Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-10
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Reports from Jeffries' training camp
vary so much from day to day that 1t
will be next to impossible for any one
to get q correct line on the condition OF
the former champion from newspaper re-
ports That the Crouch which Jenrfes
is charged with harboring has much to do
with the unfavorable reports which are
sent broadcast is no doubt true, but there
may be reason. too. which warrants these
Statements One day Jeffries is as good
as he ever was, and the next time he goes
through some stunts he shows plainly
that he is not in form. The latter is
perhaps true, for this is no time for JEFF
ries to be ready. He has nearly two
months left in which to prepare himself
for the fight, and it would be detrimental
to his chances to have him fit and ready
now.
Real hard work will not begin in JEFF
fries camp until early in June. His pres
ent work is intended more to condition
him for the real training than anything
else, and it will be during the last month
of his work that he must show the i'm
provement hoped for.
1t is not always the best thing for a
young ball player to get his first trial In
| fast company at home. If things break
should he have a few poor days he is
sure to come in for his share Of roasts.
under which he may give way entirely.
| This is particularly true If the player
| Blackburn Of the White SOX. Cnfortu-
nate errors made him a mark for the
critics, and he was taken out to get ms
| real trial away from home, Whefe ne
will not be the mark of the fans and
| where he will get a fair chance to do
himself justice.
I Managing a losing ball team is one OF
the most discOuraging duties man can
encounter, and yet Jim McAleer pears up
remarkably well under his burden. Years
| of experience have made the Nationals.
| manager a philosopher, and instead OF
being discouraged he looks the PROPOSE
ton straight in the face and plans TO
remedy conditions if it is possible 10 40
so. But McAleer must rely on accom-
plishing success or failure with the ma
terial he has on hand. He may be able
to swing deal or two, but. AFTER an,
there can be no material change In MS
Iine-up at this time. There is no way to
eet hall players at this season of the
wear. In the fall it is different, for theh
nIavers can be secured from the minor
leagues. :.
nlayers will give him their best EFFORTS.
which, however, may not assure much.
II would not be at all surprising II
there were several upsets now that the
| western teams are having thelr nrst eiasi 81
with their eastern rivals. At the end OF
the next three weeks fairly good line
on the relative strength of the teams
should be possible This first trip is OF
great Importance. Every team Is now III
as good shape as it will ever De. and
games will be played on their merits
The Athletics have been going at a ter
rife clip, which the team cannot expect
to continue without slump. The team
has been batting most timely 1t has
made its hits when they have been most
productive and while that is excellent
base ball, it requires luck to nave matters
break that way. A break must therefore
be expected, for no team no matter
how strong. ever goes through cam
paign without encountering period When
it does not play up to its best form.
Boston has not shown as well as was
expected while New York has been a sur
prise But Boston will do better, and il
New York continues it's pace the western
clubs will have a hard time beating 1t on
its own grounds.
AS for the Nationals Nruly their work
cannot be worse than 1t has been Tor the
past week or more. There is sure to be
at least a slight improvement, SO that the
western teams will not be able to make a
cleanup here.
Outfielders and catchers predominant
the managerial positions in the American
League There is but one former infielder
in charge of team. and that is Jennings:
O'Connor of st. Louis, MCGUIRE OF
Mack of Philadelphia all were catchers.
while Donovan of Boston. McAleer of
Washington and Duffy Of Chicago were
outfielders, and out of the entire set there
is not one playing manager.
Two pitchers who made failure of
their stay with the Nationals last season
are very apt to be found in fast company
again next year. They are Tom Hughes
and Jesse Tannehill. both of whom are
pitching as well in the American Associa-
ton for Joe Cantilon as they ever did In
their careers. Clubs which are weak in
pitchers will not hesitate to give these
Veterans another chance if they show
good form all season. Tor they stand
better chance of coming back than some
of the youngsters do Of making good in
fast company.