Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-15
BY J. ED GRILLo.

! of the first thirty-seven games this sea-
son on the road is undoubtedly going to
| place a heavy handicap on McAleer' S
| team. Were this long stretch of games
| away from home carded for later in the
season it would not be near SO harmful.
| But in the spring of the year the ball
players need morning practice. Nothing
helps the batting more than for the play
ers to face pitching every morning. This,
| of course, the locals will be deprived OF
while they are on the road. and they are
| travelling most of the time during the
! first six weeks Of the season.
| If the Nationals can come anywhere
near breaking even on these games they
/ will be sure to occupy much improved
position at the end Of the season. But
there is no doubt that they are up against
| a tough proposition.
| In the first place, they will play their
first twenty-three games against the east
| ern clubs. which on last years perform
| ance outclassed all the western clubs ex-
] cepting Detroit. Surely this does not
promise good start In the race, and yet,
should 1t be the good fortune of the loca Is
to play winning ball during that period. 1t
would give them an advantage.
There is hardly a chance for the Wash
| ington club to figure in any trades this
spring. McAleer has nothing that he can
AFFORD to dispose Of that he can get any
thing for, SO that it Is really useless to
make an effort in this direction. His de-
cision to stand pat with the material on
hand is the only course open to him. The
sale of Unglaub means that Sone:lot
will be given a thorough trial at first
base, and with Unglaub out of the way
the youngster will feel that he has the
confidence of the manager, and this may
make a big difference in his work. 1t
goes without saying that though Somerlot
may not be star he is sure to do as well
In the position did Inglaub last sea-
son. In fact Somerlot while he has failed
to show himself aslugger, gave evidence
OF being an intelligent ball player, some
thing the locals have lacked at first base
for many years.
1t is McAleers judgment that Somerlot
will develop, and it is tls Judgment that
the fans must abide by.
This thing OF Offering 10 make trade
for Walter Johnson by every manager
who approaches any one connected with
the Washington club must no longer be
taken seriously. 1t stands to- reason that
the Washington club could no more af-
ford to trade or sell Walter Johnson, than
!. New York could Mathewson. Yet every
rival manager puts in a Iee!er whenever
the opportunity presents itself. Johnson
is sure to spend the remaining days OF his
usefulness as member of the Washing
ton team. That is certainty.
Ban johnson SAYS that the reason he did
not appoint a rules committee was that
he was led to believe that there were no
changes to be made in the rules. Fur
thermpe he could not find any one
in his league who would serve on such
a committee. Then he points to the fact
that two members of the National League
comrpttee resigned. All Of which means
that had Charley Murphy not been on the
committee there would have been
joint rules committee this year, and that
there won't be any so long as the Chi
cago magnate holds a position on it.
The contrast between the way the
American and National leagues do bust
ness was again illustrated yesterday. Aft
CT two hours session the American
League finished all its business. A sched-
ule adopted and other matters dis
, cussed. There was no sign Of belligerency
and things ran off smoothly.
The National League will most likely
| remain in session the remainder of the
week. quarreling over what ball should be
| adopted. playing politics and accomplish
| ing very little. Every year the American
League is gaining In popularity. and 1t is
all because it transacts its affairs in
business and sportsman like manner.
There seems to be a great difference of
opinion as to the figure the Pittsburg
team will cut in the National League race
| this year. While there are some who pick
the Pirates to win the pennant. they are
also given positions in the second divi-
| sion. w. j. OConnor Of st. Louis has this
| to say Of the Pirates:
Something Is wrong in Pittsburg Clarke
Is getting rather ancient and he is sur
| rounded by a lot Of veterans. Leach,
| Wagner Lever Philippe and Gibson
are well on In years and perfectly salts
fled with life, but the kids are kicking.
Evidently there is some disagreement and
the chances are it's the same old story
4 veterans Grabbing the kids. From q
long distances peek it would seem that
Messrs. Dreyfuss and Clarke would profit
q whole lot more II they had the good
will Of Campbell and Byrne than they