The Washington herald., 1908-06-22

Unless there Is a decided Improvement
by the Nationals in every department Of
play this week, Joe Cantllon is likely
10 swing his managerial mallet before the
team returns here on July 2.
Canullon understands fully that bard
luck has been big factor in several Of
the defeats on the road, but he also
realizes that inability 10 hit at opportune
times. together with costly errors, have
played an important part in railroad
ing the Nationals into their present posi-
tlon at the bottom Of the heap. Although
driven almost TO distraction by the pro-
longed slump, the manager has had time
10 consider each mans weakness, and
he has about decided TO make some
changes.
A pretty well authenticated report has
it that Jerry Freeman is TO be taken of
first base as soon as Cantillon can find
asuitable substitute. Good first basemen
IN the American League are rare articles.
Boston is ready TO let Bob Unglaub go
If a suitable o0er Is made. but Cautillon
had Unglaub on his team in the American
Association and is satisfied that Unglaub
would not DO FOR Washington.
Weak in Hitting.
Heralded as the best first baseman the
American Association developed since the
days Of Jiggs Donohue. Freeman has
hardly come up 20 expectations since
making his debut in fast company. Of
all the willing workers on the team, none
have anything on Freeman when II comes
10 hustllnE. but the big fellow has been
unable TO bat consistently and his fielding
has hardly been up TO the standard set by
other guardians Of first base in the big
leagues Freeman is batting only .203
which IS considerably below all the other
men in his position in the league.
From Willamsp0rt. Pa. comes a report
that CantiHon is dickerIng Ior Cockin.
who covers first base for that club in the
Tri-State League. Cockll is a graduate
Of Bucknell, and is one Of the greatest
athletes ever sent out by the university
that developed Christy Mathewson and
other stars OF baseball. lie was n mem
Der OF the baseball. football. basketball.
and track teams; and although he has
been in the Tri-State League only since
the beginning Of this season. he has been
doing good work. He stands well up
among the first basemen OF that league,
and has a batting record Of go for forty
three games.
It is said that Cantillon made a big
cash offer FOR COckill. but as Williams
port Is one Of the strongest financial
propositions in the minor leagues, the
money was refused The Williamsport
management IS on the lookout for play
ers. So II COcilill joins the locals II will
probably be in exchange for some Ma
tonal
Dave AItizer's slump.
While there are many fans demanding
that Dave Altizer be placed on first in
place Of Freeman, the fact that Altizer
has been able TO maintain a batting aver
age Of only -1sS means that there is little
chance of the soldier boy earning a regu-
lar berth until he improves his hitting.
Aluzer showed good form as n first
baseman when he was tried out at that
position last summer. but as the object
of the change would be 70 improve the
hitting strength of the club. nothing
would be gained at present by putting
Aluzer on first.
Although he has not yet opened nego-
tiations for the men. there are two other
players Cantillon is keeping an eye on.
and If they continue al their present clip
they may he grabbed by the Nationals.
one is Eddie Lenox, IN the Eastern
League, and the other is Pitcher Bomar.
in the Western League.
Lenox has been putting up n fast game
at third base for Rochester, and Is lead
ing the league in hitting. Bomar has
been pitching phenomenal ball for Des
Moines this season. Last year he won
tweuty-one consecutive games for DeCa-
tur. The Chicago Cubs have their hooks
out FOR the pitcher, but 1t Is believed that
CantillOn can land BOmar as soon as he
decides to give him trY-out