Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-27
THE PRINCE OF UMPIREs.
What Tommy Connolly Thinks of the
Nationals
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.

From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
Tom Connolly, one of Johnston's stars in
the umpiring line. thinks that Washington
| well deserves the position that team has
been holding In the American League race
Connolly has been officiating at many Of the
games in which Washington has played this
season, and his opinion is valuable on this
account.
washington is up at the top because
Stahis men are playing the fastest ball OF
any of the eastern division" says the UNI
pire. mot only in pitching are they strong
but in batting and fielding and, to my sur
prise, they have shown good ieadwork on
the bases.
''The stickwork of the Washington aggre-
cation has not been far superior to their OPP
ponents, but in fielding they have been won
ders. Take Hill, the third baseman, for in
stance. The game he has been playing is as
good as any third Dagger in the country. not
excepting Bradley. Collins or any of the rest
of them. He's played phenomenal ball.
Here's little play that came up in Wash
fngton the other day that will show his
speed. keeler was at bat. no one on base.
Naturally 1t was a question whether he
would hit it out or dump it down. Hill had
to guess and didn't dare come in too close.
Keller laid down perfect bunt, not over
fifteen feet from the plate. Hill tore in,
speared the ball with one hand and without
false motion whipped it to first and caught
him. Any one who can do that and get
Willie Keller is going some. That is not
the only instance of the kind with Hill,
either-he's doing 1t right along.
Charlie Jones. who used to belong to
Comiskey, but who was drafted from St.
Paul by Washington, has been wonderful
aid to that team In the field. He doesn't hit
much, but he is a wonderful fielder. And
what whip he has, Never in all my days
have 1 seen another to match his. I've seen
him make dozens of throws this spring from
deep field, and he has yet to make the first
poor one. Base runners had better take
heed when Charlie Jones gets the ball or
they will rue their rashness.
Jake Stahl is the idol of Washington,
and well he might be- for he is handling
that bunch of colts in admirable style.
Stahl Is still new to the game-especially
from a managerial standpoint-and unless
he reforms and takes care he is going to
get into trouble. kittridge Is responsible
for good deal of it, for Stahl looks to
Kit for a good deal of advice, recogniz-
ing the experience of the latter. Kit
has been telling him to run in from first
and dispute every decision that goes
against the Senators and he has done it a
good deal too much. The result will be
he will warm the bench good deal this
season unless he cuts it out. l have talked
to him time and again and tried to help
him in every way l could, both as to play
ing the game, how to handle his men and
also how to behave on the field. for l like
Stahl and am glad to see him making good,
but he must stop his nagging the umpire
during the games They won't stand IL
and he'll get the worst of the deal.
THE whole east is crazy over the Sena-
tors In my home town, Boston, the fans
are pulling for Stahl even though they
have the worlds champions there. Wash
ington has been down so long every one
seems glad to see them getting up In the
world.
"Stahrs pitchers are not depending sole
ly on the spit ball, as has been said The
fact is that they depend more on the old
style of pitching than they. do on the eel
ball They are in great shape ana nave
the edge on everything they have met SO
far. Occasionally, of course, the eel ball
Is thrown, especially by Patten and Town
send and they have shown best of the lot
so far. They all look good ana the team
10 working tooth and nail to win. / never
saw bunch of ball players work to,
gether so hard and well for the sake OF
winning. They deserve all they get