The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-07-18
Writer Explains How Rank
and File View Washing
tons Slump.
INJURIES FURNISH
ONLY GOOD EXCUSE
And Even That Doesn't Go for
Much--Umpire Batting
Ridiculed.
5portIns EditOr. washington Times.

Sporting Editor. Washington Times:
1 wish TO indorse the stand taken hv
3 recent correspondent relative to the
miserable showing by our baseball
team.
At The beginning of the season out-of-
town newspaper critics Were almost
unanimous in saying that the Washing
ton team was the strongest aggregation
that ever represented TIE Capital. Fur
thermore, Marager Cantillon was given
fun sway in handling the team. with
power 20 sign or release players as he
might see fit; still this very team is
where II was three years ago, that is. at
the bottom. Who is to blame?
To every thinking fan there can only
be one answer-the manager. Tie is put
IN charge to get Tesults, He has utter
~ failed. though he started the season
with an admittedly strong team. Va
rIous excuses have been put forward
by several OF the local papers to shif'
the blame from the manager
jumps Not Responsible.
one story was that the umpires were
robbing us on all close plays. Now, /
saw the games in which EMPIRES Per-
rine and O'Loughlin were alleged ito
nave made decisions that caused the Ma
uonais TO lose. The plays in question
were very close, and the only possible
reason for kicking was an endeavor TO
throw dust into the eyes OF the fans
and thus cover the shortcomings OF the
manager and players. If this was the
opJect then they have been hCiSted by
their own petaFd, Tor the very Instant
a losing team blames the umpires.
every unbiased fan knows it Is d clear
case OF lneIiciency on the part Of the
players or manager.
Next, it is urged that CautiIon has
not had enough time to build a winner
He has had three years. but has not
been able TO set the club out OF last
place The fans would like some sport
ing editor with a mathematical turn Ct
mind 10 inform them how long il wifi
take Cantillon TO produce a pennant
winner here, basing the calculation on
the rate of progress he has made dur
Ing the last three years.
Injuries Considered.
Injuries to some of the best players is
another weil-worked excuse for the
downfall There may be something in
this, but how did New York keep up
while Chase, their star first baseman,
was out of the game on account of
smallpox? Cleveland has had Iajoie
and Turner on the sick list at one time.
QuI Boston had Speaker, Thonev. and
Stanl out Chicago is playing a pitcher
tWhite} and a Cantillon cast-off CAL
tizer) in the Outf1eld: still all these clubs
Keep IN the race
The fact is, when a manager tries to
make man bunt who can't: when he
changes his lineup and batting order
nearly every Gay; when he pulls regu-
lar players out 10 let some supposedly /
stronger stick artist bat for them, and
thens as a climax, roasts a man who
Ialls 10 make good or follow his dfreC-
tons (as I have heard him dol, then
That manager is not going to succeed. !
and he has not
A Fallacy Raped.
a morning paper says that the direc-
tors CT the club are not in business for
their health. and that inasmuch as
Cantillon has produced better financial
results than any of his predecessors, ne
should be left in charge If Cantlilon's
management is the cause OF this. then
the Washington fans do not care for a /
winner, and the further from the TOP
the club finishes the better drawing /
card il should be.
Unfortunately for CantllOu and his
champions, this line of reasoning is alb
Surd on the face Of il. The reason that
the rams are supporting the team is 4
De 'duse the directors have repeatedly 4
announced their determination TO pro-
cure q winner here, regardless of ex-
main at the helm for another year 10 /
VIII be conclusive evidence that the 1
stockholders care nothing about the /
standing OF the club or the wishes OF 4
the fans Yours truly.
July IL, 1863 F. HAYES |