Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-21

chase OF a pitcher who is continually
baking. Cor such work would not go In
faster company.
Last spring the local team in Pitcher
Eddowes Of Philadelphia had a most
promising pitcher. He worked against
the New York Americans for six innings.
allowing only one scratch hit, but there
was an amateur umpire who let the balks
slips. This condition prevailed through
the exhibition games. EddoWes going
splendidly. The management knew of
the condition. but trusted to pot luck and
got IT. In the first game Eddowes was
held him down he could not locate the
pan. In few days he was let out be-
cause he was not started right.
President Williams should look well
into this situation and correct it with
out delay.
Now that the teams are in their last
series of the first four weeks of the sea-
country for good men to fill in the places
where weak spots have developed and
the result is that the six teams appear
to be better balanced than has been the
case at any time since 1907. Norfolk
picked UP second baseman from the
outlaws and appears to be satisfied. Dan
vile has five six new men. and Roa-
noke has as many, while Petersburg has
even more Richmond Is after pitchers
and here Col. Stockdale found it neces-
sary to try several men to round out his
pitching staff. with one bad hole de-
veloping in right field, which he now has
two or three men trying for.
There is little doubt now but the teams
will be well punched by the middle of
the coming month, for on paper they look
mighty well balanced and the circuit
gives promise Of attracting large crowds
condition has been worse this spring
than has ever been experienced for base
ball in the Old Dominion.
Draper. the little southpaw, who halls
from Wytheville. this state, Is pitching In
great form for Roanoke. and II he can
keep his pace up he will prove to be one
OF the finds of the season. The youngster
has had no previous professional expe-
r1ence, but Is making the best batters or
the circuit bow before his clever twirling.
Quite a number of scribes around the
Virginia circuit put the blame for big
scores hereabouts on the reduction of the
salary limit. but this thing has started in
earnest in tho majors and. with raster
minors, they are at loss to know what
to do After a while. mayhap, they will
agree with Uncle Billy Shibe of the Ath-
balls open to satisfy his own curiosity.
The fact is, the grade of ball IS better
here now than it was last season, as will
be demonstrated soon as the sun once
il,
Sid Lodge. a Washington PLAYER. who
made good record for catching for
Richmond College. and who signed with
the Richmond Colts this spring. has left
the Colts and returned to his home.
Lodge is reported to have asked for his
release. as he did not care to play longe,
and when it was refused he left The
Richmond team suspended the player
shortly after he went home
A report that is current among the
players Of the circuit who come here is
to the effect that the real reason the
Richmond owners want an increase In
the salary limit Is that the Colts are just
$500 above the limit, and that when the
In Richmond Sometimes the players get
things straight, too.
Fred Lucia, who caught with the team
here last year. having been released. has
signed with the Norfolk outlaws. Lucia
holds a record which is said never to
have been eQualed in the minor leagues.
for during the season of 1904 he caught
140 games for Denver. Col, in a five
month season.
Walter Steinhouse Of Paterson. N J.,
field. and II he shows form he will dis
place DIVERS. the Washington lad. in
center field. DIVERS is a great fielder.
but he has been woefully light with his
stick since the season opened. although
he hit nicely during the exhibition games.
George Paige. who was recently sold by
New Orleans to the Cleveland team, help
ed to pitch Norfolk to the pennant in 1907.
Paige was pitching then for Charleston,
S. c., but joined the Tars at the close of
the Sally season and helped them out
until nvnd