Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-23
NATIONALS LACK
OFFENSIVE STRENGTH
Continued From First Page.)

may not be enough to prevent the Ath-
letics from winning the pennant, but it's
good guess that an entirely different
condition exists on that team now than
was prevalent while it was winning las,
season. Championship teams, once they
get to going poorly, usually have an
! awful time Of it. Players who have been
rolling in success have most remark.
able change of temperament under such
| adverse conditions. and not unusually
does dissension spring UP in the ranks
for when ball players begin to find fault
with each other 1t Is case of exit har-
mony and enter friction. Then, too
things do not break as nicely for loser
realize that luck Is against them after
having had a season Of sunshine they are
very apt to stop putting forth the same
sort of efforts.
1t must be hard blow for Mack. The
shrewd manager OF the CHAMPIONS seemed
to have everything cooked and dried for
winning another pennant There was
fear that 1t would be runaway; but,
alas! it's gotten so now that 1T is a ques-
ton when the champions will win another
game, The Athletics have many admirers
here, none of whom. however. wish that
there will be a general brace-up OF the
forces until the Nationals have hnlshed
their series there.
In league not so very many miles
from here Mike Kahoe is daily watching
a pair Of outf1elders these days to de-
termine which one. or both, are gooo
enough to strengthen the locals outneld.
To date there has been no report IRON ron.
made. up his mind as to either OF the
players. Kahoe's instructions are to be
sure he's right and then go ahead. Nc
Aleer is making every EFFORT to get
better outfield than he has. he mas
hard task on his hands, for the reason
that at this season Of the. year it is
no easy matter to get ball players. But
it pays to keep on trying.
At no time since Washington has had a
club in the American League has the team
had as strong an infield as the present
one, notwithstanding the fact that Gun,
ninsham Is not yet playing in his l9lt
form. That infield. backed by Drllilant
catching and good piching, would easily
make a championship team had 1t good
outfield to back it up. Elberfeld, Mcbride.
Cunningham and Henry make an idea
Quartet There is experience. intelligence
and speed in this combination. whlch
covers about as much ground as any IN
field in the country. 1t is not the strong
est with the bat. perhaps, yet most OF the
Nationals batting strength, as the team is
now made UP, Is pretty sure to come from
this source. 1t required four years to
build up this infield, and in that time but
one outf,elder has been found, and it's q
question il during the useful period Of this
infield two men can be secured who VIII
come near to holding their own with
Milan.
Not having pitched a game for q week
It is decidedly doubtful If Waiter johnson
will be able to show his best form the
next time out II this period OF rest had
come to him later in the season, when ne
would be in perfect condition. 1t might he
considered beneficial, but coming at this
time. when he is just rounding into form.
1t is very apt to give him setback. This
would be particularly unfortunate In
Johnson's case. for the reason that much
who draws the highest salary Is expected
to deliver the goods at rather regular IN
tervals. and lack of condition coming
as result of enforced idleness viii not
be taken into consideration should he
suffer another defeat.
Jim McAleer has no equal when it
comes to siying a ball player a chance.
He thought Wade killifer had the max
ing of a major Lacquer, and he played
him regularly, regardless of the fact that
he was too weak a hitter for this COM
nany. Fourteen straight games KfllifeI
went last season without making base
hit, yet McAleer kept him in the game
in the hope that he would End his stride
some day and be made a good player
Ktllifer. however. did not come.
McAleer is now going to give Warren
Miller a chance. Miller looks like a
natural hitter, and in this respect has an
advantage over Killifer: But he is weak
in many other respects. If he proves an
apt pupil he is now going to have 9
before McAleer will go farther trying to
develop a ball player than any of his
rival MANAGERS,