Evening star., 1911-05-24
Special Dispatch 70 The Star.

Special Dispatch 10 The Star
DETROIT. Mich, May 24.-"Walter
johnson is ready said Jimmy McAleer
this morning. He looks TO be back In
shape. and I will send him against De-
troit this afternoon or in the getaway
game tomorrow.
johnson has been rather unfortunate
He had malaria this spring and then he
caught a cold. The combination put him
on the shelf but he seemed to have all
his old speed yesterday. but lacked con-
troll. which is natural considering every
thing"
The prospects of Johnson and the work
of Walker last Monday make McAleer
feel that his pitching staff will probably
be rounded into winning style 1t is just
getting back in form.
Tom Hughes is coming into shape.
said the Nationals manager. Il think by
next week Hughes will be at his best
His work has suffered because of his I'LL
ness. but / don't see why he shouldn't
turn up now as a winning hurler. He
will be fit by the time We get back east.
Groom is also looking better and l ex-
pect TO depend on him when we open back
home
The Nationals as whole are not
pleasing the manager much. and the
manager is not trying to disguise his dis
gust. The fielding Of the team at times
is evidence of lack of physical and men
tai ability The Washingtonians don't
seem 10 be hustling, and there will be
a few changes in the lineup before long.
McAleer has been busy for three days
here sending kilograms and letters. He
has done everything in his power TO land
a few players. and will not quit until he
Il would take anybody" sighed the
chief today"
we could be strengthened In several
positions even with mediocre players.
McAleer will not start any sensational
reform movements on the road. The team
will be hack east in few days, then
something will happen He made this
promise today: As soon as We get pack
home the boys will get a long talk There
must be a few changes in style of play or
there will be a few changes in the salary
list
The Nationals sluggish base running
continued yesterday. They did not get
all out of their hits that they were worth
and they did not go at 1t with any sort
OF determination
There is one thing the Nationals have
accomplished, though. in this series
and that is working the hit-and-run play.
The Washington team was the first to
pull off their hit and run successfully in
repeated order here. The attack seems
centered at the short field more than at
second. Five times the Nationals poked
out singles after the hit-and-run signal
was passed Monday afternoon. and in
three of these cases the bali rolled
through the opening that Bush left to
cover second They were slow rollers,
and had Bush not attempted to cover
the bag there would have been easy
force play at second. In the seventh
inning Yesterday Cunningham was on
first He started for second and Eush
rushed to cover the bag. Henry poked
the ball toward short and it rolled over
the very spot where Bush had been stand
ing Cunningham went all the way to
third on the hit. The hit-and-run plays
by the McAleerites are not alone worked
repeatedly but they are worked nearer
to perfection than any seen here this
year. and few have ever been pulled off
as prettily as those in the last two days.
The lively ball got In its deadly work
against the Nationals Monday and yes
terday Dolly Gray has three beautiful
hlack-and-blue spots on his anatomy.
Drake drove a liner at Gray in the first
inning that hit the pitcher on the hip
and bounded to center. In the same
inning Cobb hit him on the shin and the
ball bounded to deep short. and three
innings later Cobb hit him on the insteo
and the ball bounded over Cunningham's
head into right field. In the sixth inning
Delehanty's fast bounder hit Mcbride in
the chest and bounded way into left field.
*
The Nationals have pulled off several
good stunts since coming to town, but
when they leave tomorrow they will also
carry away the credit of having given
the worst exhibition of base ball fur
nished here this year. and one of the
worst In the history of the local lot.
They should have won yesterday, 6 to
1. They kicked the Tigers into an un-
deserved victory. In the eighth inning.
with Washington leading by four runs,
which lead they had cha!ked up by
honest. hard and well earned drives off
big George Mullin. Cobb started with a
dy to first Schaefer stood waiting for
the ball He caught it. but let the sphere
bound out of his glove Cobb and Craw-
ford put through a double steal because
Henry lost the ball in his anxiety to get
II away fast. Delehanty lifted fly in
front of the plate and Henry made the
catch. Then came what should have been
the third out. Moriarty hit a roller to
short. 1t looked like a certain out Nc
Bride got both hands on the ball. but
booted IL and Cobb scored, while Craw-
ford rambled on to third. Ness, who
had not reached first before. hit bounder
In front OF the plate. Henry stepped for
ward and caught the ball. He saw Craw-
ford coming toward the plate and started
after Sam. The Wahoo man stopped. So
did Henry.
The catcher changed his mind and