The Washington herald., 1906-10-22
ANSTALKOF CHANGE
Selection Of CantillOn Meets
Hearty Approval.
NATIONALS TO BE BRACED UP
New Leader of the Washington Club
win Weed Out the Men Who Can
DO the Club but Little Coed, and
InfuSe New Blood Into the Ranks.
He Is Strong DiseIpIinarian-

Washington fandom breathed the at
mosphere Of complete satisfaction yester-
day when the good word was received
that the Nationals would be guided next
year by Joe Cautillon Winter baseball
quarters were agog over the discussions
of the possibilities Of the-future in the
national sport here, and enthusiasts who
were displeased over the disappointing
showing Of the club under Manager Stahl
were glad that a change was made for
Che better They doped it ont that to be-
gin another season with practically the
same team that trod the sod this year.
would bring about anothw failure The
club, of course, played as fine ball al
times as any Of the others, but on the
whoI<Sft fell short of championship class.
There was just little lacking here and
there.
Manager Cantillon comes here to make
good in a major league. He has been
successful in an organization that is
nearly as strong as either of the big
leagues, and it will b. his endeavoT TO
make more out of the Washington club
than any other previous manager. Can
tiIIon has a hard task before him; he
realizes it, Selecting "a team that viii
earn better than seventh place is no days
work. but as Manager CantillOn has I'VE
months before him to prepare for the new
season and as he Is "A resOurceful fellow
with wide acquaintance il may be set
down as a fact that he will make several
changes that viii both please the fans
and add strength to the club.
CantfIIop VIII BE Boss.
The team that represented this city last
season needs TO be braced up in every
point of play Cantilion knows enough
about each member of the team 70 strike
at the weak spots when the time comes
for the process of elimination. There
will be more perfect display of team
work. and its a cinch that CanulOn's
orders will be obeyed or someone viii
lose his head. He is q strict disciplinarian
and deems one command TO his men as
sufficient
BY delegating full authority 10 Manager
Cantillon to purchase, trade. or release
players as he sees Mt. the board of
strategy has relieved Itself of an irksOme
task and one that belongs 10 one Of
greater practical experience than that
possessed by the clever gentlemen Who
have been at the helm the past two years
They did remarkably well. but none could
give as much time 10 the duties of the
club as seemed necessary. They VIII
heartily cooperate with the new manager
in any way that he may suggest
shorter Season Suggested.
Charles Murphy. president of the Chi
cage Cubs, has suggested to the national
commission a shorter championship sea
son in each major league and "a longer
period for post-season games. And who
dare say it is not sensible one2 With
the frost still in the ground the leagues
started their campaigns, which were in
terrUpted by rain and cold weather ever
since the 15i-game schedule was adopted
The interest in the game is az a very low
ebb after September =. except among
clubs that have "a look-in for the pen
Haut.
The idea of the National League mag
nate is bound u he generally discussed
this winter By all the league magnates.
Garry Hermann, of the national com
mission thinks very well Of Murphys
suggestions.
In order to make the series longer than
seven games. however. it is obvious that
some provision viii have to DE made by
the schedule committee of both major
leagues TO shorten the season from 154
successful post-season competition IN
seasonablc weather.
Result of Years Of study.
Mr.. Murphy informs the magnates Of
The commission that his suggestion is not
born of Disappointment but is the result
of several years OF close study of base
ball situations and conditions lie says. |
1T is nay firm conviction that a series |
for the championship Of the world should /
be longer than that now in vogue. If it /
were. seven games out Of thirteen. or even /
five games out of nine. the element Of 1
luck would not be such a factor in de- /
Gliding which is the best club in the world !
BY lengthening the series and allowing a /
stated period TO intervene after the close !
of the championship season in the major /
leagues and before the first game is /
PLAYED for the highest honor in baseball /
the revenue of the contesting clubs would 1
be greatly increased, and also the per-
centage which goes To maintain the ma /
tionai commission.
Refers tn transforming.
This. I believe, would be perfectly true
if the contests should at some future tine /
be played In two of the most populous /
cities of the country. and in which it I
might be necessary to have the deciding 4
game played at a neutral park in a third /
city, The fact that members Of profess
sional baseball clubs so on what are /
called transforming tours every fall /
shows conclusively that these games often
could be played up to and including No
vember J."
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