The Washington herald., 1907-08-19

When the club started the Western
series last week there was a wholesale
shake-up. and since that time there has
been one or more changes every time The
team has taken the field. This has been
done TO experiment in order to give every
member Of the club a thorough try-out
before TIE AK falls and several holdovers
from last season are allowed 10 go 10
other major league teams and many OF
the recruits are returned TO the minors.
The makeup OF the Nationals for next
year has been practically decided upon.
Even though Washington has not been
near as big a disappointment as several
other clubs which were expected to be
fighting for the lead, there is not a
single manager in either the American
or the National league who has cor
rallied as many players this year as Joe
Cantnion.
Washington is to-day carrying more
men than any other club in the league.
Some Of these are real. major league play
ers, some are promising youngsters who
have earned a trial in fast company, and
there are a few who will never develop
into reliable players. The pick Of the
squad will be retained permanently,
while the likely looking men will be
given until October TO show their
worth. and the ones in the never-will-do
class viii be shipped as soon as il is
possible TO let them so and at the same
time be prepared for emergencies.
Freeman on First.
There is not real first baseman on
the club. Since the season opened An
derson. Hickman, Delehanty, Blanken-
ship. and Altizer have been tried at the
initial bag. but not one Of these has been
able to deliver the goods. The weakness
at first base has been largely responsible
for the unsteadiness OF the team, for even
though the other three indelders have
been able 10 get the ball. they have had
10 be so certain with the throw TO the
bag that many an easy chance, which
ordinarily should have been an out, has
gon, for hits for the opposition. When
il is considered that the Nationals have
been defeated by single tally in twenty
two games. it can be understood how
costly the weakness at first has been.
Next year Jerry Freeman will hold
down first II there is a man in the
major leagues whose record would seem
10 guarantee him for the j0rs, IL is the
big Minneapolis first baseman. Fielding
head and shoulders over every other first
baseman in the fast American AssOcla-
ton, Freeman has been a tower OF
strength TO his team, and not only has
he been able to carry off honors in field
ing, but he has a batting record Of over
800. CantillOn has the greatest confidence
in Freeman, and ne expects that he viii
develop into a star of the first magnitude
with a fast inheld with which to work
Jim Dclebanty's wOrK since joining the
Nationals has stamped him the best sec
ond baseman Washington has ever had,
and he has cliuched the position. Before
coming here Deiehanty had a reputation
Of being an unreliable player. but he has
been able to maintain a high standard
since he donned the local uniform, and
Canullon is satisfied that it viii be impos-
sible TO improve upon Delehanty for sec
ond base.
Mcbride on Short.
Despite every effort Of Joe Cantillon
and George Tebeau 10 keep the matter
out Of print until it could be let out with
out embarrassing either club, the pur-
chase Of George Mcbride, of Kansas City,
has been announced. This deal was closed
at a meeting Of the two managers in this
city the evening the Natousls left here
for the West. and although Cantillon was
willing to allow the scribes 10 have the
news. he asked that absolutely nothing
be said until the season was about 10
close. He said that an announcement at
this time would be a drawback to both
Washington and Kansas City. and. while
he is willing TO allow the writer's and
fans to have the news as fast as It Is ripe.
he failed to see any advantage Of the an
nouncement while there is a possibility
Of complications which will work to the
detriment of the Western club.
However. as long as it is out, there
is no breach Of confidence in saying that
Mcbride is the man who is slated for
shOrtstop next year. Altizer has not per-
formed to the satisfaction of Cantilion.
and the soldier boy will figure in some
sort of deal with some American League
club before the season ends Mcbride
was in the National League last season
and he played a wonderful game at short
stop for St Louis, but poor work with
the stick caused hts relegation to the
minors. This year his batting has shown !
a decided improvement, and Cantillon !
thinks that with proper handling he will |
be able 10 maintain good average with
the stick
In the few games IN which he has
been seen Bill Shipke has shown that
he IS really a wonder at fielding. On /
bunts and on hard hits, In taking throws /
and in whipping the ball across the dia-
mOnd there is no one in the league who
has anything on the little third basenan /
At the bat Shipke has not been great /
success, but he is a good waiter. and /
can dump bunt with as muck ease and 1
grace as the next one and, withaI. is 1
one OF the heetest men on the team /
Shipke can kill, in a season, about as
many hits as most Of the other third
basemen can make. and Cantillon has
about decided 10 hold him for his great
fielding, so unless some other PLAYER
who is a good hitter is found Sbipke |
will guard third base next year.
Three Catchers.
Weak at the bat and unreliable behind
the bat, Heydon has outlived his
usefulness and viii be dropped. while
Block will urpbab blv he SAM ,,,4 49,