Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-27
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

With the Jeffries-J johnson fight more
than two months off there is really no
need for alarm because of the condition
of these two fighters. There has never
been any doubt expressed as to john
sons ability to fit himself so as to be
able to give the best possible account of
himself, and the present trouble which
Jeffries is having with his condition is
not of very serious nature.
There is no reason why the former
champion should not be able to get in
fighting trim in six weeks or even less.
In fact, it would have been serious
mistake for him to have continued the
pace in his training that he set for the
first two weeks. 1t must not be over
looked that Jeffres has virtually been
in training for a year, and all he should
need Is a month or so to get himself as
ready to fight as it il possible.
The complaint against Johnson is that
he is overweight, but two months should
suffice to get off what surplus weight
he may want to rid himself of, though
IL seems certain that he will enter the
ring weighing more than ever before
when he meets Jeffries. One thing is
certain, there is no danger of the fight
being declared off, for there is too much
at stake to give such a course a thought
fighters may be.
Jim Mcclure seems to have come TO
the conclusion that the lineup which the
Maps have presented to date is not sat
isfactOry, and he has made switch,
bringing I-ajoie back to sec nd and plac-
ing Turner in his old posi- ion at short.
This change, together with che in the
outfield, which cannot be considered any
thing but an experiment, is expected TO
hQv 20 a
batting strength is not all the Maps neeo
There has been something material
wrong with the spirit of that team Tor
several years. On paper 1t has always
lcomed I'D as q certain contender, yet IL
has never come UP to the expecta ions or
the experts. There was a time when the
Maps were the hardest hitting bunch IN
the league and had a pitching stan when
compared favorably with that or any OF
it's rivals. yet the team was not winner
because it wasted NEST of Its nits py lIs
failure to play for runs.
Not until Jim Mcclure stamps out the
disposition to play individual base pai'
will he get the best results out OF his
material. Ball players who work only to
make a record for themselves and do not
give their team any consideration are OF
no value to any team.
The black eve which failure OF the
phila delphia club to come to settlement
with former Manager Murray placed on
the National League seems TO nave been
wiped out A settlement has been reached
which appears to be satisfactory to both
Murray has never been given credit for
what he accomplished at Philadelphia. II
was his resourcefulness which built up
rhe present team. What is more, this
same team would have been a much
greater factor In the race last year had
II not been for the interference with Muir
raw by some of the owners of the club.
1t does not help a MANAGERS work to
have individuals who know little or moth
ing about the game to make trades such
as the Magee-for-Donlin affair. which
created the split between Murray and the
club. No sane man would have made
such a trade, and 1t was while he was
protecting the club by refusing to sane
ton this deal that Murray paved the way
to lose his position Those who know
Murray have not lost confidence in his
ability, and 1t would not be surprising to
see him bob up at the head Of one of
the major league teams before the pres
ent season is over.
While there has been some grumbiing
Continued on Seventeenth Page)