The times., 1898-05-19
Standing of the Clubs.

The surprise of the season is the poor
showing made by the Washington club.
from which so much was expected. and
many reasons have been assigned in ex-
planation of the unfortunate state Of af-
fairs. The team as now made M is
stronger than any of its predecessors
yet this alleged strength has not been
proven by satisfactory results up 10 the
present time.
It is well known that the club was SER
iously handicapped in the beginning Of
the season by the absence of some of its
star players The series with Brooklyn
and Baltimore were played without reg
ular players; for instance, Mercer was
put at third base, Doyle on second, and
Farrell al first, which badly crippled the
efficiency Of the team. and of course,
had a demoralizing effect upon the play
ers, from which they have not entirely
recovered. In addition to this, and owing
TO the very cold and wet Spring the
players had not sufficient opportunity to
get into condition by daily practice, and
by reason of these handicaps began the
season under the most unfavorable and
discouraging circumstances.
The personnel of the club as now made
up is strong, and will doubtless prove
a formidable. aggregation. Where is
there a stronger outfield than Selbach,
McHale and Gettman? The inield, with
f Doyle Rietz, Wrigley and Wagner, will
/ compare favorably with that of any club
in the league. The batting and base run
-
oning. will be one of their prominent
features Therefore it is evident that the
complete success of the team will depend
upon the pitching department
The work Of Mercer, from whom so
much was expected, has been disappoint-
ing TO the owners and the public The
I young man seems 10 be in splendid phys
/ ical condition, his surroundings appear 10
! be pleasant and it is understood that his
/ salary is satisfactory-indeed out of all
/ proportion to the value OF the services he
! IS now giving the club, and why he
/ should manifest a disposition OF indiffer-
/ euce or carelessness or go up into the air
/ and pOut if an error is made behind him,
I is beyond comprehension. The exhibition
he gave in one game in this city and one
in Brooklyn was such palpable case of
lay down that It became disgusting. Mr..
Wagner may stand for this kind of
work, but the public Will not, and this
dark-haired Apollo Belvidere of the dia-
mond will find it out If he does not get
into the game.
The pitching Of AmoIe, while he has
been unfortunate by reason of poor sup
port, has been satisfactory. He has
! clearly demonstrated that he is above the
| average, and when he has experience,
/ having only been about three months in
! the big league, he viii surely be up
among the top notchers. In the five
games he has pitched he would have won
at least three of them had the team hit
/ the ball. No fear is felt of his final sue
4 cess.
The work of Gus. weighing has been a
pleasant surprise TO all his friends. He
is in his old time form and full of vim,
vigor and vigilance. He is master of the
game in all its technique, has a strong
right arm and splendid control, and the
boys on the team say he can be depended
upon TO win a majority of his games.
DiuuSeH - last IOuHuluS INTO IOTEl,
and WIFI not disappoint the great expec-
tations of his friends. He is large, ath-
letic young man with strong right arm,
loaded with speed and skill
Cy. Swain has almost recovered
from the i'll health that handicapped him
/ last season and is in good condition and
can be depended upon for some good
work as he has wonderful speed and good
control.
As TO Donovan he is yet an untried
/ quantity as a pitcher, but is known to
| possess some rare qualities. He has the
speed of Rusie and is master of a puz-
zling curve and drop ball, yet is sadly
deficient in control. Jack Doyle said to
the writer that Donovan would be the
star pitcher of the league if he could only
get perfect control. Donovan is seriously
afflicted with one Of Jimmy NJ. James all
I ments, that viii seriously impair his use
/ fulness and that is a lack of energy
sometimes called lazness. This he can
overcome if he has the proper ambition
and desires to stay in the game, other
wise he viii be a failure.
In catchers no club has an advantage
1 over the Senator'S.
This is fair statements of the condi.
l