Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-23
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

The selection of Atlanta as a training
grounds should give the Nationals the
best opportunity they have ever had to
get themselves ready for the opening of
the next campaign.
Heretofore the team has never enjoyed
idal training conditions. Galveston was
hardly the place to train ball players and
Norfolk was little or no better. Atlanta
has always been perfect spot for the
preliminary work of ball players, and
McAleer is to be congratulated on having
secured the Georgia metropolis.
The system to he employed in the spring
will differ but little from that in vogue
last year. Most OF the pitchers and
several of the veterans on the team will
be sent to Hot Springs in February 10
boil out, while the team is TO report at
Atlanta the first week in March. 1t Is
McAIeer's intention to bring them to
Washington on April L and open All eN-
hibition season with National League
teams. The chances are that every one
of the clubs of the eastern end of the
old league circuit will be played here.
II is figured that the two weeks or so
the players will spend here after return
ing from the south will thoroughly accli-
mate them, while the National League
teams will furnish the best kind of prac-
tice.
McAleer blannes his failure to finish
higher in the race last season to the mis-
cradle start his team got during the f1rst
six weeks of the season. This failure to
show good form is attributed to lack or
condition, the result of the cold breeZeS
at Norfolk. He is therefore particu arly
anxious to get his team fit for the start
hoping thereby to get good lead In the
race.
ft,n a.
tionals could be figured to finish higher
than they did last year. There was hard
ly enough class to the team to expect 1t
to finish at the head Of the second d.
vision, though 1t was within whispering
distance OF that goal on several occasions
\ team which cannot hit better than did
the locals would have to have a. corps OF
star pitchers to give it a cnance In
race. Pitchers who could hold their OPP
ponents down every day as does Johnson
would not need much batting strength be-
hind them, but ii is no easy matter to get
together such staff.
Nor is there any reason for believing
that the Nat onals will be able to make
material Improvement next season over
last seasons showing. or course II NC
Aleer succeeds in strengthening his FENCES
all well and good. but the team as 1t
finished last season is not apt to cut a
greater figure than 1t did.
There is, however, the consolation that
for q time at least there is no danger OF
the Nationals finishing last That berth
seems to be assured to the ST. Louis
Browns.
Incidentally there is a chance for Nc
Aleer to blild up his team. If he is
fortunate enough to grab of couple
of outfelders. and he needs them badly.
and his pitching stan should take
brace. the situation will look decidedly
brighter.
II Jim McAleer succeeds in securing
Jack Flynn, egotsatfons for whom he has
league meeting. he will have plugged up
that hole at first base. But, as has been
repeatedly stated. the chances of Flynn
coming here are decidedly remote. But
figuring Flynn cut of II McAleer Will nave
three candidates for the first base posi-
ton Somer' ot can play the bag and will
answer the purpose II he shows DISPOSE
ton to do a little more hitting Then
there are Jack Leliveit and John Henry.
Beth have had trials on the bag ana
shown fairly well. Lelvelt. Of course,
would be given the preference now be-
cause of his ability to hit. but there are
that Henry will develop into cracking
good bitter He is Of ideal build for the
position and is a youngster.
II would seem that by this time Owner
Charley Murphy of the Cubs had learned
thar he. at least, cannot trifie with base
ball law and get away with 1t before the
national co-,raiseion 1t seems to be one
I'D
court a. So ball to fine Owner Murphy.
His lat It violation was 70 play brothers
Of Evers and Holman in an exhibitor
game az Ottumwa. Iowa. when the reg
ular team was advertised to play there.
The club protest ed to the commission.
with the result that Murphy will have to
pay a fine OF 500.
In protecting the public against the
playing of subs in exhibition games the
commission has taken the right stand.
When big league team is advertised to
rilay in a minor league city the public
expects to see the real thing, and is enti-
lied to. The game has been hurt more
han once by allowing the best players of
team to lay off on such days. much to
the disgust of those who paid to see
these players
II Garry Hermann goes through with
his threat to offer a resolution at the next
meeting of the National League COMPEL
ing all the clubs of that organization to
make public the names of their stock
holders there are apt to be some very
Interesting developments this winter.
1t has frequently been asserted that the
names of the owners of q club Is no more
public concern than the personnel of the
directorate OF any private concern. but
because of the doubt which exists con-
rerning the ownership OF several of the
National League clubs Hermann thinks
he game is being injured. and he wants
he facts made public.
What is known as syndicate base ball Is
decidedly unpopular. Whenever there is
4 suspicion that two clubs are owned by
one man the game is being hurt. Herr
mann undoubtedly realizes this fact, and