Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-20

SCHAEFER, LIKE MILLER, TO
HAVE A THOROUGH TRIAL
McAleer Proposes to Play This Pair With
Milan Until They Prove Incompetent
Rule on Sacrifice Base Hit Adopted.

Boston On the occasion of his next
appearance he is expected to show more
than he has to date.
/ The eTcouras cement that the local play
ers have received from the crowds in the
stands in the games played here this
| spring is very gratifying to them. 1t
makes the players lot much easier to
have the crowd with them than taking
| stand against them. and the players ap-
preciate the change Bob Groom, who on
several occasions last season was severe
| ~ criticised by the spectators. received
! so hearty reception when he pitched
the other day that ii has made a differ
ence in the big fellow. Groom has been
| under the impression that he was not
wanted here and he went into a game
discoura ged He has changed his mind
as To this now. and the chances are that
it will make quite a difference in his
pitching.
Cunningham will be playing 80 per cent
better bail remarked Manager McAleer.
Watch the Improvement in his hitting
while we are on the road. Bill has been
a trifle nervous before the crowds here.
He has not come through with wallop
in the pinches once or twice, and he feels
a bit nervous about it. On the road 1t VIII
he different. and I make the prediction
that when we get back here he Will be
setting a fast pace. This trip is going to
do him lot OF good. of that 1 am salts
fed
Nationals on their present trip, four in
each of the other cities of the eastern
circuit. New York. Philadelphia and Bos-
ton. in the order named. To win five of
these twelve would be splendid show
ing. but the players have hopes Of getting
an even break or better, which, however.
will be no easy matter to accomplish, for
the Nationals will be up against three
teams who are figured to be factors in the
present race.
Wild Conroy is not apt to break into
the game this year unless Kid Elberfeld
is incapacitated Valuable as IS the Kid
to the team. il is always necessary to
carry a player who can take his place,
for the reason that Elberfeld takes such
desperate chances that injury Is apt to
come to him at any time. Elberfeld has
never been known to break ground for
base runner. 1t matters not how big
they are or how they slide, the Kid
stands his ground. He has frequently
been cautioned by McAleer not to take
such desperate chances, but he says 1t Is
impossible for him to get out of the
way, just as he claims he can not avoid
being hit at the plate.
So McAleer carries Conroy principally
to fill Elberfeld's shoes in the event that
anything should happen to him.
Jim McAleer who. in his playing days,
was one of the greatest outfielders, is Of
the opinion that Clyde Milan is the best
fielder he has ever seen. II have seen
them all. and they did say that I could
field some myself, but my hat is of to
Milan. He is in class by himself" said
the Nationals manager. There never
was a player who could outfield Zeb.
lie has no weaknesses as fielder. He
can go to either side, twice as far as the
ordinary fielder, can come forward like
streak and go back as far as 1t is possible
TO hit ball. I'll wager that when the
present season is over Milan will be gen.
orally recognized as the greatest out
fielder in the country, and it would not
surprise me at all If he crowded the
leaders for batting honors, too