The Washington herald., 1910-07-17
BIZ WILLIANI PEET.

The Nationals have thus far played
:ast half the games on the schedule for
this season. Taking everything into con-
sideration, the club has done a whole lot
better than many expected. although not
as well as a few experts believe they
should have done.
Last year at this time. with Joe Can
tillon at the helm. the team was eight
games behind McAleers aggregation-in
last place and hopelessly out OF the race
for any kind of honors, even in the sec
ond division.
The Nationals at the pace they are
going right now have an excellent chance
Of finishing well up at the top of the
second division. and barring accidents the
writer believes they will do so.
Ban Johnson and many others have
come out strong in their statements that
the Nationals are Playing much faster
ball and have a more evenly balanced
team than anything Joe Cantillon pro-
duced.
Others advance the argument that
there is very little difference in the cali
Der OF the teams. citing for instance
the fact that third base has been
strengthened by Kid Elberfeld. but last
year Bob Unglaub was hitting the bali
hard. which just about balances the
strength in this department.
It is a fact, nevertheless. that AIcAleer
is getting considerably more work out OF
his men by his pat-on-the back manner
than did Joe Cantillon with slave-driving
tactics. and with a lot of young blood
in sight the outlook for a successful
wind-up and a crackerjack club next year
are unusually bright
The signing OF Outfeider Swain. from
the far Northwest. means probably the
passing Of Jack Lelivelt, whose only
value to the club has been his hitting
Lelivelt's fielding has improved but little
since he came here last summer. His
poor work on numerous occasions figured
prominently in losing games, and his
throwing has always been way below
par for q major Lacquer.
Lelivelt has always been a dangerous
hitter in the pinches. When he is going
right he is liable to step in and break
up a game any minute. II he could field
as well as he can hit he would be one
of the best outgardeners in the business
There is still the chance that Swain,
the new man. Will not make good, and
Manager McAleer win certainly hold on
10 Lelivelt for some time to come.
The Nationals wind UP the present
series with Detroit this afternoon, and
the game Walter Johnson started yes
terday will be finished to-day. as word
from the City of Straits last night
was &c the effect that the big fellow
would go against the Tigers with Charley
Street behind the bat.
Tomorrow the Cleveland Maps are here
for a series Of four games. and. although
both New York and Boston have given
the Ohio crowd some fearful lacings dur
ing this trip east. the Maps are playing
good ball. and can be depended upon 10
make things interesting for McAleer's
henchmen.
Following Cleveland. Chicago is booked.
The White Sox open on Friday. and are
here until the following Tuesday.
Reports from the West indicate that
the foes OF summer baseball for college
players have been routed By the con-
ference representatives agreeing to a rul-
ing that coIlegians may play with semi.
pro teams so long as they do not receive
compensation. BY semi-professIonai is
meant roughly a team which has. for
instance, a paid battery. the ability OF
the pitcher and catcher being most i'm
pcrtant thing to any baseball club. It
viii be necessary for the college players
10 register for these teams. however. be-
fore they get permission 10 play with
Them The idea Is that each player who
intends to go into summer baseball shall
notify his faculty athletic committee and
get formal permission to do so. The