Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-02
BY J. ED GRHLO.

Present indications are that Jim Nc
Aleer will present the same team in TIT
opening game here one week from Wed
nesday that he closed the season OF 1917
with. If there are to be any new faces II
the list there Is no evidence just yet u
warrant this prediction. There may stil
be some question as to whether Somerlo
or Henry will play first, but the chances
are that It will be the latter. whose su
perior hitting should give him the prefer
ance.
The outfield, in which It was expected
the greatest changes would be made. viii
probably again be made up of Gessler
Milan and Lelivelt, unless McAleer ha:
another change of mind and makes {
Shift during the closing days Of the train
ing period. 1t goes without saying tina
there will have to be considerable i'm
provcment in the work Of both Gesslel
and Lelivelt for that outfleld to hold ny
its end. McAleer seems to think that boil
will do better work than they have
Gessler's batting in the practice game!
has not been Of a kind that would assure
his regaining the form he displayed will
Boston. But it must not be forgotten
the spring. He usually starts to going
when the season opens and improves a:
it goes along. One thing is certain about
Gessler. and that is that lie is in better
physical condition than he has been ir
years, and this should have a beneticia
effect on his all-around work.
1t would seem that none of the young
sters has shown McAleer enough to war
rant the playing Of any one of them in the
championship games. There are one OF
two who may improve with another yea,
in q minor league, and the chances are
that most Of them will be given that op
portunity, the local club probably retain
ing a string on the best of the lot
There need be no alarm about the
teams condition. 1t will probably toe the
mark better fit than it was last spring
True, the weather at Atlanta has no,
been OF the best, but the players have
been able to work most of the time, and
it is only reasonable to suppose that from
this out some real warm weather will
prevail. which should put the finishing
touches on their training. The very fact
that tae pitchers are displa wing improved
form with most every game is the best
indication that there is not much lacking
to have the team ready, for as a rule the
tWjrlers are always the first to show lack
of condition. The season does not open
until one week from Wednesday, and
ing for six weeks, it does not require
much hot weather to have them in the
best OF trim.
There has never been a better display
of enterprise in anything connected with
base ball than the erection of the new
stands at the local ball park.
Though it is but little over two weeks
ago that fire destroyed the old stands al
the park, their place has already beer
taken by new ones. and while the plant
will be by no means completed for the
opening day. it will furnish better and
more accommodations when the season
opens than it ever has before.
1t Is q wonderful piece of work. and
shows what can be done when the deter
mination to do something is there. Last
year on opening day 1900 or more
crowded the field SO that ground
rules were necessary This year, though
possible to take care of about Il. 600 peo-
pie without having any one on the field.
1t is doubtful if the new plant will
be completed during the present playing
season, because II will be a difdcult mat
ter to change the diamond. but when this
is done Washington will have one Of the
finest base ball plants in the country
There will be others much larger. but
none more accessible. or furnishing more
comfort than the one at eth street and
Florida avenue.
McAleer's pitching staff should show
considerable improvement over last year
figuring, of course, that Walter Johnson
will be in line. The addition of Tom
Hughes promises much once he rounds
into form and Dixie Walker can be
depended upon to show much more than
he did last year, when he won as many
games as he lost. This trio. when In
tip-top working order, should be- able to