The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-23

Connie Mack's Athletics are leading
the American League today, with De-
troit second, and Boston and New York
tied for third. That Is a horrible upset
OF winter dope, like the showing of the
Washington club, but It woulG be a bad
bet II baseball form counts for any
thing 10 back the Athletics for any
thing higher than fourth place at the
middle Of AugpSL. The Eastern teams,
except Washington, have been playing
hob with the Westerners, but Detroit
and Cleveland are going TO do better
than they have shown so far, and the
same is true of St Louis. We are still
confident that Washington is going TO
furnish higher grade baseball than it
has so far. and that will make a lot OF
difference when the Eastern teams next
begin fighting among themselves. Ev-
e-y game the Nationals take from the
Athletics. New York or Boston means
a dead loss to any one Of these clubs.
II one OF the three wins from another
II strengthens its own position and
weakens a hated rival, bat losing to
CantillOn's men means Jolt to itself
without corresponding benefit to an
Eastern contender for a first division
berth The general Improvement in the
Nationals playing since they struck
Cleveland has been noticeable. and as
they have always been famous for
throwing the hooks into champions,
they may fatten their average in De
trOit. but Detroit is morally certain to
recover all the lost ground WnSn it
strikes the Eastern circuit It is hard
TO get the Idea out Of our head that
the Athletics, New York, and Boston
are playing ahead Of their form. They
may maintain their present clip through
out the season. but we don't believe it
any more than we believe FaIkenberg
is a good pitcher because he happened
to beat Washington on Friday.
Johnny BeaH. the Washington boy
a
and Commissioner teams of this city,
and was utility OutfieldeT with the Chi
cago White Sox last season, has recOv-
cred his batting eve with Los Angeles.
He is playing right field and batting .27S,
after getting a horrible start.
Bob Ganley played center for the
Athletics yesterday, when that team
beat Detroit, Z 10 ]. He did not have
a fielding chance, did not make . hit
or run. but did sacrifice. 1t win be in
teresting to watch the career OF the
eX-W Washington captain IN his new sur
rOundings. He has the reputation of be-
ing somewhat hard to handle. but was
supposed to be thoroughly tanned by the
rOugh-and- ready methods OF CantillOn.
In Connie Mack he has a manager OF
exactly the opposite type from the
Washington chief Mack Is quiet, easy
matte TO degree, bus by no means
| lacking in energy or character Wash
/ ington. under the CantillOn regime. has
acquired q reputation for being the last
resort Of men who could not be con-
| troIled by other managers, and Can
tillon has made good on that up to the
| bad slump OF the present season, when
! he seems to have lost his grip for the
moment. The work Of Ganley. Burns
! and others, who are out Of the ordi-
nary run in their temperaments, under
| different methods. will be one OF the
| sidelights of baseball wen worth study
! ing in 1909. Personally, from what we
| know OF the men. we doubt whether
| new managers will have a great deal
for he is a much smoother tallIer and
| more diplomatic person than is gen
orally supposed.
s