Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-08-05
BY j. ED GRILLO.

BY j. ED GRILLo.
At no time in recent years have the
prospects for improving the Nationals
been so bright as right now. The club
seems to have been fortunate in picking
up two young pitchers of ability in Beck
er and Cashon. who, il they can continue
to keep up anywhere near the perform
ance of their debuts, will strengthen the
pitching staff materially, and there is nc
more essential feature OF a winning team
With Becker and Cashion holding their
own, McAleer has rounded out his pitch
ing staff. This pair of youngsters will
be able TO do lot of work early in the
season. and thus give the veteran mem
bers of the staff chance to round into
good form. With Johnson. Hughes,
Walker Groom, Cashion and Becker to
select from. McAleer seems we'll supplied
with twirlers. If Long and Moeller come
up to expectations his outfield will be
in the history of the club, and with
Morgan and Foster 10 I'LL in on the in
field and an opportunity for Spencer to
make good at first there is very good
season which will be flirting with the 500
mark
One game of ball is, of course, hardly
enough to judge the ability Of a pitcher,
but both Becker and Cashion performed
so well that it is a pretty safe guess
that both will make good, and nothing
that could have happened to the locals
could prove more beneficial than
strengthening of their pitching staff,
which bids fair to have been accom-
plished.
That was a most impressive perform
ance which Cashion gave against Ed
Walsh. Cashion was not expected to
Ire.
picked him up for the purpose of develop
ing. He figured il would be a year or
two before the big fellow would be of
real service to the team. From the fact
that this is the first year Cashion has ever
attempted to pitch. 1t was figured that it
would be wise to carry him along and al
low him TO gradually learn the art. Cash
ion is but twenty years old. Up to this
year he played the outf1eld, and never
attempted to pitch But his size and the
fact that he had a lot Of speed made it
easy to induce him to try his hand at
twirling There was nothing suggestive
of the green hand in his work yester-
day.
Though a triae wild at the outset.
Cashion steadied nicely as the game
progressed. and actually baff1ed the
White Sox. Reports Of his hitting
ability have been reaching here for
weeks, but. being in a low-class league.
no correct line could be gained on his
ability as a hitter from his performance
there But it is very evident that
Cashion is all that has been said of
him as wielder Of the ash. He was up
against mighty good pitching yesterday,
yet he pounded out three clean hits and
handled himself like dangerous bats
man.
When his age and size are taken into
consideration Cashion certainly gives
experience. but not as much would be
expected for it Is a fact that until yes
terday the big fellow had never played
on a grass diamond
Jim McAleer is elated. To ok up a
couple of kid pitchers and have them
deliver as have Becker and CashiOn is
great stroke OF good fortune. Ciubs
have been known to spend fortunes with
out getting two pitchers who show as
much as has this pair. Both are mere
boys and have a chance to improve. and
If their debuts can be taken as a cri-
terion the locals have been strengthened
where they needed it most by their ac-
QUESTION. If McAleer can be half as
lucky in the remainder OF his pick-ups
he will be in fair way to have a ball
team next season which will be higher
than seventh from start to finish.
1t is doubtful if there have ever been
two games of ball played on the local
grounds which furnished such brilliant
exhibitions as those of yesterday The
of course. added much to the enjoyment,
but even il the results had been re-
versed the two contests would have had
to be set down as two of the greatest
exhibitions of the national game ever
witnessed in one day.
That first game in which Doc White
and Walter Johnson battled for eleven
innings before a decision was reached
was replete with sensational and freak
plays. 1t was a real nip and tuck strug-
Of in which both DitchprS
from defeat on several occasions by hair
raising plays by their supporters Five
double plays. all of them on chances that
would have decided the game had they
the crowd must have experienced. With
Walsh. one Of the best pitchers in the
league working against Cashion, an UNI
tried yOungster making his debut In fast
company. 1t seemed that all the Nationals
could possibly hope for would be an even
break on the day But brilliant support
of Cashion. together with his really re-
markable work. caused Walsh to go
down to defeat and gave the locals seven
victories of the last eight games played.
Cashion has all the earmarks of
natural batter. While with the Green
vile team his average was over the
400 mark, and he was in the game
ing he was played in the outheld.
Though six feet two inches. and weigh
ing 21O pounds, Cashion is far from
slow on his feet. He Is graceful. in
fact, for so big a man, and it is evil
dent that pitching is not the only thing
he can do on ball field It was his
hitting which made his victory posi-
BILE He drove in the first run for his
side, when in the third. with Conroy on
second. he hit to right field for a base.
and he scored the winning run in the
ninth, when with two out he made his
third hit into left. which paved the way
for the one tally necessary TO decide the
day.
But for the high wind which was blow
ing Walter Johnson would have won his
own game in the third inning, when he
drove a terrific fly to center field, far
over Bodies head. 1t would have gone to
the fence under normal conditions. but
the wind held ii back and gave Bodie a
chance to get under it. Street, who had
gone from first to third on the play. was
easily doubled up before he could return.
Though a trifle wild at the outset, john
son displayed all his old form in that first
game. Doc White, as usual had many
lucky beraks. He always has when
working against the Nationals, but he
finally was forced to lower his colors
Had the Nationals lost the first game
it would have been protested because
Manager Duffy was on the infield when,
in the ninth inning, Milan was thrown
out at the plate.
Schaefer was responsible for the entire
affair With Milan on third and Schaefer