Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-02
BY J. ED GRILLO.

An accident which may have a gre at
bearing on the Athletics chances in the
present pennant race occurred in the sec
ond inning Yesterday and will deprive the
worlds champions of the services Of their
star player. Eddie Collins, for week
or more Mack's team without Collins is
much like Detroit would be without Cobb.
Not only is Collins a great individual
but he knows the game and does much
to steady that infield
With two men out and Cunningham on
second. Johnson hit high fly to short
right Collins started after the bali
waving his hands for the other players
not to interfere. Murphy, the right field
err did not see this warming or did not
heed it, and came tearing in at top speed
Just as Collins hands closed on the ball
he and Murphy coliided. Both fell III q
heap. Murphy was only badly shaken up,
but Collins has his left elbow disiocated,
and was taken to the clubhouse, where
DR.. Hilton attended him. DR.. Hilton said
after examining the players injury that
it would. be probably week before he
would be able to play.
Collins mishap cast a gloom over the
entire Philadelphia team. Every man on
it realizes the value that Collins is to the
champions, and his absence at this time,
when the team is making hght TO get
the lead away from Detroit. might prove
fatal 10 the teams chances for the PEN
nant.
Derrick took Collins place yesterday.
but he demonstrated at once that ne
does not belong there. so that II is likely
that Davis will go back 10 first ana Nc
Inness be switched to second base until
Collins can take his place on the team
again
Walter Johnson is much puzzled as
to why it is he can no longer pltch the
ball he did in former years. He IS al
loss to explain his slump, which he
freely admits he has encountered
Il can't give any explanation for my
failure to pitch up to my old stand
ard" said johnson after the game. II
am perfectly well now-in fact, never
felt better In my life. ! eat and sleep
perfectly and my arm feels as strong
as iron. Today, when | warmed up
and during the first and second innines.
I felt very well satisfied with myself.
for / could tell the way the ball was
leaving my hand that l had my speed
without having to exert myself But
in about the third inning / felt myself
slipping l tried to force myself. but
the more / tried the less | seemed to
get on the ball. l was putting every
thing | could to get up speed, but 1t
seemed useless, ana freely GUILT liiae
/ had nothing as the game progressed.
Il can't understand it at all. II l
was not we'll. or had sore arm. there
would perhaps be an excuse. But, as
! said before, I am apparently in per-
feet health j don't use tobacco or
ever taste drink, and Vet there must
be something wrong with me. though
l don't know what it is. / am willing
TO go in whenever I am called upon.
and I hope that l will show more
hereafter"
1t is, Of course, to be assumed that
the Athletics did not pay anywhere near
their real standard in the series which
ended here yesterday. for II they did
their chances of beating out Detroit
are not as bright as was expected.
There was nothing suggestive of the
championship team about the Ath-
letics in any of the games they played
on the local lot. True. Mack has some
good pitchers, and a mighty good hit
ting team, but 1t did not play steady
or heady ball against the Nationals.
Against a stronger team than the
locals the Athletics would probably not
have won any Of the tive games. IT