The Washington herald., 1908-04-20
AMERICAN LEAGUE.
Yesterdays RESULTS.
50. Louis, 4; Chicago, o.
TO-DAY's GAAIES.
Washington at New York.
Philadelphia at Boston u games).
st. Louis at Chicago.
Cleveland at Detroit.

Bogton .,-....... 800 Cleveland .,....l , .s33
Philadelphia ...2 $50 Washington .....i -
Although It is hardly fair to attempt to
gauge the probable strength of bali
club by performances in one series, the
Nationals promise TO develop into one of
the strongest defensive teams in the
American League What the players viii
GO in the line of hitting remains to be
seen.
In the way of fielding, it is difficult to
see where any club has any decided ad-
vantage on the Nationals. The pitching
staff the inheld, and the outield are
composed of men who should be able to
present the strongest sort Of a front
when their opponents are at the bat. and
II the Cantillon outfit can do even fairly
well in hitting there seems 10 be no Tea-
son why the club should not make a far
better showing than last year and sue
ceed in getting out of last place
Building up a ball club is not the work
of a single season, and when it is taken
into consideration that Cantillon has
changed practically the whole personnel
Of the team since last April, each change
no reason for complaint
should BE IA Factor.
The Nationals are far from being the
pennant winners, and can hardly be con-
sidered as having a chance for first di-
vision. but developments of the next few
months should justify the prediction that
Washington is destined to be a far
greater factor this year than last season.
even though the club should not get
above seventh place.
The pitchers look good. In fact the
twirlers VINO have been retained by Can
tilIon make up the strongest staff that
Washington has had since the advent of
the American League. Walter Johnson
is considered in this reckoning. and al
though It viii probably be six weeks be-
fore the youngster reports, he can rea-
sonably be depended upon to repeat his
remarkable performances OF last year
Just at present Charley Smith looks to
be the best Of the pitchers who are
working. IN all OF the exhibition games
Smith did crsditsble work. and against
Cy Young at Boston on the opening day
showed form that will win many a bali
game. On the second day the weather
was such that it was almost an injustice
10 any pitcher 20 ask him TO work. but
even at that Tom Hughes made good by
holding his position down in fine shape.
FaIkenberg Unsteady.
It is safe to say that Fred Falkenberg
viii have TO show a marked improvement
II he is TO continue through the season
with the Nationals. IN many respects.
Falkenberg is a good pitcher. but he is
so unsteady at critical moments that
he keeps the team and its manager keyed
up 70 such a high nervous pitch that
many games are lost when. if any Of
the more steady pitchers were on the
rubber, the Nationals would win out.
IN the game he won at Boston the long
fellow time and again got himself In The
worst sort OF holes, and he was fortu-
nate in being able to escape without
having runs scored after he had allowed
men 10 get on the bases early in the in
nings.
Case Patten has had few opportunities
TO work, but Cantillon thinks that the
sOuthpaw is in good enough shape to
win the majority of his games Gehring,
Gates, and Burns are the other pitchers
who did good work In the exhibition
games against the minors, and one or
two Of these viii be retained, although
all three will probably be carried along
until the manager has had better op-
pOrtunity TO see them In action.
While the catching department is not
the strongest on the circuit. it is surely
more formidable than last year Charley
has hc hal F-1 Eo%
although he has a reputation of not be-
ing much OF a hitter, he has been con-
Meeting in satisfactory style this spring
Jack Warner and Mike Kahoe are two
veterans whose ability to size up bat
ters and coach young pitchers offsets
in a great degree their other weak
nesses.
Freeman over Weight.
Jerry Freeman, at first base. is a prob
lem. Reputed to be one of the best hit
ters that ever came out of the fast
American Association. the big fellow has
difficulty in connecting thus far. AS he
IS considerably over weight, he has been
handicapped in his fielding. and has been
unfortunate IN already making q couple
of errors. At Boston, Freeman showed
a weakness on low throws, but his
clever footwork Won for him the admi-
ration of many a veteran player who
saw him on the trip from Galveston.
Should Freeman be fortunate enough to
have things break properly during the
present week. It would go a good ways
toward making him a fixture, as he
needs plenty OF confidence In trying to
make good in fast company after being
so much touted.
Ia case Freeman should fail to come up
70 expectations, Altizer is available. OF
all the positions in which he was tried
last summer. Altizer did his best work
at first base. His hitting would be big
help, and he should be able to field the
position as well as any one Washington
has had since Jake Stahls first year
There is little question about Delehanty