Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-02
LOCAL PLAYERS ARE
FULL OF CONFIDENCE.
Believe the Nationals Will
Take on a Squirt at CIeve-
lands Expense.

WASHINGTON players have just passed
through a strenuous week and have an.
other one ahead of them, every man was
out at the park this morning at the reg
ular hour and went through the regular
practice stunt of batting and fielding the
ball. There is not player on the team
who does not think the long delayed brace
will start with the Clevelands tomorrow
and they are keeping in first-class shape
to help along the conviction. OutheldeI
Miller was an absentee, but he Will gel
in today and be ready when called on.
Lelivelt started In this morning In fairly
good shape. but by the time he got
through the practice he said he was see
ing things The outfielder Is probably
fighting off a cold and a little malaria, but
the chances are he will be all right by
tomorrow. Jimmy Sebring telegraphed
Manager Cantilon last week that he
would report then. but as yet nothing has
been seen OF the once great outfielder.
Jimmy is probably laying low and waiting
for the Nationals to take on a squirt be-
fore Lining out" That will be poor
time. as Marse Joe Is not the man to
best player in the world, let alone an ex-
pertinent. Charley Smith and Tom
Hughes had nice warming up and they
are ready to do their part against the
Maps.
The Clevelands reached Washington
yesterday afternoon Manager Lajoie and
his followers, for once. cutting out the
Sunday dip down at Atlantic City. In
seasons gone by the players would In
variably rush down to the sea when they
had a Sunday lay over at Philadelphia,
and. as result, the couple hours bath
ing would lay them out for week. They
have gotten wise to this fact of late and
zoIt hot hoe ont drfr.
Ing the playing season.
The Clevelands were originally booked
for four days in this city with two post
poned games to be gotten rid off. The
into the three days remaining. which
means a trio Of double-headers.
Tom Hughes and Charley Smith are
carded to work in the opener tomorrow,
while the veteran Cyrus Young and 'tCy''
Falkehberg will probably be on the mound
for the Maps. The games should be in
teresting, as the locals have q chance OF
which should put enough life into them
to take the Browns into camp at the end
OF the week.
~ Barnie, then managing the Baltimore
team. declared that the manager Of a los
ing base ball club was a shining mark
for the newspapers. and his words are as
true now as they were when he first gave
utterance to them.
Outnelder Ortiz Collins will Join the Min
neapolis team In the nick Of time, as Ollie
Pickering has been injured and will be
out OF the fray for at least two weeks.
The great struggle for top position is still
going on in the American Association and
one defeat il very important to the lead
ers. Collins made a very favorable i'm
preston In the Eastern League but he
was played regularly and had a chance to
find himself" While with Washington
there was nothing for Ortiz to do but act
as pinch hitter. and in this he certainly
failed to fill the bill. His many Washing
ton friends will wish him all sorts of good
luck with the Millers.
There will be no base ball in the majo-
leagues today. In Louisville, KY, the
tional League, Harry Clay Pulliam, is to
be held. By calling off all scheduled
games the National and American
leagues pay their last respects to the pop
ular magnate. Ban B. Johnson, president
of the American League, and an associat e
of Pulliam on the national commission,
decided Saturday to order all the clubs
of his circuit to remain idle today.
1t is the third time this season that the
National League has been forced to can
Gel games on account Of the death of
prominent magnates in the old major
league The obsequies OF President
Israel Durham of Philadelphia were the
other two occasions of postponement.
Rarely has manager been SO quickly
and so signally indicated as Connie
Mack has been by the performances of
the Athletics to date. They may not win
the pennant this year, but they are going
TO be right up there knocking. although
at the start of the season some of the
wise gaZabos were endeavoring to dig a
nice hole for them. When about this
time last season Manager Mack, convinc-
ed that his team would not do and know
ing that it would be still worse in 1909.
started In to experiment with new talent
he was subjected to a great deal of adj
verse criticism, which was not always di-
Erected against his judgment.
Manager McAleer of St Louis has had
just the reverse experience Last wear
the Browns were in the race until two
days before the closing of the season.
game or two would have given them the
championship. A team good enough to
make such sensational finish in 1905
must have looked good enough to Nc
Aleer, for 1909. At any rate. he stood
factor last year Is running next to last
this year. In the nature of things the
veterans OF the team are going back, and
II may be that they are going back to.
gether. IT is possible that McAleer mus,
have seen this decadence. But say tina,
ne mad secured pair of youngsters tc
succeed Wallace and Williams and thai
the team fell back to seventh place;
Wouldn't the critics have roasted him 70,
breaking up a winning combination! But
there was roast coming to McAleel
anyhow He is getting panned for no,
anticipating the decline in the playins
ability OF some of his players.