abbey and Brown, the team
is composed OF a consistent lot of hitters
and only need to focus their eyes Oh
the ball to drive it out safely. This ia
provement is bound to follow, and perhaps
may become evident in the baltimore
series, commencing this afternoon.
In the game this afternoon either Mercer
or Maui will be detailed on the rubber.
Should Mercer get the assignment he will
pitch his arm off, in the attempt to win
from Baltimore 1t is remarkable fact
that in the three years Mercer has posed
as one of the great twirlers of the League
and as often as he has been successful
against other clubs not for one time has he
defeated baltimore, though he has gone
in against them as many as dozen times.
He is confident of dispeling the hoodoo
this season, and if he is sent to the slab
this afternoon the Orioles will have trouble
and plenty OF it,
Maui vii! certainly be used in one of
the games-either this afsteFnoon or to-
morrow AL has practced diligently while
the club was away and has pulled off
lot of flesh as well as limbered up his
'salary arm" He says he feels per-
fectiy fit and Is ready to take his regular
turn on the rubber He Will accompany
the Senators on the Western journey.
There was a great deal Of talk while
the Senators were in Boston of trades and
deals One gossipy fan told The Times
that he had it from the inside" that
Mcclure and Cartwright would be ex-
changed for Tucker and Tenny. That
Tucker would be placed at first base
and that Tenny would alternate with
Farrell behind the bat. 1t would be q
newsy story, if true; but it is only
chromcied III this column IN order to
afford the opportunity of saying that the
fan is entitled to another guess"
In the past, or since the lengthening of
the distance from the pitchers slab to
the home plate, it has not been the habit
OF the Leagues twirlers to show up
strong and effective in the early spring
games. There is a remarkable exception
this season.
The Youngsters, and even the veterans,
are pitching July bail already and are
Whether this means a let down later re-
mains to be seen.
The showing thus far evidences, that
either the twrlers have mastered the in
creased distance or that aware of the
fast class OF ball demanded by the public,
have learned to take care of themselves In
the winter.
In this connection it will prove Interest,"
ing to recall the length Of service given the
respective League clubs by the pitchers
most prominent at this time.
"Adonis'' Terry, of the Chicago team, is
the oldest pitcher in the League in point
of service. He began work in fast com
pany in 1SS4 and has pitched every year
since then in major organizations. Charlie
King and Berry Wall Maui are next in
rank. having first played in fast company
in 1887. King retired for two years, but
during that time he did not play in minor
league company, so that he may safely be
considered al regular leaguer Cunning-
ham began In 1883, and Dwyer, Rusie,
Etivetts, Mcmahon. Foreman, Sullivan and
Ehret belong to the crop of 1889. The
following list shows in what year the