The Washington times., 1906-05-11
BRIGHT PROSPECT
FOR WASHINGTON
Series at Home Should Be
Valuable.
DID WELL ON THE ROAD
Took Four Out of Seven Games by
Hard Hitting-Pitche-s Still
Uncertain.
DID WELL ON THE ROAD
BY THOMAS S. RICE.

Home again! Now for big doIngs,
Beginning with Detroit this afternoon
the Washington pail club will play fif
teen games at home with the Western
teams. This should he a series or great
proft 10 the Nationals. as being in its
own bailiwick is big help to any team,
especially IN the early part Of the sea-
son, and more especially if the team is
breaking in new men.
After Detroit come Chicago, St. Louis
and Cleveland. in order named, the Sc
ries ending on May 2S. On May % the
game. followed by a double-header on
Decoration Day. Then TO Boston fo-
series which ends June 2 June 3 IS
open. but on the next day the Nationals
appear In Detroit for the first game OF
the first Western campaign
Trip a Success.
The tour from which the Washington
players returned las. night was marked
by both good and bad luck, but on the
whole 1t was a success. A team which
splits even away from home is filling the
bill. Washington cd better than split
even. 1t lost two foolish games to Phila-
delphia. won three straight from Boston
and won one and lost one in New York.
a record of four victories and three de,
feats for the trip
When it is n.embered that the Wash
ington club haC practically no spring
training IN the South and has had to
rely upon Faikenberg. a still uncertain
quantity. to take his regular turn in the
box, TO say nothing of having Mil play
Ing short stop, an unnatural position
for him, the record on the road was "A
splendid one ana well worthy of the
keenest appreciation by the fans.
Won by Hitting.
The games won on the trip were not
fukes. while those lost were dropped be
cause the pitchers got bad start. and
that caused the entire team to 90 up in
the air Any time a twirler begins to
get his in punches. and the swats fol-
low one another in rapid succession.
then the fielders are going to become
temporarily panic stricken and balloon
Tor the while. There never was a base
bail nine since the game began which
did not do this trick at times. and the
Nationals should not be too severely
censured for their little excursions into
the clouds.
Throughout the trip the batting was
furry good an dat times excellent. There
were numerous hits and the extra bases
were pleaSinSly plentiful. There is still
somewhat the old tendency 70 strike
out with man on third and nobody. or
only one man, out but IL is not near as
bad this year as IT. was last. when the
Nationals were making an even stronger
bid for the pennant.
Infeld Improving.
The infield has done some great work
Mi has had some serious errors at
short. but he is filling the position bet
ter all the time. The next three weeks
at home should be a great help 10 him
He and Schlafiy and StahI are good per
sonal friends, and they expect to put in
MANY hours developing the knack OF
making quick plays while on the dead
run These three corners Of the infield
have already acquired confidence in each
other Stahl is built for q first base
man. and his ability to reach far and
near and gather in the wide throws has
put heart in the other fielders, while each
time ne barely pulls In an erratic toss
the necessity for cleaner work IS i'm
pressed upon the offender.
The Outfeld has been doing nObly.
Hickman was a little weak at first in
recently taken new lease on life. and
has been making sensational catch in
nearly every game. Jones is still there
with the eagle eye for fly balls. and is
fielding center fielder in either league.
Welcome Home John" Anderson's
prowess afield and at bat. and how he
has been saving games for our brave
boys, has become too well known to
need further comment.
Pitchers Still Uncertain.
che pitching staff has not vet settled
~ It's proper sIiue. out these DAYS OF
early practice should help that de-
ficicncy. KitsOn, who did not expect to
be ready for a week OF two, has rather
unexpectedly been n sort Of life saver
Be and klttredge are making a form
idable combination these days All the
otner pitchers are having their ups a nj
ot wns. good one day and bad the next
kittredge has not done much catch
inc because of a kink in his elbow
teydon las worn the pad most OF the
;iiIfC, and lately has been hitting the
J Ill better than he did earlier in the
season.
80 game was played IN New York
este day bec2Tse of the cold weather
- 'OUt d. m there was a slight fall of
snow. and Clarke Griffith called off the
proposed contest The day before Il
aimed. SO that Washington incurred
three extra Games-one with Boston and
{ - with New York-on the trip which
VIII necessitate -horrifying number of
double headers, when taken In con-
Junction with this games which were
prevented in Washington.
l.. -,