Evening star., 1909-04-19

sidered lucky that they have won any
games at ALL The members of this trio
of batters are supposed to be the leaders
of the team, and when they are not mt
tins it leaves an awful gap to fill. Then;
couple up the bad starts of Groom and
Gray, and you have the answer.
The sickness of Walter Johnson has
thrown the team into the hair for the
time being, as the players look upon him
as a sort of Moses to lead them out OF
trouble It will require at least a week
before the players find themselves. and
then better things can be looked for.
Tom Hughes was very disconsolate last
night on account of not being able to go
the route, as he calls it, or nine innings
All during the practice season Tom work
ed but three innings at a time, and now,
when longer distance is required of him,
he blows up. The tall boy says he can
feel his strength slowly returning and
that he will shortly get going all right
Hughes is also nursing a couple of very
severe bruises just now that do not help
him very much. When he tried to come
home from second on Milan's hit in the
second inning of last Tuesdays game,
Hughes slid into the plate and tore about
a foot of skin off his side. To add to
Toms misery, Speaker slashed a line
drive right at him in the fifth inning OF
Saturdays game and the ball tore
CnfOURn Ills ndIluS anu dlIIIOSt DIohc
leg When it is taken into consideration
that the veteran has been in only two
games this is certainly going some in the
injury line.
1t almost meant fight to refer to Niles
play in running around DanZig in Sat
urday's game among the players at the
Arlington yesterday. AT first II looked
very much like stupid play on the part
of the players, but an analysis of the
Sit tI,af tho h1anla the coaches.
DanZig, who was on first. labored under
the impression that Clymer would catch
the long fly and the coach should have
ordered him on his way. Niles came
tearing down tire first-base line with his
eyes on the ball. and, having nothing
to lose put forth all his well known
speed to go as far as he could on the
hit. From the press box 1t looked very
fly Had Danzig gone down the line he
could have gotten back to first, but he
could just as easily have made second
had the ball been caught by holding
first base. A point that should not be
lost sight of is that Danzig is just break
ing into fast company, and, of course. is
trying to play everything safe. Had
he been sure of himself he would natural
ly have taken chance and scored on
the hit.
Jimmy Collins. when in his prime. pulled
off the same sort of play. SO that Niles
needn't worry much. The play came
up in Boston and Tom Hughes was pitch
ing, as on Saturday. The lamented Chick
Stahl was on third and Collins hit a fast
one to short The ball was thrown home
so quickly that Stahl turned back and
kept lodging around the line until Col
Inns went all the way around. Stop
ping on third for a second to get his
breath, Collins decided to make what
he considered brilliant play. He dashed
down the line and then around the play
ers working to get Stahl, touching the
plate unmolested. But Jack Sheridan was
right on his jab. declaring Collins out
TO-. running around Stahl, and, as ''Chick"
was also caught, double play resulted.
Mr. James Delehanty settled in his mind
that his trip to Japan gave him all the
practice he needed and decided to keep
away from the south this spring. As a
result. the Washington club will lose
about six or more games waiting for
Gentle Jeems'' to catch up to the rest
lost last week there were many oppor-
tunities for Jim to do things. but he
wasn't there with his we'll known swat
and the chances went glimmering. 1t is
only a question of time when Del viii
get going right. and the fans are hoping
the period will be very short one.
The good warm sun this morning
brought the local players out to the park
early, and everybody went through the
practice with more than usual enthusi-
asm. The boys are not bit discouraged
over the three defeats last week. and if
any one will take the trouble to sound
the men. If will be found that they be-
.fieve they have a strong team
Just wait until we get started. said
one of the players last evening at the
Riggs land we will make the best of
them take notice. The boys are simply
slow coming around but we have first
class ball club and we will demonstrate
this fact before many days.
Manager Cantillon said at noon that he
would probably work Dolly" Gray again
today. with Bill Burns in reserve should
the Californian again blow.
II believe Gray was only unlucky Sat
urday." said Cantillon. ''and he goes in
again today to see whether my Judgment
is right or not He Is first-class man.
and I can't lose any time getting him into
his stride / have watched Gray work
in the practice games. from behind the
plate. and the big southpaw has every
thing, including control. Like Groom,
Gray got an unlucky start, but 1t may
prove lucky in the long run at that"