Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-29
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

When you come to look into it there is
really no reason for kicking on the show
ing Of our ball team. True. We are not in
the first division as yet. but Detroit
which is leading the race, has only won
two more games than the Nationals and
the other teams are within whispering dis
lance.
McAleers pitchers have not done con-
sistent work IL they had the locals would
now be sailing out in front of the other
seven teams. But not I'm three years has
the team made as good showing in the
first two weeks of the season. 1t is
good ball team beyond doubt. and II the
pitchers do their share the hope that the
team will finish we'll up in the race may
yet be realized.
hard. Every man is putting forth his best
efforts and taking a great interest IN the
teams success. More cannot be expected
Ball players appreciate ENCOURAGEMENT.
especially when 1t comes during the pc
riod that things are not breaking thelr
way. Whenever the pitching has been
anywhere near even the Nationals have
not been outclassed by their opponents,
condition which has not existed for some
time. 1t is much too early TO be able 10
pass Judgment on the teams f1nal stand
ing, but so long as 1t is doing as well as
it has to date there is no room for kicks.
Rumors of dissipation among ball play
ers are always the result or losing
streak. Let q team lose a few games III
row and Immediately the talk will he
started that the players are not taking
cara of themselves. This seems to be the
only explanation ever offered. though nine
times out of ten such charges are without
the slightest foundation.
Ball players who do not strictly observe
the rules of their club are decidedly
scarce these days. There was time In
base ball when the majority of the play
ers did much as they pleased, but that
time has long since passed, and today
there Is no class of men who observe
training rules more strictly than the ball
players.
The game has grown so that it is pos
sible for a player to lay aside a COM
Portable fortune within comparatively
few years, and no one realizes this more
fully than the men who are engaged IN
playing the game. 1t Ia the ambition OF
the majority and it is rare indeed that
one finds a ball player these days who
cannot squeeze a dollar hard enough TO
make the eagle squeal.
Elberfeld undoubtedly saved the game
yesterday when, in the tenth inning. he
prevented Speaker from scor-
ing from third when Milan's throw got
through him by holding the Boston slug
ger. 1t was desperate chance 70 take.
but Elberfeld did it without making a
mess of 1t. He covered UP the trick SO
cleverly that no umpire could have ruled
against him.
TO have stepped aside meant that Speak
er would score and the game was gone;
to have prevented him. as Elberfeld did,
meant the umpire would send the run
home IL the trick was detected 1t was a
violation Of the rules. to be sure, but II
was adroitly executed.
Jack Johnson speaks with logic when he
says that he has more at stake tnah any
Of those who are complaining that ne mas
not gone into active training weeks ago
ter than his admirers. He knows by this
time what he needs to fit himself for a
fight with Jeffries. and it must be LETT
entirely to his Judgment.
hardness in reaching his training camp
had been led to believe that Jack was cut
ting into the white stuff, which may or
may not be true. The public, regardless
of what opinions 1t may hold or the re-
spective merits Of the two fighters, Is
anxious to see both men enter the ring
fit and ready to put up the best possible
argument. No matter who may win, the
demand seems to be that the condition of
the fighters will be such that when it
is over neither can offer an excuse.
There was much speculation before the
season opened whether or not schaefer
and Elberfeld did not belong to that class
of PLAYERS known as has beens, but
there is nothing to indicate that such is
the case Because of their comparatively
long service and the fact that they were
secured from clubs in the same league,
doubt was created as to their ability to
make good, yet it is questionable If either
ever played better ball at any time than
this spring. Their work has been most
satisfactory. and there Is not the slight
est doubt that they have added much
strength to the team.
Schaefer is certainly playing better
game of ball for Washington than Dele
hanty ever did, and even If he should hit
fifty points below the Detroit second base
man he Is a more valuable man for the
team than his predecessor. for Schaefer
is not a player who does not work for
the best interests of his team.