Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-09
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Cnsatisfa Glory as has been the show
ing Of ,ne Nationals to date, there IS suil
a good chance for the team TO better It's
position once it returns to It's own
grounds for a three-week stay against
the western teams. Not that any or
these visitors will be easy, for there Is
none such these days. but the expected
improvement in the local pitching staff
should manifest itself soon if ever.
The fact that McAleer is experimenting
with his players seems to have struck
popular chord with the patrons of the
game here Even if he does not improve
conditions at once it will at least give
him a correct line on the material he has
on hand, so that false hopes will BE-
avoided.
The fact that the team continues to
make runs is most encouraging. for it Is
hardly possible that the pitchers Will not
show marked improvement soon Pltch-
ing of the kind most of the staff have
done would not hold them position in a
minor league. and. whatever the cause OF
their ineffectiveness may be, their slump
cannot last much longer
To date all the eastern teams have
Toasted at the Nationals expense. but it
is not likely that the western teams Will
find them as easy. The team has always
made It's DeSt showing on -ltS oWH
grounds. and with sixteen consecutive
games scheduled here there will at least
be a chance to get out of the rut- In
fact there is no, doubt that the outcome
of these series with the western clubs
WILL to large extent detBrnine whether
or not the Nationals are to occupy a
higher position this year than last If
the team is no more successful than IT
has been there is little hope for it, and
should ii win a majority Of these games
there will still be a good chance TO finish
well up i'm the second division.
Unless i'll luck should befall Connie
Macks team. there is no, doubt that the
Athletics must be considered the logical
favorites in this years pennant race.
There is no doubt that Detroit was helped
materially last year by the inability of
the western teams excepting. perhaps.
Cleveland to wrest many victories from
the Tigers. This year it seems to be
quite different. The western teams do
not seem to be as soft for Jennings
team as they were Though pitted
Tigers have failed TO gain much of a
lead. and. judged on the showing the
eastern teams have made. they will be
against tougher game on their next trip
Detroit beat St. Louis easily enough. and
unless theFYNationals show marked i'm
prOvement they too. may be easy prey
But Philadelphia. New York and Boston
are going to put UP stubborn fights. SO
much ground while in the east.
Detroit piled up a lot of victories last
year at the expense of st. Louis and it
was the Athletics misfortune to fall be-
for this tea m much mOrezoften than they
should have Chicago and Cleveland seem
to be stronger than ast1season and this
makes it harder for the Tigers. Then,
too. while the Tigers are. on the road the
Athletics will have long stretch of
games at home during which time they
have a good chance to strengthen their
hold on the lead
II is almost a-.certafnty. that Doc
White will do. the twirling for the Sox
here tomorrow. and Doc has been beat
ing the Nationals very consistently of
late years
Last year Eddie Collins gave Ty Cobb
a hot argument for batting honors in the
American League. but the youngster is
age OF 80 results. There is. however,
not much danger of this slump, continu-
ing for any length of time. Collins will
BE- sure to get going and make up for
lost time. incidentally there are rea-
sons for believing that Lajoie is back in
hrs old form. He has been hitting at a
40 clip and his batting has been con-
sistent With the lead the big Frenchman
has he will be hard to catch this year.
Is looming up in his best form. a fact
which will do much to make the Maps
a winning team this year.
1t looks as though the clubs that are in
the first division in the National League
race will be there at the finish. though,
Of course. they may not finish. in the or