Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-03
BY J. ED GRILLO.

and allows but a single run, il Is idlFiS
good indication that he is in good form
Walter johnson has accomplished TINS
in the last two games he has pitched,
holding the Athletics TO one run ana
shutting out Boston. 1t was predicted
early i'll the spring that this should be
the best year of Johnson's career, ana
though he got a miserable start. losing
the first two games he pitched. the
chances are that by next October he VIII
have a better record than ever before II
is but natural that four years OF expert
ence in this league should have ""lsed
Johnson up to the tine points al the
pitching art, and instead OF relying ell
tirely on his natural ability Johnson can
now pitch with judgment and save his
arm.
1t is a noticeable fact that Johnson Is
not striking out as many OF the oppos-
ing batsmcn as he did last year. Whether
this is the result of his working DalterS
instead of using brute force. or whether
II Is still triHe early IN the season Tor
him to Show MS best form, Is not known
With Johnson ready TO take his turn Oil
the slab, it makes whole iot OF ulneI-
ence in the Washington team. for there
is no doubt that Johnson does much TO
give his teammates confidence.
When Jim MCAfeel uSClueu 10 ledNS
Jack Leliveit in the game regardless OF
whether right or left handed pitchers
opposed him he probably made much
better hitter of the younSSter. Hereto
fore every time a lefthandel was put IN
eainst the Nationals LeiIVelt was drag
ged out of the game and a f!ghtiahdeu
hitter substituted The result was that
Lelivelt seldom got chance TO bat
against southpaw, and when ne did ne
lacked confidence in himself. In the idst
two games Jack has faced harsef anu
Collins, lefthanded twirlers. and ne ma
hit them both we'll. The chances are that
Lelivelt will have more confidence IN me
future when he faces this style OF pltcn-
ing. and he will be much better hitter
for it.
Because it is generally conceded that
the Nationals need outfielders, 1t does NOT
follow that they are in such urgent heeu
If material that every Tom, DICK anu
Harry that some other club may reiease
should be picked up for the team fo!.
Instance. there appears 10 De pene
that a chance to better condiuonS vas
overlooked when Comiskey was ai!o"eo
to send Mclean. an outtielder WI" PLAYED
with the Sox last year. pach 10 SP'i
field in the ThreeEye League, ana thefe
has been some criticism that this player
was not secured. But players OF THIS
type are not going TO help the Nationals.
II can boast OF better outfieiders than Me-
loan without mentioning Milan.
In sfxty-odd games last year Mclean
hit but .243. so that the chances Or ne
would not have added any material pa
ting strength to the Nationals, ana thal
is what Is needed.
Go hack to the days of Dummy Hoy,
Curt Welsh, jim McAleer, Bill l.anse ano
all the other great outtieders and you
will hardly be able to find any OF them
figuring in as many sensational plays IN
an entire season as Clyde Milan mas IN the
three weeks of the present season: In
nearly every game that mas peen pay Gu
this spring this wonderful fielder has
helped his team out of trouble by some
|, marvellous catch Of a ball which was
labeled to do disaster for the Nationals
1t has not been the result or lucky
stab or spear either. but Milan's grea'
catches have been the result of keer
judgment in distance. wonderful speed
and the nerve to try. 1T is douot1ui III
deed if the game has ever produced
greater fielder than Milan. He has no
with a team which would hit more ne
would also prove much better hitter
The long-expected benching Of Harry
Davis, captain of the Athietlcs, Is. ac
cording to rumor nos far distant. DAVIS
is not playing up to the standard TINS
spring and Connie Mack. SO the story
goes. will supplant him with Derrick Just
a s soon as Harry Davis day on the Phila-
delphia grounds Is a thina of the past
Davis has been a valuable man Tor Con
ME Mack. Until a year or so ago. IN al
dition to being competent TO handle the
team he was also by far the best f'rSt
baseman in the lea que. If Davis is bench
ed it is most likely that arrangements
will be made 10 place him in charge or
some one of the other American League
teams though. of course. he must still
establish. himself as manager for the
work will be new to him. notwithstanding
the fact that he has been Connie Mack
lieutenant.
A few weeks ago when rain was inter-
fering with many Of the scheduled games
a howl went up for later start OF the
season and on May 2 We find games post
poned on account of cold weather. At
this season of the year the weather is a
mere gamble. 1t is apt to be hot in April
and cool in May. so that to get later
start would assure but little. The pub
lie is base ball hungry by the middle of
April, and the two big leagues would
never agree to wait until May to open
their seasons.
Jack johnson intends to leave for Eng
land shortly to attend the coronation or
King George. According to advices from
Chicago, the colo<ed champion has order
ed several trunks full of new raiments-
three dress suits. ten fancy vests. three
overcoats. five extra pairs of trousers,
coats.
johnson probably expects to regain his