The Washington times., 1909-09-30

Although Washington has been losing
so often. the fans have passed beyond
the profane stage. and merely laugh when
the subject is mentioned. But those who
have attended "a games recently have
had their moneys worth. There have
been many. many errors, both by the
Nationals and the visitors since The
Washington club returned home; but
it is doubtful II ever in its baseball
history this city has seen so many bril-
liant heiUtng stunts. ShOrtstop n right
Geld have Deen the ~fsvOrite spots tor
sensational performances. The work Of
Bush. Parent. and Mcbride at short Eas
been nothing less than remarkable.
They had taken balls on either side OF
them. have crossed way over in front
Of second. nave gathered in hunts, and
have shown wonderful ability TO make
one-hand grabs of bad throws by the
catchers. MCBTide's work yesterday
was. for Embarrassing thrills, possibly
the hest OF the lot. His baTchand stop
of Birmingh-m's sizzler TO his right in
the ninth inning, when the score was
tied and CleV Gland had a man on third,
will ever remain green in the memory
Of the faithlul there.
Slattery has a bum finger. Hardy has
a bad knee. and Charley Street is sick
of a fever. fine prospect for the Phil
adelphia games.
Cobb. Gessler. Goode. and Messenger
have had unusual opportunities for max
ing themselves famous IN right field At
the fag-end of the season here, and
they nave delivered the goods in sur
prisiug fashion. Pretty much every day
a right fielder has turned a trick that
the fans thought could not be .}Jpli-
Gated. and in the same or next contest
il was not Orly eoualed. but surpassed
Other helders hay done doughty deeds,
Lelivelt, for instance, and Milan also
but by some twist OF fate the shortstops
and right-gardeners have been the boys
to break into the ltmelight
There is room for .9e9 per cent inn
.provement in the coaching Of the Wash
ington team.
one Of the charges made against Joe
Cantillon by President Ban Johnson of
the American League was that he was
unpopular with the newspaper men In
several cities. II was more or less true,
and Cantillon mas largely brought II
about himself. He las been notorious
for announcing one lineup and putting
another in the field. This is an injus-
tice TO the fans and ~maddening 20 the
men writing fer sporting extras. Every
body wants to know before the game
begins who Is going 70 play. and, if
LAttEt - ubuUts VIII Wis ne the diAtt-
mates. The papers taking the story
direct from the grounds by wire are
especially iusistenJ upon this point. for
every change in the lineup means loss
OF time and money 20 the paper and
annoyance to the reporter. Any man
ager who %cOntinU aily changes his men
about a minute or two before time is
called is going TO get in, bad, and a very
large part Of Lantillon' g FrOubles in New
York. Philadelphia. Detroit, and CIeve-
land have had their jlception in tho
fact that his tactics made the re-
porters sore and willing to listen to any
thing that would give them A chance
10 vent their spleen.
Clarke Griffith made enemies amone
the newspaper men by withholding OF
changing Ais lineup at the last minute.
Reformers first run riot then run for
office. professional reformers in the
public eye with well balanced minds
capable OF viewing q proposition from
more than one standpoint are as scarce
as hens teeth. A common sense and
practical middle between extremes is
something incOmprehensible 70 the re-
former, as a rule. Occasionally. how
ever, there are symptoms OF a broad
ened vision. and one Of those symptoms
can be detected in the athletic manage
ment at Georgetown this year. When
the reform wave started there three or
o years ago IL ran things into the
ished and several hundred dollars worth
OF valuable property belonging TO the
oarsmen and bought with alumni money
I was alIgNraH ia g1puh aTpHnd rf shr