Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-27
COMMENT ON THE GAME.

Oh MC.Aitel Hetu not mana out any
more remarks about his club getting bad
breaks and playing in hard luck. After
the two last victories over the Nationals.
both made on lucky hits, Mac can rest on
his luck for the remainder of the season.
In the three games the Nationals have SIM
ply played rings around the Browns and
should have had three wins instead of one.
Harry Powell is entitled to great deal of
credit for his splendid work with the spit
ball, but at that his support nothing
out of the ordinary, and long fly to the
outtield would have won the game on two
different occasions. 1t gets monotonous to
cry hard luck so frequently. but neverthe
less 1t does appear as though the Nationals
have been getting nothing like even
break In the horseshoe line.
Walter Johnson. the young pitcher from
the far west. arrived in Washington last
evening and reported to Manager Cantilon
He is a big, husky fellow. Weighing about
$50 pounds, and stands nearly six feet.
johnson has been coming east ever since
last Monday, which demonstrates how far
out he was. He would have Joined the Ma
tionals in Cleveland. but the manager of
the independent club he was with refused
to pay him the salary that was due. as he
wanted him to stay with the team for an
important game. The young twirler made
the situation public and the citizens of the
little town Clipped in and paid his salary,
as they wanted to give him good start in
tiIc league. DeNeElnS he Will make
good. Johnson will be given time to rest
up and get acquainted with the other play
ers before Manager Cantillon Will send him
in to pitch. and the chances are that he Will
be worked about next Wednesday or Thurs
day.
Shortstop Bobby Wallace was not feel
ing very well yesterday the Potomac water
not agreeing with him. and Manager Nc
Aeer sent Hartzel to short in hts place
Hartzei took care of everything that came
his way in clever shape and also got a hit
and scored n run. Wallace will probably be
all right for today's game.
BY the results Of yesterdays games the
American League race becomes hotter and
hotter. But nineteen points separate the
Athletics. who are running fourth, from
the Chicagos. who still lead the process
sion. four points In front of the C!eve-
landers. who by winning twice from New
York. while the Bostons were downing
the Detroiters. again went into second
place, eight points ahead of the latter
while the Athletics are only seven points
In the rear of the Detroiters. Excepting
the Year when the Bostons won their first
pernant the races for the American League
championships have been uniformly hotly
contested. Once it was decided on the New
York grounds by the result of the next to
only decided on the Saturday before the
beginning of the series for the worlds
championship In those years. though. to-
ward the finish the race settled down to
two clubs. but this year it looks as though
the present four leaders will be In 1t up to
the last month of the season at least
When the Athletics returned home from
their western trip the percentages of the
four leaders were follows: Chicago
53ISl-Ssl; Cleveland, 5o-ss-GO2; De-
trolt, 41-s2-o95: Athletics. 4a-s5-.5sa.
Since then the Athletics have made a net
gain of 40 points on Chicago. "a points on
Cleveland and IL points on Detroit If
approximately the same ratio OF increase
is maintained the Athletics will be in the
lead by Saturday next, If not before And
yet Monday last we were gravely told that
| the championship races of both leagues
were practically determined; that the two
Chicago teams would again fight 1t out for
| the worlds championship.
The mx-up in the New York club. where
in Elberfeld figures in an indefinite sus-
pension. is to be deplored as the team is
not out OF the race for the pennant, and
there are many American League we'll
WlsherS VINO would like to see the flag won
by the Yankees. Elberfeld has been prac-
tlcaily running the club all season, as it
was the only way TO get along with him.
Griffith recognized mis- playing ability. and
thought n good jolly would make things
all right, but the contrary was the case
The intimation comes from New York that
the Washington club has been tampering
with Elberfeld. and his carelessness was
the result thererrom. Without going into
Grftiths work on Patten during last win
ter. which would make a move OF this sort
something like retrihution. 1t be stated
of by the owners of the local team. Man
ager Cantillon said this morning In regard
to the case:
'Eiberfeid Is cracking good ball player,
and like every other manager IN the coun-
try | would like TO have him on the
Washington team. but at the same time l
have never spoken to him in my life. The
insinuation that ! have been tampering
with Elberfeid is SIMPLY silly. as 1 would
never think of doing such a thing. Griffith
and myself have always been the closest of
I friends. and don't think my worst enemy
| has ever charged with throwing the
| hooks into friend
Dave Aitizer performed a spectacular feat
| In the first inning " len he GRABBED Niles
herce srounder near second base. and then
throwing 10 Anderson perfectly while on his
| knees. having slipped down while digging IN
| the ball The very next ball came the
| same way and Dave also got 1t cleanly and
| in plenty of time, but he threw SO hi thai
| while he was in the air HemDhill struck
| the bag. The soldier boys showing at the
] plate was an improvement yesterday as he
| walked twice and got single out OF five
! chances with the bat.
| Little Shipke also had his first good day
making two good plays at third when he
put out Yeager and Tom Jones In the sec
ond inning. and laced out pretty double.
! In scoring his run In the eighth inning
Shpke demonstrated that he Is fast on the
| bases. as he slid by Spencer like a shot the
| big catcher queering his play by making
| the second try to touch him. The error
| charged To Shpke was the result OF working
! with a new man. had he thrown to the
| second bag instead OF to Delehanty his
| wide throw would not have occurred. The
| ball was hit fast to Shipke and Del was
| making tracks for the bag with all the
| speed he could command, but the little fell
| low couldn't wait and tossed away a chance
| for q double play.
/