Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-22
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

Public sentiment always favOrs the
Young players and there was consider
able disappointment among local follow
ers of the game when reports from the
south indicated that it was decidedly
doubtful if any Of McAleer's crop of
young outielders would be able to hold
their own in this company.
II had been hoped that the Nationals
would pick up at least one good youngster
to help out Milan in the outfield. and the
fact that this hope was dspeled and
the chances are that veterans will play
In these positions was not at all en-
couraging. That the team developed
much weakness in the outfield last season
was generally recognized. and to think
that these positions had to be filled with
virtually the same material which was
there last season does not create much
enthusiasm.
But there is no way out of 1t for Nc
Aleer He must put the best possible
team available in the field, and II ne de-
cides that his veterans are better than
his youngsters. of course. he VIII play
them, but there is no doubt that any
effort he may make to develop young
ster for one of these positions will meet
with the hearty approval of the patrons
of the game here.
stop I'm the American League than Jack
Knight In fact. hitting and everything
considered he was easily the best man
in the position in the league. So when
the announcement came from Hal Chase
that he intended to switch knight over
to second base and take chance on de-
veloping one of his young infielders for
the shortfield there was naturally some
surprise expressed. for 1t has always been
argued that ii Is an unwise move to take
q PLAYER who is a star in one position
and place him in anothe1 with which he
Is not familiar.
But the moving over of Knight. like
many of Chase's plans, is very apt not
to take place. for the young infelders
are not sensational. as the reports of
them led one to believe during the win
ter and already ii seems certain that
Knight will again be found at shortfield
for the Yankees.
Detroit players and critics seem de-
termined to prove that Joe Jackson. the
outfielder, who made such sensational
showing last fall with the Cleveland
team, is not the star he is reputed to
be. Ever since he joined the Maps GER
tain of the Detroit players and all the
scribes of the Tiger town have been
10 prove that Jackson. after all. is but
an ordinary minor Lacquer. In this. how
ever. the Detroit players seem to stand
alone. for a large majority of the base
jackson Will be a sensation this year,
though il must be admitted that the fact
that Connie Mack allowed him to slip
through his fingers makes one suspicious
as to Jackson's real ability
With favorable weather prevailing
there is no doubt that the Nationals
should he i'm better condition this spring
than ever before. True. il might have
been OF great benefit 10 the team had il
been able to come here April | and
play a series of exhibition games with
some of the National League teams, but
TO be able to spend fully six weeks in a
place like Atlanta without any jumps for
playing exhibition games should be of
great help to have the players ready for
the opening of the season.
These games between the two teams
chosen from the players under McAleer
furnish real practice. for the players get
UP against good pitching every day and
that helps materially. If they were bat
ting against minor league twirlers they