Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-29
NATIONALS BACK
HOME ONCE AGAIN
Players in Good Shape for Their
Coming Battles With the
Athletics.

Manager Cantillon and his band of Ma
tionals left New York Saturday at mid
night and arrived here yesterday morning
at o'clock. With the exception of War
ner. who is slightly under the weather. and
Hickman, who is still bothered with his
bad knee. the team Is in fine shape for the
battles this week with the Philadelphia
Athletics and the Bostons.
All the players reported time at the
park this morning and they went through
their practice with a vim. and everybody
appeared TO like the work cut out for
them. Catcher Biankenship was one of the
most enthusiastic of the group. and he may
go behind the bat this afternoon. His torn
hand has healed up nicely and the wound
will not bother him at all Manager Can
tllon was pleased to see Biankenship out
in his toys. as he wants to give Narner a
well-earned rest.
Warner" said Manager Joe this morn
ing has been working for me under diff
culties. as he has not been at all well. The
way he played at his home New York. was
a caution. and the critics were pralSlnS him
on all sides not alone for his batting but
for his general headwork in coaching the
pitchers and throwing to bases. Good warm
weather will soon have Warner In fine
shape again, and he can't get right too
quick to please me, he is very valuable
to the team.
Manager Cantillon across President
Johnson in New York. bur the big fellow
said there was nothing new in the Stahl
case and that 1t was up 20 the Washington
club to close 1t up without further parley-
ing. From this remark 1t can easily be seen
that Mr.. Johnson does not intend TO give
out a decision way or the other, but
hopes to see the matter fixed up through
Stahl being traded to another American
League club. President Johnson was asked
If he was coming over to Washington on his
way home and he replied that he was going
west direct from New York The chances
are that he will drop over to Boston and
try and fix up some sort OF deal in which
Stahl will be transferred to that city.
Whom the Bostons have that they can
afford to let go for Stahl is mystery at
this end of the line. as Manager Cantilon
is not of the sort to hook up to any dead
ones.
Buck" Freeman came over with the Ma
tionals, having Joined them in New York,
but he will not be seen in a local uniform.
as Manager Cantilon has arranged to trans
fer him to Minneapolis.
Manager Cantillon had no excuses to
offer for not winning more games the
trip, excep- that the umpires handed out
several raw decisions in both Boston and
Philadelphia that had considerable to do
with the result of the games.
Il have been an umpire myself" said
Cantillon. land l hate to say anything
against them as d class but If l ever was
as bad as two of them who worked against
us l deserved to be thrown over the fence
Not only the umpires. but the opposi-
New York seemed to be mbued with the
idea that Washington had no rights at all
and that the Nationals should go over the
circuit for the benefit of their teams. /
knocked this idea out of their heads at
once. and fought every inch of the
''From what 1 have seen Of the eastern
clubs there isn't one that has anything on
u.s. over in Philadelphia we would have
our pitchers failed to stand up. Anything
like good work by our men in the box
would have enabled us to win, as we out
batted and outfielded the Athletics in all
the games. Our hitting was especially time
ly and Connie Mack acknowledged to me
that there had been great Improvement
cover in New York they got after me
for coaching. but 1t had no effect on me
as l quickly noticed the men under 'Grif
were squirmng under the coaching from
our side. In fact. II was funny to watch
them in all four OF the games. Patterns
great form on Wednesday simply sent them
In the air and on Thursday and Friday they
were not sure Of the games at any point I'M
til the last man was out.
when 'Grif saw Patten walk out to
the rubber on Saturday his jaw fell and
there were few smiles in the big crowd
'kidded him from the start about being
cutters and they Immediately went into
the air We should have won the game by the
score of to l. but for Hurst calling War
ner out at the plate in the ninth inning
Had the play come up the other way and
the decision given in Washington's favor
there would have been riot. But we hung
on gamely and got to them in the tenth
Two out of four from the chesty New York
bunch isn't so bad. is it?"
The Washingtons start a series of four
games with the Athletics this afternoon
the game being called at O'Clock. Falken-
berg will probably work for the Nationals
while Bender Plank may go to the fir
ing line for the visitors.
Manager Cantillon has decided to work
Anderson at first base hereafter and keep
Charley Jones In left field.
Zones is too valuable man to keep
out OF the game" said Manager Joe land
I have decided to work him regularly II he
only hits 0S5 on the season. Andy has
been showing up nicely at first base and
think the team is strengthened by the
shift"