Evening star., 1902-08-28

the Blues in the first division and Lajoie
and his comrades will do their best to ac-
commodate them. The Chicagos are conf
dent of winning the championship and Will
let nothing escape them, while the ST. Louis
crowd is not far away and has good
chance of fighting it out for first place. All
these teams will look upon the Senators as
money from home" and do their best to
fatten up their championship standing at
our representatives expense. Detroit is the
only soft spot on the map, but as the Tigers
play sensational ball al home the Senators
cannot hope for much even there.
Another factor in the coming games is
the treatment the western teams received
on the eastern trip just closed. Chicago
pulled out four games, St Louis three, De-
troit one and Cleveland five. This record
Is not one to be proud of and the western
contingent has gone home with blood IN
its eyes Every team will have to play
Its best against the eastern delegation to
even up affairs, and as next years con-
tracts are to be looked after. 1t goes with
out saying that every man will do his best
to win.
Washfngtons continue their travels in the
east, meeting Boston. Baltimore and Phila-
delphia. The situation in the Quaker city
Is we'll known and the Senators haven't a
chance there. In Boston the Washingtons
have always done well, but with anything
like chance for the pennant the Bean
eaters will certainly be a strong PROPOSE
tion when they reach their own grounds.
The wind-up then comes off at Baltimore,
and here the Senators may have chance
on account Of the demoralized condition of
affairs In Oriole town.
From this summary it can be seen that in
asking for five victories the Senators,
the team will be doing as well as can be ex-
pected. But there is the one chance the
uncertainty Of the national game, and apon
this point the hopes Of the washington
fans" spring eternal. The Senator's may
look so easy to the pennant chasers in the
west that games may be lost through over
confidence Then, again, should the Sena-
tors get into their well-known batting
stride, there will be no stopping them but,
as before remarked. the Washington en-
thuSiasts must not be surprised II q con-
tinuous string Of defeats is served up to
Manager Lotus and his players for the
next thirty days.
Before leaving for the west Manager
LOTUS practically admitted that he had Sc
cured Second Baseman Eugene DeMontre-
Vile for the team next season, as inti-
mated in The Star several days ago. De-
Montreville was particularly desirous of
playing in Washington and would have
jumped his contract this season had Mr..
Lotus said the word. The Washington
boy thought he had loophole through
which he could crawl away from Boston,
but as 1t would have been a small techni-
caiity the Senatorial manager refused to
permit Gene to make the jump.
DeMontrevflle was very happily married
last fall. and winters residence here fas-
cinated the young Detroit bride. Desir-
u picdSe HcT HdQe LIE eMOntrey1ll6
approach Mr.. LOTUS with his proposition
Gene has been playing the game of his
life this season and there Is no reason why
he should not continue in the next He and
Manager Lotus are great friends. and this
should cut some figure as regards putting
forth his best efforts.
1t Is not necessary to run over DeMontre-
ville's record. 1t has always been first-class
when he has played permanently in one DO
sition. While trying to play shortstop he
was shifted about continually and of course
failed. When tried at third 1t was the same
way, and in recent years DeMont has re-
fused to play any place but second. This
move proved wise one, he is as good
as the best In a fielding line, and at the bat
hits the BAH up to the average of an in
fielder. In a letter to the writer some time
since DeMont intimated that he would be
in Washington next season, and the chances
are that the legal papers were signed sew
eral months ago. Manager LOTUS did not
want to handicap DeMontreyille while
with the Bostons, and for this reason kept
the signing to himself. AS 1t is, there Is q
big chance of DeMontreville being let out
by Boston when it is assured of his signing
with Washington, as 1t will save the club
about $500. The Pittsburg club has let out
O'Connor, and the Cincinnati club threatens
TO do the same with Crawford for affixing
the names of its members to American
League contracts for next season. This
plan seems to have been agreed upon by
the National League magnates. and there
Is possibility also that DeMontreviile also
may finish this season in Washington.
Manager LOTUS has not been sleeping
while his brother magnates have been after
the stars OF the National League. and from
the tenor OF his remarks one and possibly
two more men Of DeMontreville's standing
viii be secured. On this point, however
Foxy Tom was obdurate and refused to
drop even hint as to the Identity of the
men, go that to mention names would only
be along the line Of surmise. Manager
LOTUS stands well with the players. and
there are several who will give him the
preference should they decide to leave the
National League. There are one or two
good men on the Pittsburg team whom the
western papers intimate Manager LOTUS
has been dickering with. but just who they
are has not been made public. Brooklyn
also has couple whom the Washington
manager likes. and there Is also ono with
the Chicagos-