Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-04
COMING CHAMPIONS SHOWING
HERE DOESN'T IMPRESS FANS
Mech Doubt Created as to Athletics Ability
to Beat Cubs in Worlds Series John
son Has Struck Out 265 Men.

mono toovell at-the outset. but gradually
improved. being lot better at the finish
than he was at the start
Johnson Is not q soft mark for emer-
gency hitters. A player who has faced
him a few times and gauged his speed
stands better chance OF connecting with
his terrific speed than some chap that is
brought in cold from the bench This
was demonstrated In the eighth inning.
when Mack sent Hartsel to bat for Barry
ana he struck out. Hauser. who batted
for Thomas. also famed. and Lapp who
took Krause's place. followed suit. John
son took no chances IN this inning and
toward the plate with such terrific speed
that 1t could hardly be followed by the
eye.
Once In while . player makes an
absurd kick on . decision which is
hard to understand. ''Topsy" Hartsell
never swung harder at q ball in his
shot at him. He nearly fell down from
the force OF the swing and yet when
no was declared out he insisted that
ne had not struck at the ball The
protest was SO absurd that even Um-
pire Connolly had to laugh at him.
bench he had to laugh 1T the express
sion on the faces Of Manager Mack and
the other players.
The pity is that Bob Iynrlau, a,6
not recover his batting stride sooner.
Had Sir Robert hit just half as well
earlier In the season as he does at the
present time the Nationals would be in
the frst division now or near it.
1t took Unglaub q long while to get
started. but he Is hitting now as of
old. Yesterday he got a single and a
triple and each brought home a run.
his playing at first. too, has improved
with his hitting
Joe Cantillon's regime at the head OF
the Washington team was not an ar
tistic success. and yet the princeIy salary
ne drew from the local club was well
earned. for he left something here which
could not have been bought for the
money paid him.
Johnson. Milan and Street are worth
more than Cantillon drew In salary dur
ing his three years here. II they were
placed on the market tomorrow this trio
OF players would undoubtedly bring forty
or fifty thousand dollars and they would
be well worth 1t to any ball club.
Chief Bender after working three in
nings went to the bench and told Man
ager Mack that he wanted to be taken
out. He said he had nothing and that
II left In the game the Nationals would
run up a lot more runs. For some reason
or other Bender was ineffective. but as
this Is the second time this week that he
had to be taken out Of a game the condi-
ton Is alarming friends OF the Athletics
who have pinned their faith in them to
win the worlds series. Should Bender
not be at his best when the Cubs are
tackled the Athletics chances will be de-
cidedly slim. for he is the one man Connie
Mack has who looks to have a grand
chance against the National League PEN
nant winners.
Before the present season draws to a
close 1t is hoped that an opportunity
handle Walter Johnson's delivery. There
Is a lot OF speculation as to how the
youngster would behave In front of
Johnson. Under present conditions,
with McAleer anxious to have the team
finish in NTH place. he is not taking
any chances. He knows Beckendorf
can catch Johnson satisfactorily and
he does not want to take any chances
with Ainsmith. In due time. however.
SON. for which he. too. is very anxious.
There has been SO much written about
the difficulty catchers have In handling
Johnson's speed that most every CATCH
er in the league Is anxious to give II
a trial, hut 1t is safe to say that not
all of them would be a success at It.
The team leaves this morning for
Boston. where they are scheduled to
play two games Monday. Reisling and
Gray will probably do the pitching,
though Walker may be given q chance
against the Speed Boys"
It looked as II there ever was q
spot where a pitcher was justified in
purposely walking q batsman. 1t was
in the seventh. when with two out and
third and second occupied. johnson had
thtree balls and two strikes on Murphy.
with Barry the next man up.
Under such conditions Murphy is al
ways a dangerous man. but johnson
evidently was willing to take a chance
and sent the ball straight over the
plate. Murphy hit 1t hard right at
johnson. who made q good stop and
got his. man. But had that ball gone
through the ball game would have
been tossed on.
Ira Thomas caught . good game Of