Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-03
COMMENTS ON THE GAME.

The victory of the Nationals came at a
most opportune time, as it makes their
showing at home very respectable, and they
have chance of making it luscious before
the Boston series is ended So far they
have played six games on the home ground,
won two. lost three and tied one. This
record could have been better, but might
have been still worse. They have a long
road trip ahead of them, starting next
week. and the fans are hoping for good
showing against the Bostons 1t won't take
many victories to place the Nationals up
among the aristocrats in the pennant race,
notwithstanding the bad start The teams
are shifting around almost daily in the
American League race, but it is hard sled
ding for the Nationals to mount tie ladder.
There was another shake-up yesterday.
The New Yorks beat and broke even with
the Bostons, and took third place away
from Detroit. who were beaten by the Chi
Cages. The latter again climbed into first
place as the Athletics got theirs from the
Nationals. The Clevelands won from ST.
Louis, making five clubs on the sunny side
of the 800 mark.
1t is wonderful what victory will do
to the tickle fans" Coming out Of the
grounds after Wednesdays game almost
everybody was lamenting the Nationals
defeat and suggesting changes that would
have turned the team almost inside out.
After the game yesterday it was different
The team had good look and every body
was in tiRtop humor with praises galore
No changes were wanted, everything being
lovely and the goose hanging high A gen.
tie reminder to the fans right here will
not be amiss. Have patience with Man.
ager Cantillon. He is paid princely SAL
airy to turn out a winner, if such thing
is possible, and he can be depended upon
to leave no stone unturned to bring about
good results. lie knows where the team Is
a md or hut Do, no h,,g1%
in a day, neither has winning ball team
been gotten together in one season. The
Nationals must climb up that pennant lad
der; rung by rung and SO slowly as to
make each upward step a permanent one,
but steadiness is desired above all things
SO that slipup won't dash them back to
the foot where they have been for SO many
years. Have patience and encourage the
players.
In addition to playing good ball yester-
captain to the letter. He was constantly
coaching the other players and gave
good exhibition of acting at the right time
In the first inning. With Seybold on first,
Davis hit roller to left that Lave Cross
gathered up after quite a run. The ball
had come up slowly that it seemed i'm
possible to head off Seybold, and only
fast til throw would get Davis at first.
and called out to Lave:
Time yet, old boy, let 'er come.'
Cross turned on the instant, shot the
headed off by a step. Work Of this sort
is inspiring and makes all the players feel
like doing their best all the time.
After a bad start on the local grounds
Bob Ganley has at last earned his Pitts
burg title Of the Candy Kid" When he
first went into the Smoky city he had a
start very similar to this springs work in
this city. Everything broke badly for him
and he could not land right no matter how
hard he tried A fan in the bleachers at
Pittsburg who possessed a voice of the
calliope variety took 1t upon himself to
hand out warm criticisms, and Bob came
to the point of looking for the man every
day. On the first day Bob says he assigned
him to the ribbon counter, and then fol-
car, dray wagon, peddling collar buttons,
and so on. Finally Bob got going fairly
well and the fan put him in the rolling
mill and kept on promoting him until he
never let a chance go by to remind Ganley
that he was not a ball player. Then came
the turning point. 1t was Labor day, with
Its two games, and Bob pulled of three
hits in the morning and two in the after
noon, and every one Of the swipes figured
in the run getting. 'Mr. Calliope'' was
right there in the front line, and toward
the end Of the second game threw up his
hat and said:
Il take it all back. Ganley. You are
kid"
This slang phrase was new then and It
stuck to Bob while in the Smoky city.
Ganley was certainly in yesterdays game
from beginning to end and the style of
much of the "Wee Willie Keller. While
at the bat he shifted his style continually
am the way he hunted on Waddell in the
sixth was simply brilliant. He sent the
that Davis couldn't come In on 1t and he
was so fast going away from the plate
that he was almost at the bag by the time
Waddell picked UP the rolling sphere. At
two other turns at the bat he shifted his
style and poked out line drives that were
beauties. In the field Ganley also per-
formed nicely, three Of his five put-outs
being hard ones, while his throw home to
Warner, doubling up Davis at the plate,
was a jewel, the ball coming in on the
fly and right into the catcher's mitt in
such way as to make the play easy.
Manager Mack intended working waddell
yesterday. but the "Rube" complained of
not being just right, and he sent in Bender
instead; In the sixth inning Mack chased
Waddell to the firing line, and the big fell
low did well for two innings, gaining the
only strike-outs Of the game. Connie saw
that he was all right, and decided to save
phia. Another "rube" Vickers, went on
the rubber in the eighth, and finished out
the game. He was hit safely once. and
gave base on balls. but the locals failed to
get run over the plate.
Catcher Blankenship has butted into q
siege of bad luck in Washington, and 1t is
to be hoped that his troubles will soon
cease. He was playing with bad hand
yesterday and In going after a wild pitch
that struck the ground near the plate the
nail on his right thumb was turned back,
making a very painful injury. He will
days. Before retiring. Blank" managed to
place a hit to his credit, and in covering
third In supporting Cross on a play at that
bag demonstrated that he has his eye on
the ball all the time, and knows how to
back up to perfection. He can't get back
In the game too quickly for the Washington
fans
Jack Warner came In for bundles OF praise
yesterday. and the veteran Is apparently
playing the game of his life. He gobbles