The Washington herald., 1911-04-12

to the Pacific Coast for their spring
training and the unsettled weather
coupled with incessant travel by train,
has hardly had beneficial effect.
At that there is no denying the fact
that Boston has a fast ball club. This
team has always hit the ball hard on the
Washington grounds and while II is ad-
mitted that with Jake Stahl and Harry
Lord out of it, the Red Sox are weaker
than last season, they still look to be
troublesome customers, their work sc
convincing the writer who journeyed out
to Georgetown field yesterday afternoon
to see them in action.
Pitcherr' Battle Likely.
Manager Patsey Donovan will order
his speed artist Joe Wood. to do the
pitching. Some of the Boston sporting
writers think Wood possesses as much
speed as johnson, and are predicting 4
brilliant future for The young man.
Wood last year was a tough nut FOR
McAleer'S boys to crack, ano il he can
show the stuff his team mates claim,
the contest is sure to develop into a
pitchers battle
Baseball is so uncertain and there are
so many chances where luck plays a big
part. that until the Nationals play half
dozen games no positive line can be
gotten on their ability. The men under
McAleer are a determined set. well train
ed. and know the game from to T.
They will make the visiting clubs hustle
to win, and after all the fans will be
satisfied if real baseball is provided And
this is the brand McAleer has on tap
The weather to-day is not promising
Rain is predicted. but as the official
prognosticator some times goes wrong
there is high hope that the initial mill
of the 1911 campaign can be carried to
a successful end.
Every arrangement has been completed
for the comfort of the big opening day
crowd. The stands, with their temporary
chairs, will easily accommodate the usual
big grand stand throng, while the left
field and first-base bleachers can take
care of about twice as In:.ny as was the
case under the old arrangement There
is space up against the center and right
field fence where the overflow can be
accommodated
o'clock. the game starting promptly at
: 80 o'clock, with Umpire Tom Connolly
and new recruit, named Mullin on the
job.
The Nationals natty new white suits.
with navy blue trimmings. together with
their sweaters. arrived yesterday.
Trainer Quirk had them all placed in
the various lockers when the writer
dropped into the clubhouse late yester-
day afternoon.
Said Trainer Joe: I've got Walter
Johnson's uniform all ready for him. and
You can bet ha will be right on the job
Final Workout for Nationals
Yesterday morning Manager McAleer
had his charges on the Georgetown Field
for the finishing touches. Three hours
of hard work was carried out with the
usual amount of batting and fielding
Presden Taft will be in the grand
stand. The Washington baseball club has
presented the President with his Gus
tOmary season pass. which distinguishes
him at all Washington games as Fan No
l. Vice President Sherman will also ride
into the game with pass No. .. The ad-
journment of Congress yesterday argues
that a large Congressional delegation will
be present when the umpire calls, Play
ball" and several members of the House
yesterday enlisted to attend under the
leadership of Serene Payne, who will
spread his legislative expanse over the
grand stand. When Prof. Willis Moore.
who bosses the governments weather
pr edicting plant. appeared at the White
House yesterday afternoon, he was ac-
cused of having been sent for by the Pres
ident to wiring Il blue sky out of his in
strument for the game.