Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-16
BY J. ED GRuLO.

Criticism of Jim McAleer because he is
carrying lot Of veteran players who, un-
doubleday, have seen their best days Is
rampant. and yet 1t Is a condition for
which McAleer is not responsible When
the Washington squad went into training
this spring McAleer was hopeful that he
would find material among his youngsters
with which to supplant several Of his vet
Grams His one idea was to build up a
young ball team, but before he had been
in training a week it was evident that not
a single one Of the youngsters he was
trying out was fit for major league COM
pany There was then no alternative for
the local manager. To play the young
sters was to make the Nationals weak
minor league aggregation. so naturally ne
held on to the old players. who while no
longer at their best were far better than
any Of the youngsters.
From the disgruntled fans comes the
query, why do they carry so and So!
and why don't they get youngsters
They carry so and so because they have
nothing better in sight. and the individual
who can discover good young players can
make himself independently wealthy in
very short time.
1t is not near so difficult to find young
sters to fill In a team like Detroit and
PHILADELPHIA. The nucleus for g. great
team is there. and the the young player
falling into such environments stands
hundred per cent better chance to make
good.
When at their best the Nationals could
not be figured more than a second-divi-
sion team this year. but no team, regard
less of it's strength. could win In their
present condition. 1t is not good luck
to meet the weak teams in the west In a
vii 1~1 cto 70 70 N2fi0nQlS
That st. Louis team looks lot better
now than it did earlier in the season.
The addition of Hogan and Mclean has
given the Browns a greatly improved out
field and with Austin and Laporte play
ing up to their standard that inf1eld is
not to be sneezed at. 1t is undoubtedly
a much better team than st. Louis could
boast of last year and 1t would not be
surprising to see it improve its position
in the race.
Things are not breaking SO good for
the Athletics since they struck Chicago.
After the two straight games the Nation
ais won there last week. it looked like
easy picking for the champions. but they
have failed to win game since striking
the Windy city, and as Detroit is In the
meantime trouncing Boston. the chances
are again very excellent that the Tigers
will come east for their first trip in
this section we'll fortified at the top of
the heap.
OF course the most important series
so far these two teams are concerned
comes next. when the champions pay
the Tigers a visit. While the outcome Of
this series may not directly effect the
this series may not directly affect the
a victory for either will cut a figure
beyond doubt Should the Detroit team
be able to get better than en- even break
with the Athletics 1t will make 1t look
very much as If the Tigers are slated
to walk in with the flag this year. Let
the reverse be the case. and the Athletics
will take new hope.
If 1T Is true that the Cincinnati club
paid Owner Hedges of the Browns to
waive on Frank Smith. the business
methods of the Cincinnati club are
rather lax. for to buy of Hedges as
sures nothing with two other clubs re-
fusing to waive on the player in ques-
ton. Washington could use Smith and
according to Manager McAleer has not
waived on the player. though he has
joined a National League club If these
are the facts of the case the local club
should exercise it's rights and demand
the recall of Smith. A club as weak as
the Nationals cannot afford to let ball
players who promise anything slip out
of the league. Material is too hard to
secure to pass UP anything. No weak