Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-22
BY j. ED GRILLO.

In trying to figure the Nationals
chances in the present race the fact
should not be overlooked that Bob Groom
is going to be a much better pitcher this
year than he has ever been before.
The excellent start he has gained will
give him confidence, and. barring acct
dent he will be one of the toughest
pitchers in the league to beat Groom
has ever had the ability. Good judges
have wondered why he was not a win
ner for the Nationals for so far as a
deceptive delivery was concerned Groom
ranked up with any of the crack twirlers.
Whether it was lack of health which
brought about a nervous condition mat
tiers not. but the fact remains that be-
cause of his nervousness Groom was not
a success. This spring a change came
over the tall twirler. To begin with he
pounds in weight. and he went into train
ing with a determination to make good.
Nothing helped Groom much. though.
as the announcement he received from
the patrons of the game on the occasion
OF his first game. All through those nine
innings Groom felt that the crowd was
with him. and his work showed the eff
feet of this. His performance I'm New
York yesterday shows him to be in great
form, and this fact makes the Nationals
look more formidable than ever before.
Eighteen innings without allowing its
opponents to score speaks we'll for the
pitching staff of the Nat ona.s. and incl
dentally proves how absolutely helpless
the Nationals would be without air-tight
pitching. 1t required The hiInest glaze
OF tWfriing to beat the HghlanderS in
these tFO games because as run getters'
the Nationals did not shine. 1t has al
ways been contended that in order to
be a winner the local team as now made
up needs the highest grade Of pitching.
1t is not a team which will make lot
OF runs, because it is not dangerous Of
fensively. but give 1t good pitching and
It's heldlng Will give 1t a chance against
any of its rivals.
Charley Street is demonstrating that he
has not gone back. and the ciubs who
refused to make an offer for him last fall
because they thought him incapacitated
now have reasons to regret their action.
Street Is better this spring than he has
been in many years. His throwing in
New York was nothing short Of marvel
Gus. Six assists, every one Of them at a
critical part of the game. shows Street
still to be one Of the greatest catchers in
the country. 1t seems strange but it is
true. that Street has always caught his
most sensational ball in New York.
Everything favors him when playing
there.
From worlds champions to a second
division team would be quite a drop and
perhaps the greatest reversal of form in
base ball history. and yet unless there
is great brace up on the part of the
Athletics this is very apt to happen. 1t
is apparent that Mack's team is not in
condition and the chances for getting SO
now that the team will spend nearly a
month. barring few days. on the road.
are decidedly slim. In the meantime a
great many games are going to be lost.
and the other teams will have so much
of a lead that even a team like the Ath-
letics which is strong when 1t is in
fettle. cannot overcome.
OvercOnfidence may have caused the
players to take matters too easy during
the training season and they are them
selves responsible for the poor condition
they have displayed this spring.
On the other hand the good showing of
the Nationals can be directly attributed to
the fact that McAleerr has all his players
ready to play good ball. There is per-
haps only one man in the lineup who
has not yet rounded into form. Cum
bingham. and he is sure to come To win
four of the first six games played with
Boston and New York was more than
the most ardent admirer of the Nationals
could have hoped for. In past seasons
these two teams have always proven
stumbling blocks for the Washington ag-
gregation and an even break with them
at any time would have been considered
quite an achievement. The teams show
ing speaks we'll for McAleers training
system and assures the continuance
of the policy not TO play lot of ex-
hibition games during the early spring
period.
With Hughes, Groom and Johnson all
showing good form. this Washington
team is going to cause its rivals few
sleepless moments before the present sea-
son is over. No one is claiming the cham
pionsHip for the Nationals. nor does it
seem possible for them to break
into the first division. but it's 60
ing to be a mighty troublesome team
when these three pitchers are working