The times., 1901-06-07
WASHINGTON CLUB AT HOME.
Senators VIII Meet Comiskey's Chi
cagos This Aftcrnoon.

The Washington bas ball club will re-
turn today from its first Western trip,
and Will play the Chicagos, the present
leaders in the race for the American
League pennant, this afternoon. There is
little doubt but that the four games that
will be played with the Comiskey team
will have good deal to do with deter
mining the fight for the pennant. There
is every reason to believe. in the light Of
the recent performances Of the Senators,
that the local men will win at least one
half of the games at home, and if the
pitching corps of the team round into
their proper form under the influences of
the warm weather, before the series of
games with the other clubs in the Ameri-
can League is finished James Manning s
young men should be holding down the
top of the column. The club returns in
third place, but few points behind the
Detr0its, the occupants of the second po-
sition, and with anything like fair luck
the Senators should be able to push the
Wolverines to a back seat within the first
half dozen games,
Carrick viii undoubtedly do the pitch
ing for the locals this afternoon, and as
he is in fine form those who attend the
game should see an uncommonly good ex-
hioition. The team is reported TO be in
good shape, fun Of ginger, and just get
ting down 10 real work. Their perfor-
mances on the trip were generally good
although the defeats at the hands of
Cleveland and the Brewers were unex-
pected, as these clubs were regarded
much in the light Of easy marks for the
Senators, while the hustling teams OF De
troit and Chicago, who were expected TO
be the real stumbling blocks in the on
ward march of the Meaningless. proved
TO be good things
Manager Manning, just before lie went
away on the tour West. rema rked that If
he could win at least half of the games
and get back home within hailing dis
tance of third place he would be perfectly
contented and would then turn his eyes
toward the head Of the percentage col
umn, and believed that first place was
possible with the long stretch OF games
that would be played on the local grounds
during this month.
After four games with Chicago Detroit
viii be along for similar number of con-
tests. and before the Senators leave their
boarding houses again they will have
faced all the other teams in the league
The local pitchers are said to be get
ting in form most satisfactorily Both
Lee and Gear are reported to be fit while
Carrick remains IN excellent shape. Pat
ton has showed up well in his later
games and it is thought Mercer will get
into line before very long and put up the
game he Is capable or so lar, Mercer
tWirling has been anything but good, but
IL is thought the warm weather will take
out the kinks from his business wing
When in his regular form, Mercer will
add tower of strength to the local
pitching brigade and with the fielders
putting up their present game, II is diff
cult to figure the Senators in anything
lower than first place at the end Of their
coming twenty-eight games on the home
grounds The men are hitting the ball
hard and safe, and the fielding is on a par
with the best in the league.
The park will present many imprc re-
ments this afternoon. During the absence
of the team painters have been putting
the grandstand in shape, while the
grounds have received a good deal Of at
tention.