Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-04
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

Bob Groom's pitching against the High.
landers yesterday bears out his prediction
that he would win games il he was al
lowed to start them.
1t was the first game he has really
pitched this season. though he has nm
ished a. few that were lost when he made
his appearance on the rubber Groom
Z admits that he cannot pitch under such
conditions.
He informed McAleer that he could not
do himself justice unless he started his
own games "And. by the way, Jim, i
wish you would tell those fellows on the
infield to let me do my own thinking. and
not have them tell me what to do every
- time a man gets on the bases" pleaded
Groom
y McAleer informed the tall pitcher that
: he could have his own way any time ne
: was pitching, so long as he delivered the
goods.
Groom should be as good a pitcher as
Johnson. He has everything In the way
of foolers. and now that his control ap-
pears to have improved there 10 no reason
why he should not be a winner. His
greatest fault has been that he has
given too much attention to the base
runners. Just as soon az a man reached
base Groom took his eye OF the batter,
: and the result was that his control fall
tered.
1t was his anxiety to hold the runner
. close to the base that affected Groom
drill this fact into him. and 1t seems to
have been effective. That Is, he has At
least pitched one good game. He will
have to do more than that before Inc
Nationals twirling staff can be consid-
! cred improved, but there is no reason
why he shouldn't.
Let 1t be hoped that that double and
triple credited TO Doc Gessler is the OPEN
ing of his regular batting season. Doc has
= never been a spring hitter, but those two
: wallops yesterday may mean that from
this out his bat will swing effectively.
: Though Charley Street is considered
one OF the best catchers in the country,
he is also the most modest. Street does
not possess an exaggerated opinion of
himself. In fact. he is far from salts
Z fled with his own work. In one Of the
3 games here last week Street had a very
: bad day. Not only did he have a brace
: of passed balls. but his throwing was
far below the mark. 1t was just an on
day for the great catcher. When the
game was over he went to McAleer, say
= ing: lin. 1 was awful today, but I
want you to promise me one thing.
Whenever l have 2 bad day please don't
McAleer. in surprise. why. say. old man.
you are going to catch 1854 games for me-
IN not take you out. don't worry about
u.
The next morning. bright and early,
Street Was at the park practicing throw
= ing to the bases. and that afternoon he
caught one of his very best games
= When things break right for a ball
player he gains the courage to try all
sorts OF plays and thus makes himself
more valuable to his team. Take the
{ case of Milan Last year 50 per cent
of the balls that Milan hit went on q
bound to the second baseman. This year
Clyde IL hitting few balls In that dfrec-
ton. He is either pulling them to right
! like rifle shots, or he is showing clean
singles into left field There is no telling
where he will hit. and IT II no easy mat
ter to play for him. The result is that
Milan is pulling of some inside stun
: this year which stamps him as one of
: the best players in the league. He has
the confidence to try, something he lack
ed last season because 1t was his poor
year.
There Is no doubt that McAleer de-
serves a lot Of credit for the Improvement
Milan has shown. From the first day
that the little fellow made his appear
ance at Norfolk this spring McAleer took
him under his wing. He impressed him
: with the fact that he ought to be one Of
the best ball players In the league. This
was pounded INTO Milan's ear every day
and he finally believed it, His teammates
encouraged him on every hand and when
ever he did the simplest thing he was