Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-14
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

While it is but natural that one should
hear a lot Of growing about our ball
team, yet, in the opinion OF the visiting
managers, expressed for no purpose of
boosting, the Nationals have a much
stronger team than they have been credit
ed with.
Experienced base ball men see in the
team one which will be a hard proposition
if in time its pitchers get to working in
good form. OF course no team can stand
up under weak pitching, but because OF
the fact that the team even when Shout
dering this handicap has played good ball
and fought out every game to the last
notch, the impression has grown among
base ball men that once the team is
blessed with good pitchers 1t will be q
most troublesome proposition.
When ball team averages much over
three runs per game as have the locals.
it can win ball games. but not, Of course.
when the pitching is abominably weak.
runs every day.
But there is nothing to do to improve
this condition. McAleer must wait until
the valued arms OF his twirlers gradually
come around to their best. There is nc
way to hurry this improvement. 1t takes
time. and unfortunately sometimes too
much Of It.
Ban Johnson has issued an order which
should have been in the base ball code
years ago. 1t is this: In the future catch
ers must take their masks and protectors
to the bench after each half inning, SO tina.
these implements are not strewn about SO
as to interfere with players chasing fou'
flies, or force an umpire to do some hur-
ding if he has occasion to leave his posi-
ton behind the bat.
The broom which is used for sweeping
Off the plate is also to be carried out of
the way, for there have been several in
stances where players, while fielding a
foul have slipped on the handle and in
jured themselves.
tive games it is going at a terrific clip.
This is what the Athletics have done 1t
not only shows that the team has been
playing remarkable ball in every depart
ment, but luck has been favorable and
1t is tine general belief that luck breaks
even during a season, so that there may
come time later when MackS team will
have its little slump.
But, even with slump. that team must
De inquired as one of the strongest con-
tenders for the flag, if. in fact, not the
strongest. Mack has a great ball team
and it will DE nothing but an over
whelming amount of i'll luck that can
prevent it from putting up the strongest
battle of its career.
That ball team Of ours does not look
bad when it has good pitching. None of
the teams that 1t has been against has
apparently outclassed it when the pitch
ing has been anywhere near even. 1t
gets its share CT runs, has q strong de-
Tense and plays about good inside ball
as any of its rivals. But the trouble is
that Ill most of its games inside ball
has been out of the question, because
the other fellows have always had SO
hie a lead that there was nothing for
the locals to do but try to overcome this
leaG by sheer FITTING.
Under conditions where four or five
runs are needed to tie the score the
team wrich is behind cannot resort to
base stealing sacrificing. Its only
chance Is to do some tall clouting. but,
OF course, the percentage is against 1t,
for ~ should never be forgotten that
10th ball and bat are round. land the
point of contact is very smalH particu-
larly when the sphere Is hurled with ter
rife speed and curves.
1t cannot be of much Importance what
Ta"k Ie ~ &c think of his bother j m.
What should one brother think of an
other? And Jacks statement that Jim
s better now than he has ever been be-
fore does not throw any great amout.9 OF
light on the much-mooted question OF
whether or not Jeffries will ever be able
to REGAIN his old form.
There is. in fact, no way that this can
be determined until he has fought john
son. There is a whole lot OF difference
in training and actual fighting. A man
may be able to run over the roads for
miles, do all sorts Of strenuous work In
a gymnasium. and give other indications
that he is as fit as it is possible to be,
and vet show up poorly when he gets up
against the real thing in the ring. The
strain is much different There is not a
moment during a fight that fighters
eye is not on his opponent. and. besides.
with so much at stake, there must be
considerable effect on the nerves. So
Jeffries may be heralded as being as good
1,<. hut \, <yNva.