The Washington times., 1906-05-28
WHAT'S THE ANSWER
ABOUT NATIONALIST
What Major Team VIII Let
Stars Go?
ALSO, NOTHING IN MINORS
Therefore It's Wise Boy Who Can
Show How to Strengthen
Team.
ALSO, NOTHING IN MINORS
BY THOMAS S. RICE.

By THOMAS S. RICE.
Washington's need for two or three
new men on its ball team is well ap-
preciated by the management. but
where are YOU going TO get EN-?
There was a meeting of the strategy
board on Saturday N the office of
President Tom Noyes. and the situa-
tion was thoroughly discussed 1t was
agreed that 4 Lajoie. KeeleT. and Paren.
could be obtained it would be a big
help, and there was some talk of asking
McGraw to pass along AIatthewson and
AfcGinnity. but these plans are all IN
the air ut present Plank and BendLr
CT the Athletics are also wanted as
pitchers. but it is doubtful if they viii
come 10 this city for the next few
weeks
Won't Help Us-How Mean
The other clubs have a strange aver
sion TO helping Washington win the pen
nant. When their managers are ap-
preached with offers for their star men
they assume a panied look and tap their
heads significantly as if they thought
the heat in Washington had caused the
think tanks OF the Washington man
agement to boil too violently. It's real
mean. so 1t is. for the other fellows to
act that way, but they do. and you can't
pry any of their good men away with
a jimmy.
President Moves said this. that he had
hopes that one or two deals now unier
consideration would go through, but
there is no telling what may happen
Every team in the league is so anxious
TO win that money hardly figures in the
subject Of negotiations for players. If
a team decides to let a man go II is
only because IL Think it sees a chance
TO strengthen Itself. p,t because there is
chance 10 pick up little easy money
OF course, IL a man : slated 10 be
canned the management holds out for
the highest possible offer, but the men
who have the ''23 sign are not likely
10 be the cneS WaSningl on wants, so
what are you going 10 do.
Willing to Buy.
There isn't one chance in 4 thousand
that the sixteen managers IN the major
leagues overlooked enough high grade
minor league talent last season for
Washington 70 sc into the bushes and
pick up youngsters who can break the
present losing streak. Therefore. We
come down 10 the proposition that eX-
cept by an accidental combination OF
circumstances there IS no way TO get
first-class men from the American
League and there IS nothing in sight in
the minors.
The Washington club has money in the
treasury and can get more. IL neces-
sary. for the purchase OF players, and
some energetic person with an eye TO
business could turn a neat penny by
hyprOtiZing the shTewd Sammies at the
head of the seven O her clubs in the
American League into taking real coin
foI thcir star performers TO t'N the
nIarae IN which AAaGnin ntOn is weak
Bad Inning Habit.
The Nationals have dropped into a
habit Of losing games that are almost
won. The pitchers have the bad-innins
habit in 4 most virulent form. They
keep down the total number Of hits.
but allow the opposition 20 bunch
singles in one or two innings. and then
it's all of. Saturdays game was an
example. Lost in the last round.
Hughes game the day before was an
iOtheT y single and a triple. with Il
.man on base each time. accounted for
ali the runs Bill Wclfc's defeat on
"Wednesday was the saDne-he allowed
only five hits altogether. but three OF
them came at just the psychological
moment when there were men on bases.
This IS in contra ST to the game Hughes
lost when nine of the thirteen hits made
off him had absolutely no effect on the
score. It is a contrast almost imDOs-
Sible TO explain and the only thing Is
10 charge II UP to the cUsseduess OF
base ball luck.
What's the Answer?
Anderson and Cross have been DOING
good and timely hitting, and Jones and
Schlahy are improving. The other men
are hating SO erraucally that they are
hardly considered In emergencies 1t
might not be a bad idea to try Frank
kitsOn in the outfield for q while be.
cause of his burst of batting recently
but KitsCn has come the nearest of
any Of the aNtionals pitchers 10 being
~tcadv and reliable. and II he were out
ito the outer garden might throw his
'~ out of gear.