Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-25
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

BY J. ED GRILLo.
In the eight days which remain before
the day set for the fight neither of the
principals is going to make any material
improvement in his condition. The OBJ
ject of all exercise and work from this
out will be for the purpose of retaining
the condition which the training INDUCED
In heretofore has made possible.
There Will, therefore, be little real hard
work done by either fighter from this out
Perhaps both will put in one more CRU
cling day before the light. but most
OF the days will be spent in just light
exercise. If either of the fighters is
not ready now to put up his best battle
it Is too late to improve his condition.
1t is very evident from the kind of
work that Jeffries is doing that he is con-
sidered mt and ready. He is just doing
enough to keep himself on edge 1t has
been a remarkable course Of training
that the former champion has gone
through. For over year he has been
aiming himself for this fight. He has
followed the dictates of his own mind in
everything. as he usually does, and ha4
perhaps, accomplished what no one
thought possible, regained all his former
speed and stamina. 1t only proves what
a remarka BILE -man Jeffries is. No other
tighter after so long lay-off would even
for the money that is at stake have
displayed the same perseverance that has
JeHries. From the time that he an
nounced that he believed he could re-
gain his old form and would fight John
son he has been at work, and it has
been work of the right kind. True, the
fight alone will prove how good Jeffries
really Is. There is no way to prove
his condition. only in the fight, at least
not to the satisfaction Of a majority
1t has frequently Deen proven that no
rule which applies to the average man
applies to Jeftries. He differs from all
fighters in many things. His remarkable
physique and speed has astounded the
world on more than one occasion. II he
has regalned these. there can be but one
outcome to the battle and that a victory
for Jeffries.
1t is questionable NJ there is another
instance in base ball where q team has
gained so prominent position in the race
as New York with pitching staff made
up almost entirely of youngsters. STALL
ings hasn't a veteran twirler on his staff
Every Of his pitchers came from
the minors not more than a season ago.
and yet there is not a stronger twirllng
corps in the league. There is. too. no
denying the fact that the team owes its
>.
1t has been the consistent work of the
fingers that has made it possible for the
Highlanders to win majority of their
games. Not being a hard hitting team, it
because its opponents have been unable
to get runs of of the Yankee twirlers.
StallingS can send any one Of five tWirlers
to the mound and feel assured of getting
well pitched game. and any time a
team can do that it is almost certain to
have a chance to finish at the top of the
heap.
Disastrous as was the Nationals series
in Boston. 1t developed one encouraging
pitcher over what he was last season, and
he is sure to be worked regularly from
this out. With any sort of hitting be-
hind him the Nationals left-hander would
have won both of his games at the Hub,
and what is more his second game in
four days was a better pitched one than
his first. Gray did not work impressively
last season. yet Cantillon. then manager
Of the team. never lost confidence in him.
He always felt that some day Gray would
come and be of great help to the team.
and that day seems to be on hand. With
Gray pitching gil:-edged ball 1t is going
chances. for team with an effective left
handler stands a good chance Of scoring
victories aver certain teams that the
average s1t-hanGer would find impos-
SlDl0 10 Oedt.
Another thing that the Boston series
has proven Is the dire need of more bat
ting strength for the Nationals. Five
runs in five games is not the kind of
base ball that will win games. McAleer
needs a couple Of hitters, and the sooner
he gets them the better he will be off.
The Nationals weakness has in recent
years been almost entirely along these
lines 1t has ever been weak with the
stick, and until this condition Is i'm
proved there is not much chance for a
high position in the race. OF course, the
team is not normally as weak with the
stick as it proved itself at Boston, where
there seems to have been a general
slump, but even at its best it is not a
team which has terrors for opposing
pitchers.
They have been a long while coming,
but it begins to look as If the Pirates
had finally struck their stride, and that
from this on they will take a more prom
inent part in the National League race.
Wagner has started to hit, which means
that victories will be more numerous than
they have been. With the Flying Dutch
man slumping. the team found itself
greatly weakened, but with Wagner again
in form there will be q general renewal
Of confidence, and It may not yet be too
late for the Pirates to get Up in the
race and be real contenders for the flag, ]