Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-08
BY j. ED GRILLO.

When President Noyes meets Manager
! McAleer at the American League sched-
ule meeting in Chicago Tuesday 10th
Unglaub and Killifer will be disposed of.
Propositions for these players are numer-
| GUS and it requires but a conference of
the two officials of the local club to close
the deals
According to President Noyes, who has
| been in constant correspondence with
Manager McAleer since the season closed,
there is not much chance of any deals
being made in which the Nationals will
, figure.
"McAleer.' said Mr. Noyes, docs not
think that he will be able to swing any
deals at the meeting. He has had his
ear close to the ground and he fails TO
see much hope. Something unexpected
may happen, of course. in which event
we will be there to listen to propositions.
| There was so much talk about deals be-
| fore the New York meeting and none was
made that now that there are no rumors,
| it may happen that there will be some
! though, as l said before. McAleer doubts
very much if he will be able to SWING
anything.
President Moves will leave here Monday
for Chicago, and he expects to be back
at his desk here not later than Thursday
morning.
One change in the rules which is apt
TO be ADOPTED is the moving back of the
coacher'S boxes. There has been cons1u-
cradle complaint about the coachefS
being too close to the bags. The distance
now is fifteen feet, but 1t VIII likely DE
changed to twenty, and in addition there
to heavy fine will be imposed whenever
the coachers leave the box. This Will
prevent the old practice of the coacher
helping a base runner who mas oVerSIa
a third base back to the bag, a practice
which undoubtedly has always been
violation of the spirit of the rules, but
has been tolerated.
Jim McAleer. like most managers. does
not believe that the average ball player
can be materially improved in hitting,
and yet he thinks he sees in John Somer-
lot a youngster who with a little instruc-
ton and a change of style will develop
into 30 per cent better hitter than
he is today. Somerlot's fault appears to
lie in the fact that for big man he does
not swing hard enough at the ball. salts
flying himself with merely meeting it.
To an extent this can be blamed on the
fact that he insists on using very heavy
bat one which hardly any player could
swing freely. When Somerlot goes into
training this spring with the other players
a comparatively light bat will be assigned
to him, and by it's constant use McAleer
freely, thus greatly increasing his hit
ting.
It is undoubtedly a serious mistake to
pass judgment on a ball player during
short stay with a team in the fall of
the year. At that stage the pitchers are
all going at top speed, while the player
may not be as fresh as he would be
earlier in the season. This, at least, is
one excuse which has been made for Doc
Ralston. Ralston had all the earmarks
of a ball player, but did not hit as he
should, though his position at the plate
was perfect. Ralston had given material
aid in winning the pennant for Akron in
the o. and P. League, and there is, of
course, a chance that the strain of that
hard campaign. for the winner was not
decided until the last day Of the season,
took something from him.
1t will give a much better opportunity
to judge Ralston's ability to see him .
practice this spring. He will then feel
more at home with the other members of
the team. and will get equal start with
them when the season opens.
According to reports from Chicago Bah
johnson has given it out that the reason
for transferring the ST. Louis club from
the syndicate which was supposed to have
bought 1t to Col Hedges will be given
publicity at the schedule meeting next
week This statement has aroused some
of the st. Louis scribeS, who very
anxious to know just what information
Is to be brought to light by President
Johnson.
1t is safe to say that whatever will be
given out it is not apt to be detrimental
to Owner Hedges, for now that lie has
the club, there would be nothing gained
by making statements which reflected
on him. The American League is in the
ha bit of making the best of any PROPOSE
ton which it does not like, when it has
to. and the ST. Louis club is one Of these
w. j. O'Connor in the st. Louis Times
takes this fling:
ut is only natural that Ban Johnson
and Charles Comiskey should feel
peeved that the sale has fallen through
Mr.. Johnson. in his own inimitable way
He put his official o. X. on the new syn
dictate. but, as later developments
proved Mr.. Ban B. made wee bit of
a mistake. Mr.. Johnson evidently told
Messrs. Hodgman, Ewing. Hall ct
al. that running a ball club was
ehld's play. They soon found out that
Mr. johnson was kidding.
Now both the syndicate members and
Mr.. Johnson feel ''all cut up about the
whole affair. Incidentally. maybe that
$4,000 which the syndicate is said to
events. though, Johnson should explain
himself. ST Louis fans want 10 know
what right he has to give the affairs OF
the local club due publicity" If john
son will attend to his own business ST
| Louis fans will be better pleased
| Every veteran on the Detroit team has
signed his contract for 1911, Eight of the
| younger generation" have 50 far failed
| to attach their signatures. 1t is the first
| time in several seasons that none of the