Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-21
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Though the Nationals have lost seven
consecutive games on the present trip
and won but two. the teams standing
at the present time is really no worse
than it was a year ago. II there Is
any consolation for the patrons of the
game here it is to be found in the COM
parative facts now and a year ago
May 81 last year the Nationals were in
sixth place. having won eleven games
and lost seventeen. This morning they
are in seventh place and have won ten
games and lost nineteen. But at this
time last year the team had not taken
a western trip. but was playing the
western teams here, and had made
fair showing against them. So the
difference in the standing this morning
and a year ago is just one game and
but for Walter Johnson's illness such a
difference would not exist at the pres
ent time. In fact. there would be at
least about three more victories and
that many less defeats. which Johnson.
we're he in form, would have contribut
ed. not to speak OF the differ
ence his presence would have on the
team There IS a moral effect which 4
with him so far as the team is concern
ed, and no doubt several OF the games
which have been lost would have been
saved had he been At to do his duty.
A team which can boast OF no more
strength than the Nationals cannot af
ford to have its principal player out of
harness. With Johnson the Nationals
always stood a chance to make fair
showing in a series of games; without
him there is but remote chance for
victory.
1t is not only what Johnson personally
contributes to the winning column of
the team, but the effect OF victory cuts
a lot Of figure with ball team like Nc
Aleers.
Discouragtng as is the showing of the
team on the present trip, there is still a
chance for 1t to do we'll as it did last
year. That. Of course, is not saying
much. and yet there was not follower
Of the team who after the last campaign
did not feel encouraged.
OF course. every one realized that as
the team was made up there not
much chance for II to improve, but If a
change or two OF advantage could be
made there was hope for better results
than ever before. It's history that the ef
forts to strengthen in the spring We're
failures. and IN addition to falling to
strengthen the team has gone almost all
spring without the services OF its star
pitcher.
With the western trip drawing to
close and a long stretch OF games shortly
to begin on the home grounds. not to
speak Of the coming back Of johnson, and
perhaps Hughes. there is undoubtedly a
good chance for the team to improve its
present standing, though 1t must be
evident to every one that 1t Is going to
have a hard fight on its hands this year
trying to keep out of last place.
There are some beautiful scores being
chalked UP in these days of the lively ball
Bush league games are resulting and
those WHO apparently favor the use OF
the rubber and cork centered sphere hide
behind the claim that those who clamored
for more hitting ought now to be salts
fed. But who was 1t clamored for
an increase Of the swatting? Surely the
desire to have 1T was never so strong that
any one kept away from the ball parks
for the game was never so we'll supported
al in recent years when the scores were
close and but few runs were made, as
rule.
That same element which insists on
arguing that the game is not as fast as
it used to be. that all the great ball play
ers lived several generations ago and
that the game has gone back also clam
ored for more hitting. The public was
well satisfied and showed 1t by support
ing the sport as 1t was never supported
before.
It stands to reason that a ball game In
which scores are scarce and In which
every move counts furnishes more enter
tainment and gives occasion for more real
interest than the present-day smuggling
matches
Take some OF these games in which a
bundle of runs Is scored In the very
first inning Only recently there was one
| in New York In which the Giants scored
10 runs in the opening inning. That must
have been fine afternoons entertain
ment from that time on. It would be Like