Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-05
SPORTING COMMENT.
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

For over two months Of the present
season Jim McAleer went along with but
a single catcher, Street. True, he had
Hardy on the bench. but then he could
hardly be counted. for to have been COM
PEELED to catch him would have been a
disaster During that period however,
Street was able to do all the work and
the teams weakness behind the bat was
not apparent. Finally Henry and Beck
| endorf were secured and Hardy allowed
| to go, and there were reasons for believ-
ing that for once the team was we'll for
| titled behind the bat. But from that time
on trouble started. First Street was hurt,
then Beckendorf, and even Henry is
catching with lame arm as the result
of being hit by foul tip.
No team could be laboring under a
worse handicap than the Nationals are
at the present time. When team has
to rely on a young and inexperienced
catcher to handle its pitchers 1t is not
apt to win many games. Now there Is
no doubt that under the circumstances
Henry has done remarkably we'll A
youth who has not had any professional
experience could not possibly do better.
But there is whole lot OF difference be-
tween having a seasoned. experienced
man behind the bat and a youngster who
Is merely learning.
Jack OConnors Browns have yet to
win game from Walter Johnson. Five
times this season they have gone down
before the Idaho wonder, and that with
out ever threatening him. Against no
other team has Johnson pitched such
he finds hardest to beat are New York
and Chicago. The SoX are always lucky
against the local star, and that is also
true of New York in the last two years
Ever since Johnson shut them out three
days in succession luck has been against
him when facing the Highlanders.
Bob Groom, on the other hand. has
never won game in st. Louis, which
Is virtually his home. Every time he
is carded to pitch his friends come over
from Bellevilie to see him perform. but
he has yet to bring home the bacon.
If the Athletics win the pennant this
year. much credit for the victory will be
due Jack Coombs for had it not been for
his consistent work Mack's team would
have been ousted out of first place some
days ago. 1t was Coombs who showed at
his best while Plank and Bender were off
in their work, and it was his consistent
pitching which prevented the Athletics
from sliding
His performance against Ed Walsh in
Chicago yesterday was splendid one,
though the fact must not be overlooked
that Walsh, too, was very much in evil
dence, and incidentally under great
handicap. for the team behind him is by
far the weaker with the stick.
Most every day further details of the
bunk pulled off at Reno are coming to the
front. There has never been much doubt
In the minds of those who have given the
matter a thought that every one con-
nected with the Jeffries end as we'll as
the promoters Of the mill. were aware
that the former champion was unfit to do
himself justice when he stepped into the
ring. Now comes the story that the ex-
aiming physicians made this discovery
before they examined Jeffries. but because
| of the money at stake they allowed them
selves TO be persuaded into making a
unanimous report that Jeffries' condition
was perfect
| miliar with the true state of affairs did
not hesitate to bet their money at the
last moment on Johnson, for they knew
that Jeffries did not have a chance The
public was simply duped, for. instead of
seeing fight. they saw helpless man
slapped around. and perhaps allowed to
stay longer than was necessary had it
not been that the pictures had to be ca
tered to.
AS was to be expected. Nevada is going
to pass an anti-prize fight law, and the
affair at Reno Independence day will be
| the last to take place in Gov. Decker
sons territory.
New York the Chicago Cubs have shown
their superiority over one of the two
other contenders in the National League
race. True the Pirates are hanging on
like grim death, but the margin between
the two leaders is still so great that
nothing but a marvellous slump on the
part of the Cubs can put the PittsburS
champions within hailing distance of the
leaders.
That New York team has been greatly
overrated anyhow. 1t never had right
to be so high i'll the race and the set
back the Cubs have given the Giants has
virtually put them out of the running.
Pittsburg alone now has chance to
overhaul Chicago and the Pirates
chances are not very promising, consid-
ering the consistent work that the Cubs
are doing. A team which gets a good
lead usually has much the better of the
final race, for the luck Of base ball is
such that the team which has to do the
catching loses the same day that the
leaders are thrown down and nothing Is
gained under such conditions.