The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-18
Washington Mt Boston.
ST. Louis Mt Detroit.
Cleveland at Chicago.
New York at Philadelphia.
by WILLIAM PEET.

BY WILLIAM PEET.
Manager Jimmy McAleer and fifteen OF
the Nationals boarded the SOS o'clock
train for Boston last night, and will
open the season for Patsy Donovans
Red Sox IN the Massachusetts, city this
afternoon.
Twirlers Johnson. Gray Groom. Refs
ling, Oberlin. and Walker were taken
along. and unless -NIcAleer changes his
mind. Johnson will start to-day's game.
Gray and OberHn are 10 be used Tues
day. which is Patriots Day, a New
England holiday. with morning and aft
ernoon games scheduled. Groom is slated
for Wednesdays battle and Dixie" will
toe the slab in the last game Thursday.
"Gabby" Street and Hardy will be
called upon TO do the catching. The last
named may not get a chance at all. as
Street is feeling in great shape and
anxious 10 work.
Everybody was in high spirits when
the writer saw the boys of at Union Sta
ton last night, and. from Manager Nc
Aleer down. viii be a disappointed
crowd If they do not come back home
with at least three victories out Of the
FIVE games.
Capt Schaefer declares that the Boston
twirlers will be much easier than Con
ME Macks trio. Plank. Bender. and
Coombs. and the Nationals had little diff
fculty in connecting safely against these
men here last week.
With any kind Of hitting az all. Walter
Johnson is bound 10 win his game to-
day. Walker was good enough Saturday
10 stop the Athletics. and should be ef-
fective. while Gray. Oberlin. and Groom
have not as yet been given a chance 10
club.
The contention OF McAleer and Schae-
fer that the top OF the local batting
order is possessed Of enough hitting
strength to 60 in and break up a game
almost any Old time was never demon
strated better than in Saturdays great
finish against the Athletics.
Take a glance at the records or these
five leaders and see for yourself. In the
three Philadelphia contests Milan and
Schaefer clouted the ball at almost
800 clip. Milan came 10 bat eleven
times and made five hits. His average
being .454 Schaefe- out OF twelve times
up landed six hits. averaging 500.
Lelivelt is al present the lowest average
man Of the leaders. with 80. or three
hits in twelve times up. Elberfeld and
Gessler are hitting the ball alta .272 clip.
three safeties out Of eleven times al bat
for each,
Manager McAleer states emphaucally
that Milans grand start is not by any
means a Flash In the pam" but will be
followed by consistent hitting He feels
sure that the youngster will finish the
season with batting mark close 10 300.
II Milan should present this record at
the wind-up, he would be placed among
the ranks of the leading outhelders in
the country. The little chap is lightning
fast on the bases, and covers an acre
Of ground in the field. He can throw as
well as any OF them, too.
Walter Johnson has said repeatedly:
I'D rather have Clyde Milan IN that out
field than anybody know OF. The fact
that he IS out there helps my work in
the box. for know that ny balls coming
his way will be taken care of"
Boston fans are particularly interested
IN the Nationals this year. for the reason
that doc" Gessler. who had been with
the Red Sox for nearly three seasons. will
make his first appearance IN a Wash
ington uniform.
The fans IN the Hub always had n soft
spot in their hearts for Gessler, and
when he steps TO the bat for the first
time to-day he Will be given a hand"
long TO be remembered.
Gessler is a likable chap an' a perfect
gentleman, both on and Off the field. He
is also making himself solid with the
fans in the Capital, While the right field
bleacherites already swear by him.
The only men left on the Boston trip
are Pitcher Hovlik, Catcher Rapp, and
First Baseman Crooks. These men will
work ont twice a day at National Park
as usual.
Hoylik. X viii be remembered, reported
late and is not in the best of condition.
but he is rapidly rounding into form and
will soon be given a trial to show his
class.
Sporting Editor Gillian, Of the Phnadel-
phia Record, declares that pitchers need
light handicap. as the no-hlt-no-run
games are not relished by the fans He
says in part: Baseball rules need doctor
ing, so that it can never be possible for
the pitcher to gain a complete mastery
over the batsmen. No-hit games or
games in which there is very little hit
ting are not the ones that excite enthu-
siasm in the rank and file of baseball
patrons. even when it is the home pitcher
that is so exceptionally effective. and al
most every spectator bemOans the fact
when it is the pitcher Of the opposing
team that Is moving down the batsmen.
OF course, It will not do to go back to
the days of straight-arm pitching. when
scores Of cTicketlike proportions were
common, or to do anything that is very
radical. for baseball is too good a game
10 endanger by unwise legislation. But
something should be done to relieve the
present situation and decrease the num-
Der of shut-out scores. Any pitcher who
can go through a full nine-inning game
without having so much as one safe hit
made off his delivery is enjoying entirely
too many privileges. and some of his
advantages should be taken away from
him. Give the batsmen a show, for bat