Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-04
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Ok y. Ell 0NAAAO.
Nothing but total collapse of the Ath-
letics and Cubs seems able to prevent
these two teams from playing in the next
worlds series. With the lead the leaders
in the respective leagues now possess, it
is but necessary for them to go along at
normal clip to retain the lead to the
end, and there is no reason why they
should not be able to accomplish this.
On the other hand, it would require a
remarkable squirt on the part of one Of
the other first division teams to over
haul the Athletics, and the same is true
Of the Cubs. If anything. the Cubs are
improving as the season grows older.
Their victories in New York simply show
them to outclass the Giants, the strong
est team in that section of the circuit, SO
that on the dope the Cubs should have
an excellent trip. Pittsburg, too, is going
along nicely, but no matter how strong
the Pirates may come, they have not a
chance to forge to the front unless the
Cubs should slump, and there does not
appear to be any danger of that.
Ii Cubs and Athletics meet in the fall
battles the Chicago team will naturally
be the favorite, and yet the Athletics
are sure to make a much better showing
than they did against the Giants in 1903,
for Mack has a different kind of a ball
team now, while there is no doubt that
the Cubs have gone back bit Not that
it isn't a great ball team, for it surely
has proven itself to be al that. The
stars of the Cubs. are sliding, as ball
players always do after years of serV-
ice. but even with this being the case
it is great ball team.
If the Nationals can make any sort of
a showing on their present trip it will be
most remarkable. With the team badly
crippled it does not stand much chance
to win games. Had it been intact on this;
trip there would have been a. good chance
for McAleer to better his position i'm the
race. AS it is now his chances for VIC
tories are slim, and IT Is not unlikely that
he will lose sixth place before he re-
turns here
Somehow or other base ball luck has
never been with anything representing
Washington. Something always happens
to the detriment of the local aggregation.
Either the breaks during a game go
against it or something happens to kill
its chances, as is the case at the present
time.
I The team was going along at a splen-
did trip UP to the time that Milan was
hurt, and then one accident followed an
other until McAleer now has nothing but
fragments of his team to command. 1T
is particularly unfortunate that the team
should be crippled on its western trip.
where it stood a chance of duplicating its
son and winning a majority of its games.
Later in the season McAleer will proba-
bly, be better fortified, for 1t is most likely
that a majority of the youngsters who
have been purchased will report, and no
doubt they will be played.
Warren Miller is sure to be here the lat
ter part of this month. Somerlot may re-
port as soon as the Central League sea-
son is over. Ainsmith, who, 1t seems. has
,,,efl 4, II IN MAJ ocy0-
ment and is under suspension, will be here
as soon as he is allowed to come, and no
doubt Cunningham will put in his APP
pearance as soon as he can get away.
1t is but natural that McAleer should
want to get look at as much Of his new
material as possible this fall, for the play
ers will then be in perfect physical con-
dition and he will be able to get good
line on them.
Taylor got possession Of the Boston team
that the American League believed II
would be necessary to appoint guardian
for the young man to prevent him from
running the Boston property.
When John l. concluded one day that it
was time to rid his team of all its stars
and go out and get young blood, the wise
men of the league scratched their heads
and groaned in horror. 1t was simply
another prank of rich mans son, and
no doubt efforts were made to have some
one intervene. But it develops that John
/. was not making any mistakes. He
threw his worlds championship team and
tore it to pieces when he found 1t sliding,
went out and dug up youngsters and to-
day has a team which stands splendid
chance of winning pennant. Taylor has
been very active in base ball, particularly
with his own team. He has made all
sorts of shifts and changes, but he has
never made a mistake. What other club
owner would have dared to let out Fred
Lake last season when the team was ap-
parently making a great showing! But
Taylor did, and he seems to have made
no mistake, for Donovan is certainly de-
livering the goods.
So Taylor. who was laughed at by ms
colleagues few years ago. now has the
satisfaction of seeing the other club own
ers following in his wake and trying TO
strengthen their teams as he did.
The Washington club may have a case
for the national commission to decide.
into at the time that Pitcher Hovlik was
sent back to Peoria giving the Wash
ingtcn club the pick of the Peoria play
ers at a stipulated price this fall.
Peoria had pitcher named Mercer who
must have shown something. for Pitts
burg has stepped in and purchased him,
and he is now with the team.
Mercer really belongs to Washington il
the local club wants to avail itself of the
agreement made with the Peoria club.
AS vet Mercer has not been able to show
what he can do, but the very fact that
Pittsburg picked him up at this time
would indicate that he promises some
thing.