Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-05
NATIONALS AND BOSTON
IN DOUBLE-HEADER TO-DAY

fighting force for next season, and he is
giving every one a thorough trial The
Athletics have been playing wonderful ball
and quickly discovering that Oberlin, Nc
Donald and Falkenberg had nothing to puz-
re them, they lost little time placing
double win to their credit.
Then, again, to analyze the fielding of the
different men is almost a waste of time, as
but one man now in the infield will be there
next season. Manager Cantillon knows the
value of mixing veterans with youngsters,
and he will have enough of the former to
make the Nationals leXt season we'll
balanced aggregation. Stick a pin here.
Several of the western and eastern papers
have taken up the discussion of the relative
playing ability of Lajoie and Wagner. but
the opinions expressed are all biased. as the
National League adherents can see nothing
but the big Dutchman. while the American
League followers think the tall Frenchman
is the real goods Both players are undoubt-
edly top notchers. but the best way to get
line on the real worth of the two men is
to take the home opinion from Pittsburg
sporting writer's who have kept out of the
discussion. These writer's will never forget
Wagners work in the worlds championship
games against Boston, he practically
lost three games by becoming ratified show
ing a streak of yellow that could be seen
through his uniform. All the Boston gang
had to do was to start their band playing
"Tessie' and the Wagner lad would go
soaring SO high that he didn't know
whether he was playing checkers OF base
ball.
Under the same conditions, could any one
imagine Lajoie getting fiuStered, or, IN fact
has any one ever seen the Frenchman rat
tied. For lis reason there are thousands in
the United -tates roofing for Cleveland to
win the pennant just to see how Larry will
play when unusually interested. The fact
that Manager Clarke of the Pittsburgs has
Issued a challenge to work Wagner against
Lajoie In different lines of play, has no
bearing on the ability of the two men, as
it is doubtful If Larry would take enough
interest in the proceedings to extend him
self. A conservative judgment on the two
men would place Lajoe about Is per cent
the better man, and these points represent
nerve, something that Wagner has not got
The Athletics assumed the lead in the
American League race yesterday. and last
night there were many Washington fans
making arrangements for a trip to Phila-
delphla to witness the world series, as they
figure 1t out that the Quakers will never
again be ousted from the leadership. The
Athletics have something like thirty games
at home. and as they have always been
consistent winners on their own grounds 1t
is hard to figure out how they can lose
Accidents may cut prominent figure, but
the other clubs are just liable to suffer
In this way as the Quskers. With the Chi
Cago pitching force in bad way and the
vTigers lacking the sand. the finish should
narrow down to a light to a finish between
the Quakers and the Clevelands. With La
joies pitchers in good form, and the Ath-
letiCs twirlers going the same, the latter
has the best of 1t from the firing line.
while the Napoleons have shade the best
of it in other departments. Basing the
comparison on these lines. the finish be-
tween Philadelphia end Cleveland should
be almost as attractive S the worlds cham
pOnship games
Doc White. the White Sox pitcher fol-
lows in the footsteps of the famous Crazy
Schmidt and keeps a dope book on all
the men he has to work against. His
memorandum book is indexed by clubs. and
in 1t he writes the weaknesses and strong
points of the batters he faces. When not
on the slab White watches the game care
fully, and jots down on one Of his profess
sional cards whether a man at the plate
reach a high fast one or Is specially
weak on a curve close in and across his
hips. This is afterWard Transcribed in INK
into his little book. and before every game
he turns to the pages in which are the
names of the players with the clubs he is
likely to pitch against, and refreshes his
memory. DIR. White expects to quit base
ball while yet in his prime. and may follow
Schmidt still further by publishing a book
on the strength and weakness of famous
batSmen.