The evening times., 1897-08-23

TIE Washington team wound up the
past week with n victory, and made a
fairly good record for the seven engage
ments participated in.
The Senators Won one game out or
three from Boston, which is as good as
any other dub in the League has been
doing, ard two out OF four from Chicago,
or a percentage of 429 for the week.
One cannot help speculating on the
chances OF the team to finish higher
up than at present after a glance at how
they now stand, yet that UDcer-
tainty which enters so largely into the
national game, and makes it the popular
sport OF TIE people, is just as likely Ia
knock all calculations galley west and
leave the Statesmen stranded 10 The cld
time position.
+ However, il does not require an expert To
make plain the possibilities of the sit
uation. The Only thing necessary is con
sstent good work for a couple OF weeks,
and mort than one club from the Wild
and woody, and possibly one or two
from the effete East, viii have TO lock
up instead OF down TO locate the Wag
neritos in the percentage table.
The recent changes ia the personnelof the
Senators serve TO show that the club has
not been in keeping with Mr.. Wagner idea
Of a winning team, and is IA guarantee that
changes Will continne to come until the
club more nearly approaches what IL should
bc.
Mr. Wagner no doubt believes that Gett
man, Fox and Bresnehan are good enough
to fill the places OF Abbey, O'Brien and
King. hut should they fail 10 come up 10
expectations il will only he necessary tU
recalIthe release OF either of the vets within
ten days, unless new men are secured. The
men released will very likely find berths
before long with other clubs, either in the
National League or niino II organizations.
The release of King was something Of
surprise, as IL leaves the club with but
three twirlers of known quantity, and II
the injury 90 Mercer's arm should prove
at all troublesome il would reduce that
number to two, Unless another good man
should be secured before Kings ten days
have expired, or Bresnehan or one of the
other Youngsters in Tire string should de-
velop Into a find" from the start.
However. Mr.. Wagner evidently knows what
he Is uOi1E- anu a. iOlE dS It w
gather together players who may make
winners the fans viii be satisfied, realizing
that he is the one TO pay the penalty Of
failure to meet popular approval.
Itis believed that the infield as at present
constituted, after il gets to working to-
gether, viii be able to put up fast game,
while the addition OF Gettman TO the outfield
is thought to strengthen the frontier. 1t is
well, however, not to expect too much OF
these men, as they are new In the big League
aud have a great deal 10 learn about 1.-THE
wavs that are dark and tricks that are
vain'' ia the major organization. They
have been doing good work, aud after a
little of the roughness has worn off they
should do better.
Tie Statesmen have some hard work cut
out for them the first part of this week, the
Cincinnati Reds being scheduled for today.
tomorrow and Wednesday. II was the
Washington team which started Buck Ew
ing's Braves on the toboggan last year, and
the Reds will no doubt strain every nerve
TO prevent "a repetition of the slump which
saw the Temple Cup gold go glimmering Z
about one year ago