Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-09
BY J. ED GRuLO.

With the Nationals almost hopelessly
launched in seventh place, and the 1act
conceded that the team as 1t was mace
up this year hardly stands a chance 10
cut any figure in the next race Oh tne
American League. it would seem that the
remainder of the present season be de-
voted to such experimenting as II Is pos
sible to do with the recruits on hand ana
those who are expected to report.
The recent good showing of the team on
its trip must be attributed to the very
effective pitching of Walter Johnson, who
was responsible for eight of the ten VIC
tories scored. In Johnson lies the strength
of the team, and without him it would
undoubtedly be giving the Browns hard
fight for the cellar position
Even with luck breaking for the Ma
tionals there is little hope for them to
finish higher in the race next year, unless
numerous changes are made in the per-
sonnet of the teams makeup. This is
! generally recognized and has been con-
ceded by Manager McAleer. his only
hope for the future is to develop Il vir-
tualIy new bail team. There is but one
way to do that and that is to try and fill
the positions now held down By players
| who have been unable to bring the team
higher than seventh With younsster, raster
! and better players.
4 month remains of the present sea-
son, and in that time much might be
accomplished in the matter OF develop
| ment. Young players all have faults.
but they do not shed themselves OF
| these sitting on the bench or on the
| coaching lines Practice makes per-
feet. we are told. and while no doubt
some games will be thrown away be-
cause of the inexperience OF the
| 1nc.A
them trying to develop these players
! than to keep men in the lineup who
are never going to be any better than
they are.
Connie Mack owes the fact that he
has a championship team to the eX-
perimenting lie did during the latter
mart of the season of 1908. Mack's
team went all to pieces that year. put
as soon AS he realized that his veterans
were slipping he benchcd them and
filled their places with youngsters.
True, he did not wind up the season IN
an enviable position but ne benented
by the experiments. and the next year
had contender, to be followed by d
dual winner.
AS was predicted i'll these columns at
the time that the national commission
handed down it's ultimatum to the Ameri-
can Association, there was never "A chance
for any base ball war. The association
is by no means unanimous In its desire
to expand or draw away from the nation
al association. There are but two or
three club owners who would take this
stand but it would be next to impossible
to get the entire league to stand out.
While it is undoubtedly true that existing
conditions are not fair to the association,
1t is, nevertheless, prosperous. and. Us d
whole. the club owners are satisfied.
The experience of the st. Paul club.
which received nearly $4,000 for Players
O'Toole and Kelley. shows that the lot
of the minor league club owners is not
a particularly rough one. and no doubt
the st. Paul ma gnate would think whole
lot before he would join any movement
which would outlaw his club and make it
possible for the major league to take his
players without paying cent for them