Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-08

fidence which helped him through many
a tight game when he was In his prime.
"I'll do all l can to make good and
feel that / have nothing to fear. My
arm was as good last season as it ever
was, and it has not been injured since.
l am taking things slowly because
want to be absolutely right when the
season opens, and 1 am confident that
himself
All reference to Herman Schaefer be-
coming a regular outfielder on McAleer' S
team has been treated most lightly by
the average fan, but Schaefer is in dead
earnest about it and he says that he will
prove his worth in one of those positions
before the season is very Old II am
going to practice the outfeld. have
been doing it at the Springs and I will
continue TO do so because I think / can
fill the bill. What is more I am now
strictly a left-handed hitter when 1 am
not facing the left handlers and YOU
should see me line 'em out Why. it is go
ing to be no easy matter to beat me out
of place and if McAleer can find a bet
ter outfielder than ] will prove to be he
will have championship team beyond a
doubt"
schaefer as usual is the life of the
party.
Bill Otey has entirely recovered from
the effects of the typhoid fever with
which he suffered last spring and which
ieft MN weak when he Joined the Ma
tionals last summer He is strong as
ever now and according to the other play
ers who say that stamina was all that
Otey lacked last season he should prove
good man for the teams pitching staff.
Dixie Walker stopped off at his home
in Alabama on his way here from Hot
Springs and will report today.
Elberfeld has way of resting his
throwing arm that is unique. Being am
bideXtrous, he works out with his right
arm one day and the next uses his left
He says that he has followed this system
for years. and that the strength of his
right arm must be attributed to it, AS a
worker the kid has no equal He is out
early and never has a moments rest
while he is on the field.
Though by no means the biggest man
on the team. Bill Cunningham hits the
call harder than any OF his teammate s.
His drives are all long ones. and they
have plenty of force behind them Man
ager McAleer believes he secured the
cream of the minor league infielders when
ne purchased Cunningham. Not only does
! he base this belief on his own obserya-
ton. but every scout of the big league
clubs that he has seen tells him that Cum
ningham was by far the best hall player
pulled out of the bushes last fall There
was no player under closer scrutiny than
having sent one or more men to watch
him. 1t did not take Mike Kahoe more
than few days, however, to determine
than Cunny was the man he wanted, and
it was his quick decision that gave the
Nationals this young star.
IL Tom Hughes pitches anything like
the ball he did last year there is no
| reason for worrying about the Washing
ton pitching staff for there is no doubt
that McAleer will get one or two good
men out of the several youngsters he is
trying out Mover is almost certain to
be one of the recruits to make good. and
with Johnson pitching his best ball.
Hughes delivering the goods, Gray and
Walker must be reckoned with. Bob
Groom looks just as slender as ever. and
if this pitcher will ever learn that it does
not pay to grow nervous he. too will
make good. for there is no doubt that he
has fine an assortment of deliveries as
any pitcher in the country.
One would naturally suppose that with
his two years experience Groom would
| feel more al home and do his work with
out faltering because of a nervous attack
At any rate. he is to have a fair chance
once more. and should it be McAleer' S
good luck to have him show good form
the Nationals will be decidedly we'll forti-
fled with pitchers.