The Washington herald., 1911-08-13

Nationals-AugIst L. lslo.......... IS 60 -
Nationals-August l3. lsil............ n 81 .N
Take a peep at the foregoing standings,
which represent where the Nationals
were rated in the American League race
be seen at a glance that the club right
| now Is but a few points behind its per
centage of one year ago.
| This would seem to indicate that Nc
Aleer's henchmen are far from the shot
| to pieces aggregation many of our lead
| ing citizens wanted US to believe three
weeks ago.
At the clip the Nationals are travelling
right now the club is almost certain to
finish the 1911 season with higher mark
| than last year, and all were agreed that
last season furnished under McAleer' 8
guiding hand the best band of base
ban the Capital enjoyed in the his
tory of the American League.
As McAIeer Is placed in entire charge
| of the club and he alone Is charged with
the success or failure Of the outfit, It
would seem as II there was something
coming to him for overcoming a bad
start, still worse slump. and bringing the
club up to a point at present where II
is playing the best baseball OF any as-
gregation In the American League.
The Nationals closed the present week
winning six games out Of eight-four
from the st. Louis Browns and two from
the New York Yankees. Some record
this, believe US.
Local fans who were demanding
short time ago that Manager McAleer
get rid of his veterans and put team
Of youngsters on the field probably real
ize by this time how little they know
about the managerial end OF a ball CLUB.
Since the Nationals have. been home
this last trip a record for games won
has been established heretofore never
equaIed. and the men who have been
mainly responsible for this showing are
Conroy, EIberfeld, and Schaefer.
For the sake of argument 1t is admitted
that these men are slowing up, and can
not travel in fast company many more
years and that eventually they Will have
to give way to young blood
McAIeer realizes this, and Is preparing
row to be well fortified when that time
comes, as a glance at the list OF new
men signed will easily show.
On the other hand, ball club must
win games in order to create interest
and draw crowds. Suppose that when
the Nationals returned home three weeks
ago McAleer had benched his veteran
infIeld and put youngsters in their places
What would have been the result?
Would the Nationals have made such
a wonderful showing?
ANY fair-minded fan will answer in
the negative.
There is plenty of time to talk Of fill
Ing in with young talent when the vet
Grams show decline, but right now there
are no youngsters in the country VINO
could have played the brand Of ball put
I'D by Conroy, Elberfeld and Schaefer.
The team is right now playing the
best ball of any club in the American
League, and the men who are respon-
sible for this showing are Conroy, Ell
berfeld, and Schaefer. McAleer has
demonstrated that he knows what he Is
doing. The fans are getting their
moneys worth every time they go out
to the baseball park.
Half a dozen youngsters VIII report
here before the 1911 season closes, and
there Is little doubt but what they VIII
all get a chance to show what they can do
before a Washington crowd; but nobody
with any sense would ask to have the
present makeup of the club changed
right now.
II the announcement that the Wash
ington club will train here next spring
is true, the management is making a
big mistake, one likely to be regretted
before the season is many days old.
It has been pointed out that the
weather here in March is about as
warm and conditions almost as good as
could be found in Atlanta or some other
Southern city. Weather statistics for
the past five years will show otherwise.
tn int
among baseball fans in all that trans
pires at a training camp would be lack
ing The club would get about hap
the advertising II the men were 4
to work in the Capital.
- Fans would go out to the Florida
avenue park every pleasant day, form
their own opinions of the youngsters.
and when the final announcement of the
lineup was made no two persons could
be found who would agree that the
best men had been named.
II the club owners insist on carry
ing out the home training policy the
writer believes they are making mis-
take.
Wild Conroy's work at third base dur
ing the past three weeks has been a
revelation to his friends. He is putting
up the best game since joining the Ma
tionals. three years ago.
Down in Atlanta last March, when
Conroy reported from Hot Springs. he
ventured to remark that he was In bet
ter shape physically than at any spring
during the past five years. He said: "I
believe am going to have good year
and only hope / get a chance to play in
o lot of games"
Wild Conroy has not only put up a
wonderful game in the field. but is hit
ting. and in the majority of cases his
little bingles have been Of the timely
order.
Mike Kahoe says OF Tom Long. the
outnelder purchased from the Gadsden
club:
II think that boy will make some of
the fans here wake up and take notice.
He IL fast as streak and can hit. IA
FOR Longs fielding, cannot say much
n kassk h,k Yu tkana pv.inor La sffa~ fha