The Washington herald., 1909-03-07

self, and am
quite sure / do not want to create the
impression that 1 am around knocking
with big sixteen-pound hammer.
The Washington players, as well as the
other players OF the American League,
are all good friends of mine, ~ at least
I consider them good friends. It is bad
policy TO knock even your enemy, for
lifes road is a hard one 10 travel at the
best, and who knows but that our worst
enemy. as we think, might at some time
or other do US a good turn. when We
most need it? SO the best plan, after all,
is 10 boost
Hard for all TO Agree.
We don't all see things in the same
light, and it's best that we don't for II
Ne did. there would be very little excite
ment in this old world.
1 guess you have all heard the old say
ing. Different opinions about hores make
good horse race" Wen, the same can
be applied to baseball Different ideas
about ball players make great baseball %
Every one has different ideas and views
about things In general, but more es-
peclally about sports.
Seldom do you see two fans agree
upon the merits Of this or that player.
Each fan has his own opinion, and all
the reasoning in the world viii not
change his views The fans Of Wash
ington at the present time are talking
about 'our boys" as they like 70 call
them, and what they are going 10 do
this season.
They are discussing among themselves
the qualities Of each player. and the team
as a whole They will tell you This fel-
lows strong points. and this ones weak
ness. and what chance the club has for
finishing in the first division. or fifth
place.
/ have had these questions asked me
nearly every day this winter: What
kind OF a team have WeT' Where viii
the club stand IN the race?" What do
you think Of this fellow? win he make
good2" So I am going 20 give you ms
views in regard 10 the teams chance Oi
finishing in the race.
I may be wrong, for It is a wise prcph-
et that can pick a pennant winner.
I Will take the team as a whole and
compare Il with the three other clubs
IN the second division. for these are the
teams that Washington viii have 10 over
come II ii expects TO finish in fourth or
fifth place.
Players are Compared.
Then / viii take the players and com
pare them with the players on the three
teams / have just named
| by comparing the men we can have
some idea about the strength OF each
club. ard where that strength lies.
Oftentimes this is all for nothing, FOR
the boys don't always play at the same
speed. Some Of the players were stars
last year. but this coming year they
might only play fair ball
II is hard 10 size up young players. ]
do not think you can call any player a
star with one seasons work in the. ma
tor leagues. He might look ike the bright
est jewel in the baseball armament his
first year, but. as I said before, he Is
just as likely % fan down this summer
as some other man.
II man after going through two years
Of playing in the major league. comes out
with a fine record, then he Is entitled 70
be called a star"
Some managers will tell you that the
! second year is the hardest year for a
yOungster. I don't know why unless Il
! is because he is playing with men that
are older at the game and are better
able to grasp the fine points quicker
/ than he can. Then they sometimes never
/ find a mans weakness until the second
season out.
Our Nationals Look Good.
The Washington team looks very good
10 me. In fact think it is the best
! team that Washington has had for many
a day. Not the best, but one of the
best
l There have been two or three teams
\ that have represented this old town and
played great ball Fans soon forget the
/ players and the games of the past
In this age we are not looking back or
/ the past. but 10 the future, and baseball
/ fans are looking to see what the Nation
/ ais are going to do this coming summer
| Last year is nothing more than a night.
mare, bus this season Washington has
! good chance 10 finish in the first division
/ ! think Boston has been greatly weak
ened by the sale Of that grand battery
Young and Criger IN the first place
they have too many young players OF
/ their team to be much Of a success
Young players are all rights but you mus
have few old heads to help those. same
young fellows grasp the fine points Of
] baseball
There is many a critical situation in z
ball game often STAYED of. and the game
/ saved. by some old head who. knows eact
] opposing player, and what he Is mos
likely TO do at this trying moment. Bos
/ ton had a promising team last year. bu
/ honestly. I believe every one Of then
played al his best gait. Something Z
team very seldom does. especially wher
il is composed mostly Of young stars.
The Boston team is supposed to be tn.
1 fastest club in the American League II
regard 10 running bases and fielding.
Hard Task for StRIIinEs.
! New York seems to be all broken M
and StaIlings will have the joo OF his uf,
If he can whip them INTO the shape tbar
win give the American League fans I,
1 New York a run for their money. New
York at one time was noted for its grea-
I team play. but don't know what VIII b,
their best points this year
/ Philadelphia is a horse Of another col
or. Connie Mack is a wise one. and h.
always has something up his sleeve 4
/ spring on the public at the right time
Last year he had the misfortune OF hav
! ing two or three Of his best PLAYERS on
Of the game most Of the season. SO II /.
rather hard TO get a line on his team
He has some promising youngsters. bu
We VIII have to wait and see II they car
stand the heat Of battle.
Philadelphia is also noted for being ,
/ team Of sluggers, as well as one tha.
pulls on a great many trick plays
Washington has been impr5ve6 at leax
. per cent by the signing oa Conroy 10
third hase- Wid" Is not b flliant play