Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-21
NATIONALS MAY BREAK
INTO FIRST DIVISION
Victories Over Boston Would Give McAleer' s
Team a Big Boost Teams Hitting
Should Improve Manager Diplomat.

! sons age who have failed to have their
| heads turned by success. The average
good pitcher does much growing when
ever one of his games is lost by reason
OF errors behind him. Not so Johnson.
He takes his misplays as a matter or
fact land instead of criticising his team
mates. he encourages them, something
| that few good pitchers indulge in.
In the first few games that Wild Conroy
played at third base it seemed that Elber-
fields absence would be sadly felt by the
team. But once Wild got to going he
filled the position every bit as well as his
rival, and his hitting, like McBride's has
been most timely. This is the first year
in several that Conroy has been in condi-
ton to do himself justice. His trouble
has always been with his legs, but they
are sound and strong now and the vet
eran is playing as we'll as he ever did IN
his career.
1t was because of this that when Elber
field was ready to get back in the game
Conroy was allowed to remain at third
while the Kid was shifted to second base
Second base is new to Elberfeld but If
his showing in the few games he has
played there can be taken as criterion
he has the making of one of the cleveresf
players in that position. Eiberfeld covers
a lot of ground, is good on ground oaiis.
and, what is more. second base gives him
much better opportunity to display his
jurgment than did third. for he has two
bags to watch. On hunts the Kid can
cover first perfectly, and when 1t comes TO
keeping base runners near to second he
has no equal. McAleer believes that Ell
berfeld is going to make a star second
baseman, and this will greatly help the
team, for it has been the one weak spot
on the infield this spring.
Dixie" Walker was much improved
upon his arrival here Monday night, and
he will be able TO take his regular turn
No., fl,a fnnr oct 2nk
Gray. Groom. johnson, Oberln and Refs
ling will probably be pitched in Boston.
but unless Groom shows much improve
ment he will not be worked regularly
form in his games recently. His place
among the four pitchers to be worked
regularly will probably be taken by Gray
or Oberln, both of whom insist that they
are ready to deliver the goods.
Had Manager McAleer needed the adj
vice of majority of the fans this spring
George Mcbride would either still be oc
cupying, the bench or he would have been
released. When because of illness Nc
Bride was playing poorly in the early
games a cry went up for his scalp. The
fact that Mac had always been a con-
sistent performer was entirely overlooked.
and he was in disfavor with the crowds.
But once he regained his health Mcbride
has played most marvellous ball, There
is no shortstop in the American League
who mas done better work In fact, he
has proven himself the best hitting short
stop in the league. His average may not
be high. but his hits have been most
timely. and that, after all. is what counts
most.
Perhaps one ought to touch wood when
saying It, but there is no denying the
fact that the Nationals have been very
fortunate to date in not having Charley
Street OFT Of the game by reason of in
juries Though his body is black and
blue as result of foul tips. Street has
been able to stick on the job. and 1t is
fortunate that he has, for the Nationals
have no catcher who can take his place.
There is no Other team so badly handi-
capped behind the bat. for while some Of
them have no stars. and it is doubtful If
any can boast of as good man as Street,
yet every team has two or three catchers
who can deliver while McAleer has but
one
He will eventually secure Beckendorf,
but the sooner that individual Joins the
team the better it will be for tie Ma
tionals, for in SO hazardous a position
accidents are apt to occur at any time,
and with Street out of the game the Ma
tionals chances for victory would lie de-
c;dedly slim.