Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-08
SPORTING COMMENT.
By J. ED 0RILLo.

Jim McAleer Is sure to be at the head
Of the Nationals for the next three
years He will then have had four
years in which to build UP a winner.
and. judging from the splendid nucleus
he has on hand, he should have a team
by that time. all things breaking even.
which will be q factor in a pennant
race.
A winning ball team is one which
wins q larger percentage Of its games
than it loses. McAleer's team will not
finish far from the 800 mark this year,
and IL it is his good fortune to have
picked up a couple Of capable players
out Of the number he has purchased
and drafted he should have a team next
season which will finish with mark
better than 500.
No man can be expected to build up
a ball team in year. but he should,
IL given the proper authority, be able
to present a fairly formidable front in
three or four years. And McAleer had
something to start on.
Based on the splendid showing. his team
has made this year. there Is every reason
for believing that McAleer will prove a
greater success here than any OF his
predecessors. He has a ball team now
which needs but a few changes to make
II a winner. A club which picks up stars
is lucky. 1t all depends on what sort
Of luck McAleer will have with his young
material next year. II II pans out right
he will have a high ball team. But
IL Is all a gamble. this thing of buying
and drafting ball players. But few make
good, and the fact that . big price has
been paid for some minor league star
assures nothing.
McAIeer now has the best ball berth
OF his long career He has been given a
free hand to do as he sees II. He Is not
hampered In anyway and has reason. 10
be satisfied with his environment. Con-
ditions were never better Tor capable
man to deliver the goods.
Though on a team which has and will
hardly win as many games as II has lost
this season. Walter Johnson has al
ready won six games more than
he has been defeated in; and and II ne con-
wind up the season with the best per-
Torrance OF any of the major league
pitchers. for to win good percentage
OF games for team which does not
break even on the season is grand
performance. johnson has now won
twenty-one games and lost ffteen
His victories number almost half OF
those the team can claim. ana the chances
are that before the season Is over he VIII
have landed four or five more games.
Well, we finally beat Quinn but it was
a tough Job.
Lack OF proper accommodations have
cost the local club THOUSANDS or dollars
this wear, for with the team playing good
ball the capacity Of the local park has
been tested on numerous occasions, and
there have been several days when peo-
pie have been turned away.
But 1t is the fact that a great MANY
stay away who would come IL they knew
they could get a seat that proves the
greatest loss. Washington Is to have a
new plant. but just when IL VIII DC
erected has not yet been decided. but II
can't come too soon for the benent OF the
club as well as Its patrons
The discovery that Ty Cobb has one
weak eve must be very gratifying to the
American League pitchers TOT mere n. y
the Georgia Peach been blessed with two
perfect lamps
Walter Johnson probably suffers more
from scratch hits than any other pitcher
| In the business. 1t is but seldom that
one sees a clean hard drive made of OF
the delivery Of the Nationals star twirler
| but most every time he Is working there
are several pop flies which just happen
to fall safe, or grounders which roll sc
thew cannot be handled This is perhaps
| because no one gets toe hold wheI
johnson Is pitching. Most OF the players
hit late or swing Wild, and just happier
| to drop the ball out Of reach. IL base
hits were scored only when the ball was
hit hard and the drive was clean there
would be decidedly fewer safe hits made
of Of Johnson.
| What is termed amateur base ball IL
ANYTHING but that in this locality. When
ever n player Is paid for his service ht
\ ceases to be an amateur. and there are
numerous instances among the local ANA
| teur leagues where players draw salaries
What Is more. players who play profes
\ sionaily In regularly organized leagues
come back here at the close OF the sea
son and parade rs amateurs. Why not
call a spade 4 spade and refer 10 thu
so-called amateurs as seEli-pros. for thai
| In really what they arc.
| The team which would strictly observ,
| the amateur rule would not stand much
Of . chance In any Of the bigger loca
kaguea.