Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-28
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Though still leading the race by COM
Portable margin, the Athletics are not
showing the class shat one expects from
team which is on its way to win a
pennant. Not only Is Mack's team not
hitting as it should but it's pitchers are
not shown. the form they did earlier in
the Season. and what is more the play
ers' confidence seems to have been
shaken. Unless there is a decided brace
there is danger of the Athletics losing
the lead on their coming western trip In
which event it is not likely that they
will recuperate, for it will then be mucn
too near the end of the season to make
UP much lost ground or to recover shaken
confidence.
Boston. of course, seems to nave the
best chance to overcome the lead which
Mack's team still holds, but should those
Tigers get one of their winning streaks,
which is not at all unlikely, it would not
be at all surprising to see them win out
yet True the Detroit team is 126 points
behind the leaders, but when that team
is intact and gets to going it is hard to
stop and it will get lot of encourage-
ment out of the poor showing the Attn
letics are making just now.
At any rate there is every lnd1cation
much closer two weeks from now than
it is at the present time. 1t is not likely
that the Athletics will have a brilliant
trip, for the team has not been going
well on it's own grounds. Boston proved
a better road team in the west earlier in
the season than did the Athletics, and as
said before Detroit will have the ad-
vantage of being at home for the next
three weeks. during which the Tigers are
apt to make up much lost ground.
In rebuilding his team there is no
way that McAleer can figure Kid Eiber-
field out of the lineup. Elberfeld has
shown just as good form this year as
ever in his career, and he is too good
a ball player to think of letting him
out. 1t is, of course, unfortunate that
Elberfeld plays in comparatively few
games during season. constantly
tate him, but for all that he is
valuable man to have around. There
is no doubt that McAleer figures on
playing Elberfeld at third next season
contemplated, but he will be sure to
carry some one to substitute for the
Kid during such periods that he will
be disabled and it would not be
poor guess to say that that individual
will be Wild Conroy.
No doubt the four games that the
Nationals were scheduled to play in
Philadelphia were figured as victories
by the Philadelphia fans, and on one
occasion, at least, they have been dis
appointed This Washington team is
not one that can be figured as easy at
any stage.
1t has not been in any game this year
that 1t has not given the other team a
battle, and any team that figures on TAX
ing series from 1t Is very apt to be dis
appointed Now that the first game resulted
in victory for the Nationals, 1t is not at
q mi k0Ix fhof fhnyy mil
break during their stay in Philadelphia,
and with "a good break they might take
three out of four.
That Manager McAleer intended to give
Jack Lelivelt a trial at first base was
stated in these columns several days ago,
and it would not be at all surprising If
Jack developed into frst-class man in
that position. AS a left fielder Lelivelt
has not been a bowling success. In fact,
he has not developed enough in the year
he has played the field to warrant the
prediction that he would learn. He is
naturally a poor fielder, and, incidentally,
is handicapped by reason of being left
handed thrower. SO that he would per-
haps do much better if played in right
field
However, such shifts will not be made for
the present, as Gessler is not much of
fielder, either in any field but right. But
when Miller reports there may be gen.
eral shift of the outfield just for the sake
of experimenting.
The injury to Beckendorf's finger again
puts McAleer in a bad way for catchers.
Henry is now the only available man,
and it is expecting a whole lot OF
mere kid just out Of college to jump in
and handle the delivery of major league
pitchers, and yet prevent the opposing
base runners from chasing around the
bases. But Henry has shown on the few
occasions that he has been behind the
bat here that he has the ability and nerve
to tackle the proposition and that should
be half the battle.
Charley Street will not be able to report
for several days yet and it will be at least
week before he will be able to catch
again. In the me antime Henry will be
kept busy, for it is doubtful il Becken-
dorf will be able to work for several
days.
The chances are that before tie present
season is over Red killifer will be gen.
orally recognized as one of the best second
baseman iV the American League. The
rapid strides that this youngster has
made in the last six weeks is most re-
markable, and what is more he has not
stopped improving as yet.
But there is no ball player more de-
serving of success than this same KILL
fer. A more earnest worker never stepped
into a spiked shoe. From the time that
he reported at Norfolk last spring he
has been working like a beaver. He is
simply tireless, and local patrons of the
game are pleased to note the improve