Evening star., 1909-09-13
LOCAL PITCHING
STAFF IN BAD WAY
Johnson Out of 1t for Rest of
Season and Witherup
WeakenS.

MANAGER CantilIou and his bunch of
Nationals left for Boston on the
o'clock train last evening and start
series of three games with the Red SoN
in that city this afternoon. The CROWD
leaves Boston Wednesday evening ana
opens here Thursday with the ST. Louis
Browns.
The local pitching staff is in bad
way. Manager Cantillon taking only
Gray. Groom, Witherup and Oberlin with
him on the trip. Witherup has a bad
arm but it may come around all righ,
by tomorrow. 1t was hoped that wal
ter Johnson's arm would be strong
enough to be put in action this week, but
there is nothing to it, and the youngster
will be out of it for the remainder OF
the season. Walter can toss a straight
ball all right, but the force necessary to
send in a curve causes great pain. one
thing is certain, and that is that john
Son's arm is not weakened through a
cold. and the quicker he gets to Bone
setter Reese the better it will be for
himself and club. When The Star first
mentioned the fact that Johnson's arm
was gone several wiseacres jeered at the
report, but it now appears that Walter
knew what he was talking about.
Two Washington boys. Harry .Colli-
flower and Westervelt, have been selected
To umpire the poSt-SeaSon series OF the
South Atlantic League between the Au-
gusta and Chattanooga clubs. CollitoWer
has been umpirinS under the name OF
collins and the papers of Chattanoosa,
Augusta and other cities of the circuit
fave been teeming with praise for his
fairness and accuracy. The South At
lantic League has been anything but
u he'd of roses for umpires, and that
Colifiower and Westervelt have made
good certainly speaks volumes for their
efficiency. Collitower is desirous of get
ting on the staff of either Ban john
son or John Heydler, and his many
friends in this city are doing everything
possible TO that end.
The Philadelphia papers. in figuring out
how close the Athletics will be to De-
IToit when the Tigers come east, are
overlooking the fac. that Connie Mack
and his crew are up against hard prop
osition in having four games, commenc-
ing today with the Yankees. From the
way the Hlshlanders played here Sat
urday, il is npt unlikely that the Ath-
letics will be given such setback the
next three days shat they will be in
bad condition to tackle the champions on
Thursday. Normal conditions and dope
don't count. The New York 'kiddes
are playing for next season and just now
are going at a great rate.
1t is cause for congratulation that John
Heydler. the new president of the Ma
tional League, who, by the way, was
brought UP in a good school uncer the
late Harry c. Pulliam, is proving mis- fit
ness for an Office which is anything but a
bed of roses. Discipline on the field must
be maintained at any cost. The life of
the game depends on it. as has been point
ed out so many times, and Mr.. Heydler did
well TO make an example OF Johnny
m ND
Harry Steinfeldt of the Chicago Cubs
for their unseemly conduct in a game with
Pittsburs last Tuesday. The players of
the leading teams are fighting SO hard
Tor the championship. spurred on by the
desire to earn their share of the receipts
from the worlds championship games
that they are playing under an intense
nervous strain. That is all the more
reason, however, why close watch
should be kept upon the men and punish
ment meted out for any infraction of the
rules.
There will be no stand pat with the
present Washington. team for next sea-
son. no matter who is at the head. Dur
ing the winter several important trades
viii be pulled off, and Washington stands
a good chance OF getting at least two
players who are at outs with their man
ayers, and a change will do them good
At the present time il is on the cards
for the New York Cleveland st. Louis
and Chicago teams 10 let out firSt-class
players, and all would help out down
here.
With the end OF the season twenty-five
days off so far as they are concerned, the
Athletics are 36 points behind the Detro oit
leaders, lead which would look good
enough to win but for the fact that after
Wednesday next the natural conditions
Will favor the Mackmen. The contenders
nave nearly the same number OF games
To play. the A Aletics being unable TO get
In the Boston game which was prevented
by rain Friday last. OF these twenty
games the Dctroiters have only four 10
play with the western teams. which have
been the easiest kind of picking for them
this season. Just how really soft the
westerners were for the Jennings outfit
is shown by the fact that up to date they
have won forty-ttve games from ST.
Louis, Chicago and Cleveland, and have
lost only sixteen. on the form shown
thus far the indications are that the Ii
gers VIII cop all three games they have
Vet to play with St Louis. although they
may be tossed in one of the two games
Yet &c be played with Chicago
With the eastern teams the Detroiters
have not been so successful. winning
torty-two games from tie Athletics Bos-
tons. New Yorks and Nashingtons, and
losing thirty 10 the same teams. They
have sixteen games TO Ilay with the east
erners i'll their final whii'l through the cir
cult. and il is during this whr that the
Athletics Will have TO win the pennant II
they are to win il at all. On the second
invasion of the western clubs the Ath-
tetiCs made "A gain of seventy-nine points
on the leaders, and under conditions
winch were not so encouraging as those
at present. There is not the slightest
reason. barring. of course. disastrous az
cidents, why they should not make iust
as big gain between no v and October a.
II is only case Of stick. lg everlastingly
at IL.
Tigers Tell Old Tale.
ST. LOUIS. September 13.-Detroit won