The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-08-15

v
ington ball club is at hand.
Buoyed up TO the apex of expectancy
by encouraging reports from the South
during the preliminary training, the
loyal supporters Of the Nationals firm
~ believed that this yea was to be
one Of redemption for the fallen for
tunes Of the team. Every rumor justi-
fed the feeling OF eIatJon.
Experts from other cities. who
CHANGED TO see the players on the dis-
monds of the Southland sounded warn
ings 10 their home readers. Those who
studied the personnel Of the team and
watched tie records predicted Wash
ington a dangerous contender In the
championship campaign. The players
were determined, the owners confident.
the fans joyous.
Shattered Hopes.
Where all was brightness five months
ago there is nothing today but despair
despair Of the bluest hue-for In the
closing months of the season the i'll
faxed Nationals are limping in to
most ingiorious finish. 1t has been a
defeat converted into a rout, with
every Joy dispelled, every hope shat
tered.
Keen, unbiased critics who have seen
the Nationals in aCtion-or rather in
action-sinCe the beginning Of the dis
astrOlFs tour of the circuit say most
team that IS representing Washington
today Is not possessed OF enough
strength TO give battle TO leaders or the
representative minor leagues There are
many who demur to this opinion, but
Il Is a fact beyond the realm OF a doubt
that the team is hopelessly and help
lessly outclassed in its present company
Look to Future.
The oft-repeated question Of what Is
the matter with the team mist give
way to a more sane and interesting
query OF what hope is there in sight.
Far be r. from a writer in these col
umns 70 ask suffering fandom 10
wait until next year. This hoary say
ing repeated, reiterated. and re-echoed,
carries with It little consolation to those
who have watched and waited IN vain
for the opportunity 10 cheer winning
team. They have been assured In the
past only TO be disappointed.
What is wanted now is results. Re
suits only viii appease the hunger OF
the fans for q team that can make
respectable showing. No native OF that
tract bounded by Iowa, Kansas, Arkan-
more persistent In refusing promises
than are the fans OF Washington today.
Their faith is falteTing. Victory alone
can restore it TO its normal condition.
Fans Are Anxious.
Stunned by a realization that their
favorites have failed, those who have
supported baseball In Washington dur
ing these many years of mediocrity are
asking what hopes are In store for the
future. A solution of this problem at
this time Is beyond possibility That
there is hope let us have hope, but that
there is hope we cannot assert.
Dissecting the team as II stands. and
considering each player individually, II
is evident to even the most casual fan
that there is not enough class TO the
Washington club 10 Justify the eXpec-
tation that 1t can be made into a win
ming team next year, unless radical
changes are made.
A regeneration is imperative Made
UP now OF meb who, for some reason
or another have failed 10 satisfy other
managers, Washington has a collection
Of players not calculated to absorb a
fighting spirit, without which success
is impossible. With them baseball is
more Of a business than II is to the
yOungster ambitious TO shine in the
profession. They play now more be.
cause they are compelled TO rather than
because they enjoy the game. II is
more difficult to rouse them TO the
pitch OF enthusiasm and determination
essential TO any athletic aggregation.
Plan Failure.
The idea Of building up team from
castOffs has proven futile in the past,
fl has failed in the present instance.
Glance over the successful ball clubs of
the country today, compare them with
the ones that went before them, and
the conviction is strengthened that
young blood is the only foundation that
can be used with success on the dia-
mOnd
Adversely is not without its comforts
and hopes. we are told. and IN so far
as the Washington club is concerned
the failures ana disasters under the
present system may bring about a de
termined campo gn for a younger and
better class OF men
Where are the players to come from2
From the same spots where Chance and
Clarke and Mack and Like and other
successful managers found them. On
the sandlots and In the bush leagues;
I'm the colleges and in the minor leagues:
among the outlaws and in the schools.
There are no Otner places from which
TO gather. Those are the places the
Chicago Cubs came from; there &c was
thai Mack found the recruits who we're
destined 10 be welded into champion.
ship teams.
Many oyfll hc called but feus mill he