Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-29

do not see how II cou4d have improved on
IA cked my brain to tell what was the best
thing to do nor watched every move more
closely than on 3fond4y. felt after Fri
days game that We were in great danger
of losing, because our pitchers were not in
form, with the single exception of Hoffer
Il knew that the pitcher whom the Bos-
ton club particularly 1eared was Corbett
! knew that if Corbett got to pitching any
kind of good balp we could win the game
He wanted to go in, and l thought. If
only he shows form we are safe From
the very first BALI he delivered knew he
would not do. BECAUSE he was pitching in
wretched form. I,was.just on the verge of
taking him out when his hand was hurt.
"Nops had pitched a fine game against
the BoStons in Boston, and while he has
Lot been showing his best form lately.
thought him our next best chance. He had
not gotten half through the inning before
L saw clearly he would NOT do. He was
not pitching in form at all, and I knew
that 1t was only matter of time before
the Bostons would begin to hammer him.
Besides that, he was not welie and showed
lack OF nerve and confidence. He was not
exhibiting the least signs Of being win
ner: l could see his finish plainly.
1T was not because the visitors made
three runs on Nops that took him out
for l know that Stencils weak muff gave
them two Of them, nor that two hits had
been made on him. But it was because
that l took him out
Then came the question of who should
De put In. I have heard people blame me
To-Day for not putting Anlole in at that
time. They blamed me in New York for
putting Amole in instead of Hoffer. Amolc
was hit hard in New York and was not
eHective. / knew II was an uncertainty
very much of an uncertainty, as to wheth-
er ne could win. DR.. Pond had pitched
part of Fridays game and had not shown
winning form. had been watching Hofrer
IN practice and he showed more form than
any of the pitchers. 1 knew he had beaten
the Bostons and pitched great ball Satur-
day, and he was ready and anxious to go
in. If you will win,' I said to Hoffer, 4
will make you a handsome present. He
was my last chance. If he failed 1 knew
1t was all up for that game. l wanted
somebody right then and there to stop the
Bostons' scoring. and if we could have
stopped them then, Nichols would have
lost heart and the game would have been
easy.
I'VE had Nichols going in the first two
innings, and the only reason he came back
was the encouragement received from his
teams hitting and keeping up with Our
run-making.
Hoffer's collapse in the seventh inning
came through his getting several new balls
in succession. That worried him, the Bos-
tons made few runs, and it was all up.
l did not take him out in the middle of the
inning because none of the other pitchers
were warmed UP at that time. 1t all came
in few moments Hoffer had been doing
well when all at once 'bing,' bling bling
and the game was lost.
L substituted Amole not because 1
thought there was any chance to win, but
I knew Hoffer was done and 1 wanted to
stop the slaughter. OF course, Amoie did
we'll The game was lost to us and won
by Boston. Amole had all TO gain. nothing
to lose and could pitch well, while his OPP
ponents, having the game won. were not
trying so hard. / do not believe he could
nave done as well had he been put in at
the critical moment. You may know how
L could have won that game, but do moi"