Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-01

less, but that is the chance that must be
taken in base ball

| One frequently hears the remark why
don't they go out and get some ball
playerS% Just as If it was possible to
get players for the asking. Those who
Dor under such impressions can make
barrels OF money by merely informing a
club where such players are to be found.
Base ball has grown to such an extent
that a winning team in any city means
a fortune for its owners. A loser is not
desirable under any conditions. 1t is for
winners that every city strives, and yet
but few get them. That the element of
beyond question.
a club must be lucky in the selection OF
new material. for the amount paid as
sures nothing. What is more a team
must have the good breaks to win base
ball.
Washington has never had much luck
in anything connected with the game 1t
loses many close games. yet on days that
either weak or the fielding is ragged. SO
that defeats result, when If conditions
We're at least occasionally reversed-and
| there is no reason why a team should not
have even break in such matters
many games would be won.
Errors are a part of the game, and yet
it is only on rare occasions that Wash
ingtOn player can make a wabble which
does not prove costly. And the team is
well up in fielding at that.
But the club is not going on the theory
that it is under a hoodOo spell and that
some day the turning point will be
reached 1t is making every effort to bet
ter the team and taking chance of hav-
ing luck make a natural turn in this di-
rection.
Clyde Milan has played good ball for the
Nationals this wear and no one would
suspect that he was laboring under a Sc
we're handicap whicn would keep the aver
age player out of the game. When the
present season is over Milan will undergo
an operation for an internal injury sus-
tanned year or more ago. He has put it
off because he does not want to get out
of the game. and yet with this severe
handicap he has managed to play Splen-
did ball for the team.
Since leaving the west the Nationals
have been up against tough propositions
in the Boston and New York teams. There
is no doubt that both of these aggrega-
tons. outclass the locals. and especially
when the latter are in the throes of a
slump. as they have been.
New York and Boston have fast teams,
as Is shown by their position in the race.
and to have to play them fourteen
straight. games certainly did not promise
to help the locals standing and 1t hasn't,
for but one of the ten games played has
been placed on the right side of the
ledger.
three or four scouts going through every
minor league in the country at least
one or two outfelders would be seen who
gave promise of making good in fast
company. But according to the reports
of the scouts Jim McAleer has, not a
single outfielder of promise has come
under their notice. There are several
playing good ball who might have a
chance to make good here. but upon in
Quiry 1t has been found that every one
of these players is the property of some
major league club which has merely
loaned him for the season.
Orders have been given Scouts kahoe
and Padden to keep a sharp lookout for
cutfielders and Denny Long, on the
coast, too, has his ear to the ground, but
to date nothing available has been found.
Pat Donovan and his Boston Speed
Boys" Will open four-game series here
this afternoon. Donovans team has been
going at a fast clip lately, and, while
considerably behind the leaders, Dono-
van still sees chance for his team to
get to the top. I'VE have lot of games
at home when this trip is over said he.
land we will improve our position. Injury
to our players on the last western trip
proved great handicap or we would be
nearer the top now than we are. But we
are in fairly good shape again and should
do better from this out"
Walter Johnson will likely oppose
Wood in the game this afternoon. 1t
will be called at o'clock.