Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30
SHOWING TO DATE
BETTER THAN IN MANY YEARS
McAleer's Team, With Percentage Of 500,
Has High Rating During First Three
Weeks Of Campaign.

batting rally more scientifically than
most pitchers, and it Is all because the
veteran knows the art of twirling from
A to z. Hughes went into yesterdays
game at ticklish moment, and only
one as cool and collected as he, who
knows just what to do under such con-
ditions. would be capable of preventing
disaster under the circumstances. Though
not a pitcher with an iron arm, Hughes
does not have to do much warming up
for such occasions. He has frequently
stepped into games Of this kind without
throwing more than the regulation five
balls, and yet has always given a good
account Of himself.
That timely hit which has been so
sadly lacking in most Of the games the
Nationals have played this spring was
very much In evidence yesterday. Aim
smiths triple. which brought in two
runs. virtually won the game; It was
Nationals scored their three runs and
1t won the game.
In shifting Ainsmith for Street, McAleer
has undoubtedly greatly strengthened his
teams batting, for Ainsmith is hitting
terrifically just at present. The youngster
was greatly improved this spring when
McAleer changed his style at the plate.
Street. too. has been hitting we'll this
spring. so that 1t seems the catching de-
partment Of the Nationals is going to
hold up its end with the bat this year.
which will do much to help the team,
for as rule the battery end of q line
up is not of much use when 1t comes
to producing runs.
There is no getting away from the fact
that the hitting of the Nationals has
been lamentably weak this spring. There
is hardly a man on the team who Is
hitting up to his standard. and in the
face of this handicap the team should
have broken even in the twelve games 1t
has played. speaks well indeed for the
players gameness and the system en-
ployed. If this same team will get to
hitting a bit more. and It is sure to, vic
tories should come easier. And there is
no reason why the pitching should not
improve To begin with, Walter johnson
gave evidence Friday that he has re-
his form and BROOM out o fhs IN
good, while Tom Hughes. 1t is evident.
can be relied upon to pitch good ball
most of the time.
It is to be regretted that McAleer is
outfield. If he had a pair out in the
gardens who could hit in the neighbor-
hood Of 800 he would have a team
which would be sure to be contender
ness the good pitching and splendid
catching staff, together with the fielding
ability of the team, Is very apt to make
it q factor In the race most Of the season.
The one league through which Scout
Mike Kahoe has been this spring has
given him little or no promise for better
ing the Nationals. Mike failed to see any
ball players In that organization who will
be ripe for delivery In the fall on their
showing at this time. This condition.
however. does not give q correct line on
all the minor leagues. for the reason that
the Southern. much like the American
and Eastern leagues. relies
to q great extent on building up its
teams with material which the major
leagues have turned down. Hence there
Continued ON Second Pax&1