Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-01
TEAM HAS CHANCE
T0F|N|SH HIGHER
Even if Nationals Are Not
Strengthened They May
Improve Position.
BILL CUNNING HAM AND
EDDIE AINSMITH HELP
Poor Start Proved Handicap in
Last Campaign-First Base
Will Not Be Weaker.
BY j. ED GRILLo.


Even if Jim McAIeer should fail to add
any strength TO his team il is now
made up here is good chance of his
cutting more of figure in the next race
inau he did in the last.
I'm a: east two positions does the team
seem de .idedIy better fortified than il
was Il year ago. There doesn't seem 10
bc any doubt to Cunningham ability
- take care of second base in fashion
superior to those who held the position
down prior to his coming here. In the
first place. Cunningham is young man
wac is going To improve. and he gives
every evidence of being a hitter of more
Than ordinary ability even now. His COM
ing plugged up quite a hole, and the i'm
ycrtance of second base is generally con-
GEO
In 'insInith the team secured what
lcoL % he one of the most promising
young catchers in the business. and his
addition is every bit as valuable that
Of Cunningham. In former years Street
was the only man ON the Nationals
catching staff. When he was incapaci-
tated or suffered from overwork the de-
fensive side of TIE aggregation was de
,dcdly crippled. for there was not even
good second rate catcher to take his
place This state of affairs forced Street
la work constantly, and there is no doubt
this had detrimental effect on Streets
Work the whole
McAleeT does not seem to be blessed
with high-class first baseman, and yet
il would seen that no matter whether he
picks Somerlot. Henry or Lelvelt for the
position he will be we'll off as he was
last year, for insiaub was in decided
slump and of little help to the team.
True, the prospects are none too bright
In no h.. Ia
was, yet il will not be weaker, and there
IL always a chance OF one of the several
youngsters making good So. granting,
Tor sake Of argument. tnat the team Will
be just about as strong it was last
year it is not likely that ii will get an
other such miserable start it did
last spring. when a more demOraliZed ag-
GreGation could not be imagined. Every
thing seemed TO go wrong and the cam
paign fully two months old before
there was marked Improvement in the
playing
The Illness of Mcbride during the early
weeks of the season had much to do with
this. and the fact that the players were
still new to the McAleer system may
have had some effect also. Another en-
couraaing feature of the teams showing
last year was the fact that 1t was sell
dom materially Outplayed and never out
ClasSed by its opponents in SO far as the
science of the game is concerned 1t
was. of course, frequently outbatted, but
Was beaten by close scores only. So 1t
would seem that even IL nothing develops
To add strength to the outfit 1t still stands
q chance to better its position in the race,
and should il be McAleer's good fortune
I" get man two who is up to- the
major league standard there is an excel
lent opportunity to jump from team
which is not conceded to have a chance
To cut much of figure in the second di-
vision To one which would be factor in
the race. It's gamble. pure and simple,
this base ball proposition.
Even though no disposition has been
made of Bob Cnglaub-in fact. waivers
On this player are still to be secured
there does not seem to be any doubt that
the local club Will send him elsewhere
before the team goes into training in At
lanta. But it is not unlikely that Nc
Aleer will consult Unglaub as to his flu
ture before any disposition is made of
him. He will give the veteran his choice
nowadays in the big leagues when a
player who has been of value is let out.
There is one player on whom much de-
ponds far the Nationals showing
IN the coming race is concerned. He is
Jack I.eiivelt- During the two seasons
thar Lelivelt has worn the Washington
uniform il Is doubtful if he has been
given the chance that his hitting ability
'ntitles him 10. Though d decidedly poor
fielder and a Ieft-handed thrower he has
always been Used in left field, a hard place
for a left-handed thrOWer to play and
one hardly fit for anything but fleet
footed fielder. Then. too. il has been his
misfortune TO be in poor health at inter
walls. which kept him out of the game.
Last year. of coNse. there was no choice
in the matter, for GesSler could not be
played in left and Milan had to be kept
where he would have an opportunity to
cover the mos, ground. So there was
nothing to do but shove Ieiiyelt in left
10 oh
IL affairs take such d turn that Lelivelt
can be played in right. where the field
ing does not cat as much Of a figure
here is no doubt that his hitting will
every ounce of hitting power that is
added TO the Nationals gives them a bet
ter chance. for il is in this department
that the team needs the most bracing
After viewing Milan in left field I'm the
five games between the All Stars and the
Athletics last fall McAleer was convinced
that il he had the material 10 fill center
field he would make the most sensational
eft fielder in the league out of Milan.
with Cobb and Speaker. Milans only RI
walls. playing center. Milan would so far
OutclaSS all the other left fielders that h,
would stand out by himself. But, unfor-
tunately, there does not seem to he any
one on the list who stands a chance OF
filling Mian's shoes in center so tina,
II is not likely he will get a chance 10
shine in left.
II may be mere coincidence but every
one connected with the ST. Louis end of
the Iajoic batting scandal last fall when
the Cleveland slUgger was presented with
light safe hunts. is out of base ball or
mighty near ii.
the dropping of the individuals con-
Dected with this affair was not done amid
the booming of cannon, but quietly ant
without the slightes; ostentation. When
Ban Johnson started his Investigation
word was given out that nothing had been
found by which any one could be impli-
Gated. Howell, OConnOr and Corridor
the third baseman. We're examined by
Johnson. but no action was apparently
taken. The first thing that happened was
the release of OConnor as manager
Howell was dropped scout, but as he
had virtually peen promised berth or
the American League umpire staff il ap-