Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-23

Criticism Of Jim Mctleer for the teams
poor showing this year is not justified, be-
cause he is Handicapped by reason of the
antiqGated policy which had been in
vogue here wears before he had any
connection with the club. The team
which Joe Cantilion turned over to Nc
Aleer in the fail of 1909 is virtually the
same team which he is trying to win
games with today. There have been a
few changes, but they have NOT been of
a beneficial nature. The Washington
clubs resources have been sadly neglected
for years. Other clubs have farms and
have carried on the practice of trying to
develop material for several years and by
this means stand q better chance of plug
ging up weak holes than does the local
concern. McAleer, unlike rival managers,
has not been able to reach out and draw
in, because modern system of conduct
ing major league club has not been in
vogue here. But being in absolute con-
troll of the playing end of the local club.
McAleer should begin to lay lines to place
the local proposition on an equal basis
with it's rivals.
Judged by past experience, there seems
to be but one way to better conditions
here and that is by adding whenever 1t
is possible young blood to the team. Try
ing to go out in the open market and
compete with the other major league
clubs places the Washington aggregation
at disadvantage, because Of the fact
that 1t has never fortified itself in this
respect. Not having a single PLAYER
farmed out it cannot recall, and after
the players who play in the minors but
belong to major league clubs are sorted
out there Is little left to buy or draft.
There is no doubt that existing condi-
tons have proven handicap to McAleer,
and if he wants to make a ten strike he
should begin at once to change this state
of affairs and make an effort to place the
local club on an equal basis with its
rivals.
The present campaigns in the major
leagues are again proving the value OF
| good catchers. Not mechanical opera
tors, but brainy individuals who can
think beyond their noses. There is no
doubt that much Of the success which
the st. Louis Cardinals have attained is
due to the splendid work of Roger Bres-
nahan the catcher more than Roger
Bresnahan the manager. What holds
good for the Cardinals is also true of the
Philies, for Dooin's ability behind the
bat is one of the teams greatest assets.
The only pennants that McGraw won for
New York We're during the period when
he had Bresnahan catching for his team.
Jennings has failed to win a world S
series because of the lack of catching
| material, but he seems to have found a
great man in Stanage, who Is doing
splendid work this year. A catcher's
value TO a team does not enQ Win MS
ability to handle the pitchers delivery
or his throwing to bases There is
more to it than that. He virtually does
the thinking for his team and unless he
is able to do that he is hardly up to the
| major league standard regardless Of how
sensational he may appear at times.
1t has been the Nationals misfortune this
year not to be blessed with GOOD catch
ing. Street has been all right In spots,
but whenever he seemed to be rounding
into form he met with an accident, so
that he has been but little Use to the
team. The same is almost true of Ain
smith. Henry needs experience, but prom
lses much. On the whole. the catching
has been worse than the pitching for the
failure Of the latter can to a certain ex-
tent at least be blamed to the lack of
the former.
There is no way to dope base ball Take
New York. for instance. After losing
four straight to Cleveland II did not
seem that the Yankees would be very
troublesome for the Detroit Tigers and
yet they have won three in a row from
the leaders. On paper Chase's team does
not compare with Detroit. and yet the
Tigers have been unable to win more than
two games from New York all season.
There is no way to explain these upsets,
unless 1t is that there is something about
the New York teams play which battles