The Washington herald., 1911-04-23
By WILLIAM PEET.

For the past three seasons the Ma
tionals have opened the season with a
fine string of pitchers, Walter Johnson
being the star. 1t was figured that with
air-tight twirling the club would get off
TO a flying start, assume a respectable
position in the American League stand
ing. and stick there until the wind-up.
Unfortunately, during the past three
years the Washington fingers did not get
started until the club was so far in the
rUt that it was impossible TO hoist them
into fourth or fifth place.
This year things look vastly different.
McAleer has three pitchers who are in
better shape right now than any trio in
the American League. They are Walter
johnson, Bob Groom, and Tom Hughes,
and the Nationals pilot is building his
hopes OF a successful start on these men.
The veteran Tom Hughes had consid-
cradle trouble in rounding into form. but
the last few warm days in Atlanta work
ed wonders for him, and he is just about
as good now as he ever was in his life
Walter johnson is also better right now
than at the start of the 1910 season. The
fact that Boston beat him here in the last
series was TO fault of his, but just one
Of those things''-the team failed TO back
him up properly or hit in the pinches.
Boo Groom $ performance in New York
Friday stamps him as one of the best
assets of the club right now. Groom
vas in poor physical condition at the
opening OF both the 1903 and 1910 sea-
sons.
Groom is not fifteen pounds heavier
than last season, or anywhere near It,
but he is stronger and has more con-
fidence in himself. due to the kind treat
ment of the home fans in the game
The writer was the first TO advocate
that Groom be given a fair show on the
home grounds. and now one of the other
baseball sCribeS changes his tactics and
offers encouragement instead of abuse.
Groom is not finished pitcher by any
means, and when he has his off days he
looks like a "busher''-they all do, as
far as that is oncerned-but when his
control is with him, and his curve ball
is breaking right. there isn't a club in
the American League that can do much
with him.
If the Nationals are up at the top of the
second division by the Fourth of July,
the fans will have Groom, Hughes, and
johnson to thank.
The writer yesterday had a nice little
chat with Charlie Rogers. collector of
taxes OF the District. Baseball was the
d
thirty-third degree fan, owns stock in
the Washington team, and is a warm
admirer of Manager McAleer He is
some judge of a players ability. too. and
is particularly taken with the splendid
work of Collegian John Henry, whom he
believes will be one of the best first
hasemen in the American League in a
few years.
George Mcbride, the Nationals captain
who seldom has much TO say about a
ball players ability, unburdened him
self before a knot of loyal rooters in
the Hotel Dewey lobby one day last
week. Mcbride was praising Catcher
Ainsmith and Henry, and said:
Il only hope I am in the big league
end with the Washington club three
years from now, so that l can play with
Henry and Ainsmith. To my mind, these
youngsters will then be the sensation Of
the league, If they take proper care of
themselves"
One New York baseball scribe declares
that Fords spitball was the cause OF
tie Yankees defeat at tie hands of the
Nationals last Friday. He says: 1T
was the spitball that beat the YaDks
and Ford. This same wet ball has
proven a costly one 20 the New York
Yankees.
1T beat them out Of the pennant in
1905, and also the game yesterday With
two men on the paths and none out in
the very opening inning, Ford, in COW
ering Elberfelds weak infield tap.
grabbed the ball where it was moist, and
in Chucking to Chase lost control Of IT,
LAS result the pellet sailed over Hars |
head to the right field bleachers, and |
Milan ran home from the midway with |
the first and only score of the game"
The following communication is self |
explanatory:
Sporting Editor The Washington, Herald Washing |
ton. d. C.:
In reading in the sporting section of an afternoon
PAPER Of this date item referring to Walter John
son, cannot help but rise up in righteous indig-
nation. This item says, or hints that the Wash |
lngton fans are sore Walter for holding ont for
an increase in salary. and secondly blanes the
defeat OF last Saturday on him. | don't see how
any fair-minded person could get sore on Jobnson
for holding out, consider him the hos, n;tcbor
IN the American League, and he IA 90 F,onsids-sd
in other cities The game last SATURDAY was Iost
BY Catcher Ansmith, and not Walter Jobnso,
as the sporting writer on the aforementioned rs..
would have us believe. The fans are for wsI,er
first, last, and all the time.
A DYED-IN-THE-wooI, FAN
April q, 1911.
Jack Lively, who was once given a try
out by the Athletics has practically as