Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-11
BY J. ED GRILLO.


There is not \much likelihood of the
Nationals having new home by next
season, though an enlargement OF the
present plant is assured The owners OF
the club find that by the time they get
their plans selected there would be no
certainty that the new plant could be
completed i'm time for the opening of the
next season because OF the dimcufty
builders are having in securing steel
Ii has not yet been definitely decided
whether TO construct the new plant before
next April, that depending almost entirely
on finding some one who will assume the
the park ready for the opening of the sea-
son, but IL there are no new stands next
season the present plant is TO be con-
siderably enlarged and improved.
One of the suggestions which are meeting
with approval is to eliminate the automo-
bile from the Enclosure and to build the
grandstand back to the fence, which is
now an open space. The present entrance
IS 10 be changed SO that there will be
a string OF turnstiles across the runway,
each leading to the different stands and
payilions. 1t is believed that this will
greatly facilitate the handling of large
crowds. IL the new stands are not built,
and 1t seems that they will not 1t is the
intention to almost double the present
seating capacity by enlarging the stands
IL may be necessary to turn the playing
field to some extent TO make this possible,
but that would have to be done anyway
if the new plant were put up.
The present accommodations have
proven Inadequate this season, and there
is no doubt that the club has suffered
considerable loss as result, and regard
less of whether the new plant is erected
this year or not assurance Is given that
there will be ample seating capacity next
season.
That Walter johnson should not be
able to show his highest form just now
is not to be wondered at. He has work
ed i'm three hard games in the past week
and yet has proven anything but an easy
mark for his opponents The stra n,
howevet. is sure to tell on the big
youngster and the question naturally
arises whether even fifth place is worth
taking the chance of running or lessen
ing the effectiveness of the conceded
pitching star Of the two major leagues
When one stops TO think that Johnson
has Won twenty-one of tnirty-seven
games pitched for a club that is far be-
low the $40 percentage mark. and rs
always worked against the toughest KIND
of pitchers. his record is most remark
able.
Were II the intention to pad Johnson's
record or give him an advantage IL coui1
be done easily enough by working MIN
against pitchers on whom the Nationals
can score more than run or two But
there have been few occasions this sea
son when Johnson has had an easy game
10 pitch AS a rule he Is In a battle from
start to finish-games in which the slight
est slip-up may affect the result-so that
he is virtually always under strain.
TeIegraphic advices are to the effect
that Cunningham. the new second base
man, will report TO McAleer Monday. III
he does there is no doubt that ne Will
be showed into the game at once. Inc
hating strength,
and IL Cunninghams record counts Tor
anything he will be an Improvement over
Killifer with the bat. Furthermore, tnere
Is no better time to get look al tHis
youngster than the present. he CONES ,,ne
into the major league when all the pitch-
ers are fit and going at their best, 50
that he will have TO hustle to hold MS
own. Then. too. he Is in his pes. cohoi,
ton at this stage of the campaign anu
will have an even break with the otner
PLAYERS. Sometimes ii Is a great help
to a Young player to get his start ava!
from home where he Is not watched TOO
critically by the enthusiasts
The following is from ono of Red XIII
fer's admirers. who seems 10 be laborinS
under a false impressions:
Sporting Editor Star:
why don't you give them a little spiel
on Red Eiliifer's sacrificing? According
TO last SUNDAYS averages he was tied with
StoyaIl for the leadership OF tho league
with twenty-six. Would IL he bad idea
, TO tell them that his attempts TO sacrifice
are what keep his batting average down!
FAN.
Sacrifice hits do not hamper a players
hitting average for The reason that sac
rifice hit does not count time AT bat.
| III ANYTHING numerous sacrifices help a
! players average.
There are certain ball clubs which al
ways beat spit-ball pitcher because
| they refuse to make any enort 10 MT
this elusive delivery. Nine out of every
/ ten spit-bails are pitched low. They are
deceptive and usually hit the plate or are
! picked up on the short bound b. the
/ catcher II il almost impossible to con-
meet with them. so some players refuse
! to hit at any low ball that spit-baller
dishes up. with the result that they have
| him In a hole most of the time and he
has to extricate himself by eliminating
4 the moistened delivery and using his fast
ball. with the result that he becomes easy
10 hit
Reports regarding the ability of Out
\ fielder Swain purchased by Washington
( from the Vancouver club. arc rather con-
! dictipg Some Of the wise ones who have
seen this PLAYER in action consider him a
I fird. while Others predict that he won't
4 make good. Swain Is said to weigh over
! ..00 pounds. but Notwithstanding his
enormous weight is very fast on his feet.
| McAleer is not allowing himself to be in
4 fuenced by these reports and proposes
The sudden Improvement in Bob In