Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-26
BY J. ED GRILLO.

After making most creditable show
ing on their recent western trip the pres
ent slump of the Nationals is most unex-
pected. In the games with Detroit, Chi
cago. Cleveland and ST Louis McAleer's
to figure among the first four clubs
Since then slump has overtaken the
team, from which it is having great
difficulty to emerge. Primarily. the
trouble appears to be with the batting,
something that cannot be controlled, and
must run its own course.
At the best the Nationals are not a
team for which any pitcher need have
fear, but at the present time the hitting
Is~far below the players standard. That
of course. is great handicap, one from
which all teams suffer at some time or
another. but even when going at its best
the team is weak in stic< work.
With some lucky breaks the team az
now made up might make brilliant cam
paign, but 1t would have to have the
breaks, and it seems never to have been
on the boards that any team representing
this city was blessed with good fortune.
McAleer says that the team must be re-
built, and he is right undoubtedly. New
blood must be injected. There is no fault
to find with the individuals on the team.
Every man has given the team his best
efforts, all that can be expected. Neither
does there appear to be any reason for
criticiSing the manager. McAleer has
done all in his power No man could do
more, but McAleer does not propose to
stand still. He sees what is needed and
he proposes to make the effort to get the
material his team needs. Much has al
ready been done in this direction and the
work is not near over All the players
on whom options have been secured or
whom deals are on for have not been an
nounced, and won't be until the time
comes for them to report here. All the
youngsters that will be secured will not
make good.
hope of getting few capable youngsters
to sandwich in with his seasoned mate
rial that McAleer hopes to make WIN
ner. He does not believe that the present
showing of the Nationals Is correct line
on the teams strength. 1T has played
a hundred per cent better ball the greater
part of the season than it is now doing
and it will strike its stride again. Nc
Aleer is hopeful of still finishing In "A
much better position than ,d tne Team Is
satisfy him. for he is looking into the
future.
To pitch three games in a week under
existing weather conditions. and the third
one after a nights ride in hot, stuffy
sleeper, appears to have been too much
for Walter Johnson, for he was far from
being himself yesterday. For just two
innings Walter seemed to be on edge,
then his speed left him and he was easy
prey for the visitors bats.
johnson has always been able to stand
a lot of work, and in his previous two
games this week he showed good form,
but yesterday he showed plainly that he
was weak.
Manager Stallngs of the New York
team predicts slumps for all the pitchers
in the league, because Of the sudden
coming of the hot weather.
"You will find" said he before yester-
days game that within the next week
OF so nearly all the pitchers will show
a slump. Mine did in the four games
we lost to the Athletics. Every one of
my twirlers collapsed because of the
heat, and it took them several days to
recuperate 1t is the first warm spell
we have had, and when it hits the pitch
ers it plays havoc with them. Detroit
is having it's experience now, and the
other teams will suffer likewise. The
team whose pitchers do not have few
bad days right now must consider itself
lucky"
Two games will be played with the
Highlanders Monday, the first being
called at O'Clock.
Bill Hinrichs had his first taste of major
league base ball yesterday when he pitch
ed the last two innings of the game
which Johnson started. Conditions, OF
course, were not favorable for a young
pitcher to get a try-out, for the visitors
were hitting everything and the game
was already lost. and yet Bill did not
make a favorable impression. He shows
plainly that he still needs lots of season
ing and few years In some minor
league may make him good pitcher.
but he is far from ready for fast COM
pany at this time.
George Mcbride faced Warhop on two
occasions when there were men on the