The times., 1899-08-24
GAMES TODAY.
Boston af PfttsburE-
New York at Cleveland.
Baltimore at Louisville.
Brooklyn at Chicago
Philadelphia at 81. Louis.

The Washington management had
shake up OF the team on yesterday and
some Of the men were released, Bonner,
Duncan, and Atherton receiving tickets of
leave Stafford, whom Irwin signed on
Tuesday, viii be put al short, and Padden
viii go back TO second. Barry or Mercer
viii play third base. This change on paper
looks 10 be strong With Stafford, Barry.
and Mercer in the game the base running
and batting viii be greatly improved. II
is Ia these departments that the club has
been weak.
The work of getting winning ball team
together involves money, time, and patience
The value Of bali players services can
only be ascertained by actual experience.
Published records OF batting or felGing
averages is not the best evidence Of a play
er's ability. and amounts TO nothing If he
cannot make good upon the field Yet in
getting a team together the managers are
compelled TO take chances.
Out of the men drafted from minor
league organizations there is only about
one out OF twenty that proves TO be fast
enough for the major organization 1t can,
therefore, easily be seen that outside of
tire great expense involved in trying out
rather than advanced by reason of their
employment. ANY club that is compelled
TO make changes and experiments during
the playing season is badly Handicapped, yet
as q rule this cannot be avoided. With
accidents and sickness the best club in the
League car become 50 badly denoraiiZed as
TO put them entirely out of the running.
Out OF the large number CT players tried
BY the Washington management this sea-
only rhnnf FIVE Will h. retained and
some Of these men are not as strong as
the e2igsncies demand, yet are the best
sttainable.
There is something more than mechani-
cal skill required 10 make winning bail
player. In addition he should be endowed
with brains and judgment. in order that
his skin may be made available No man
ager in the business can furnish dumb
bah player these essentials An error of
play Is never so fatal as an error of judg-
ment The most skiiiful players OF the
country make errors daily in their work.
Yet il is seldom that dumb play can be
charged against them In fact, the scien-
tIhc player will have as many if not more
errors Of play than the dummy. for the
reason that he takes more chances 4
manager would rather have player make
a half dozen errors a game trying TO make
plays Than TO see him stand like a monu-
ment and wait for play TO come 10 him.
The public, Of course. are not familiar
with the many disadvantages under which
managers labor. When people attend ball
game they want 10 see a good exhibition
and if their expectations are not realized
they naturally censure the club owners,
whom il believes is at fault. The public
does not know nor does it care about the
difficulties that prevent the success Of a
team. Results are what is demanded.
magnate with a losing club is one of
the most unhappy OF all our citizens and
deserves the commiseration Of the public
rather than its censure
The club left for its last Western trip
last night. They will play an exhibition
game al Wheeling today, and at Cincin
natl On Friday and Saturday, going from
there 10 St Louis for game on Sunday.