Evening star., 1911-08-27
MCALEER HAS THE
SAME OLD NUCLEUS
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then put in Becker who Is not showing
well, either as a finisher or as road
pitcher. johnson, in fact, seems to be
the only one of the staff who does con-
sistent work when away from home,
while this is Grooms principal weakness
Since he has been a member Of the
team he has won but few games on the
road. Until Walker was called in to
stem the tide in the game yesterday he
had worked in but one inning since the
team left here, and then he lacked con-
troll and had to be taken out in Chicago.
Whether McAleer will continue to man.
age the team depends entirely on wheth-
er or not he will be successful In his ef-
forts to buy an interest in the Washing
ton club and have himself elected presi-
dent. If McAleer succeeds in this he will
give up the management, which will most
probably be turned over to George Nc
Bride, who as the teams captain has
proven himself most capable leader.
If this fellow Long, who plays left
field for Gadsden in the Southeastern
League, is anywhere near as fast as he Is
reputed to be the Nationals will have a
real speed marvel in their outfield next
season.
The following communication relative
to Longs speed is self-explanatory:
Sporting Editor Star: Being interested
in the Nationals / had OCCASION to see
the Gadsden team play one day last week
and / took particular notice of the work
of Long. who understand has been pur-
chased by the Washington club. / have
seen lot of fast men in base ball In my
time, but l doubt If l ever saw such
sprinting as this boy Long can do.
Tslr<, iOhf -bor cd ho
down the first base line like streak and
he also knows how to get a lead and
steal base. I don't know whether he
hits as he did the day l saw him all the
time. but II he does he Will burn the
American League up. He Is hard hitter,
getting two doubles and triple in the
game I witnessed. think the fans will
agree with me that he is a wonder when
they see him. j. p. kELLUM.
Only a slight chance. and that is q mathe-
matical one, remains for the Detroit team
to win the pennant this year, and In or
der to bring this about the Athletics
would have to take a great slump, and
has a comfortable lead and the team ts
in good condition. After that marvellous
lead which the Tigers gained during the
first month of the season 1t Is hard to
in the race. Had the team been able to
break even from June on, II would un-
doubtedly still be leading. for its ad-
vantage was so great that 1t would have
been impossible for the Athletics to reach
first place.
Jennings troubles came from his pitch
ing staff. He won a whole lot Of games
with his recruit pitchers in the spring,
and when they fell down the veterans
failed to hold up their end, and the
crash. Statistics will show that in the
matter of scoring runs the Tigers again
lead all their rivals. as they did last year,
yet they are far from first place. This
indicates a weakness in the pitchers box.
II Jennings had been blessed with pitch
ef like johnson, Walsh or Ford, he would
have retained the advantage he gained
early in the season. One good pitcher can
hold team up in the race. A consistent
performer such as either Of the three
pitchers mentioned was all that Jennings
| needed Mack has Bender. and, in fact.
every team that ever won a pennant has
to have one pitcher who stands. out from
the others, something Jennings has not
had, since Bill Donovan started to 60
back. though Mullen came near filling the
bill last season.
Regardless Of which team may win the
National League pennant. the, Athletics
stand a splendid chance of again winning
the worlds championship. Mack's team
| is a much more consistent performer
| than any OF the teams In the National
| League which stand q chance to win the
| flag have been, and while, of course, In q
| series Of seven games there are apt to be
upsets, 1t looks like q sure thing that the
Athletics will go into the series as the
public favorites. Furthermore. there Is
| an advantage in the fact that Mack will
not have to crowd his pitchers. With the
| prospects OF comfortable lead he will
ne able to work the pitchers after much
rest, and just enough to keep them on
/ edge, while the chances are the National
/ League contenders will have to stretch a
point to get the necessary advantage.
Then. too. there is going to be severe
strain on the old league winners. for the
chances are that 1t will be q hard strug-
gle right down to the wire.
What a great help q winning pitcher is
+ to q team Is shown in the case OF Mar
guard Of the New York Giants. But for
the splendid work Of this youngster IN
the present race the Giants would be
houndering around in the second division
most likely, but the brilliant assistance
| he has given Mathewson has made 1t pos
/ sible for the Giants to head the process
sion. The lead of McGraw's team II
rather meager. and with another western
| trip before it 1t will require a bigger
| percentage than 1t now has to keeT
in first place. National League critics and
/ experts seem to think that Pittsburgh
| viii win the bunting, even though the
present trip has not been q particularly
good one for the team. It has lost sew
have been won had Wagner and hia
| trusty bat been In action. It may be sew
eral days yet before the Flying Dutch
| man will be back in the game. and 1t the
/ Pirates are not too far out OF the race by
/ that time they are sure to make up lost
/ ground.
Il ~