Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-30
NATIONALS SHOWING
BETTER THAN IN YEARS
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is not much developing done by them
Most of the good young ball players come
from the smallest leagues. and but few
from the class A clubs. 1t is to these
small leagues that Kahoe will make his
| way shortly. in the hope of discovering
material which will further help to build
up the Nationals.
No one who saw Bill Cunningham play
with the Nationals last season will be
convinced that that youngster has played
up to his true form this spring. The
opinion seems to prevail-and McAleeI
shares it-that Cunningham has not yet
struck his stride. He will gradually i'm
prove, and by the time the season is a
the good form he did last fall. It is a
wise move on McAleer's part to leave
Cunningham in the game, for to take him
out could not but have q detrimental
apt to become discouraged, but he would
miss the work he needs every day.
There are few pitchers who, If the bat
ter knew what was coming, could hold
a team in check. The average twirler
giving him that which he does not ex-
pect. and thus fooling him. But there
is evidence that Walter johnson cannot
be hit, even though the opposing bats
men, have the battery signs and set
themselves for either a curve or fast
ball.
Several years ago. when the sign-tip-
ping bureau was in operation on the
New York grounds, Johnson was pitch
ing one day, and after the first inning
every man that faced him knew just
what he was going to have pitched to
him, and yet Johnson was not hit. much
to the establishment of the New. York
players. who. by the aid of the signal
pounding all pitchers. regardless Of
ability But Johnson's terrific speed
was too much for them, even when they
knew what to expect. and it Is doubtful
if there is another pitcher who could
have stood up under this handicap.
Because the Detroit team has beaten
all but one left-handed pitcher that
faced it this spring, the impression has
gone out that the southpaws have
nothing on the left-handed hitters Of
that team. But. the fact of the matter
is that the only left-hander Of class
who has worked against the Tigers, Doc
White, won his game. The other south
paws were a very ordinary lot, who
have yet to make their reputation in
works with his left arm does not guar
antee his success against left-handed
hitters, but good left-hander will bother
either right or left handed hitters. and
AS matter Of fact the American
League has In recent years been able
to boast of but two good left-handed
pitchers, Doc White and Eddie Plank.
The others. and there have been many
of them, have shown a flash occas-
ionally, but are not the consistent per-
formers that are these two veterans.
1t makes a lot of difference what
kind of a team a pitcher is working
for Twirlers on the Detroit team do
not have to pitch an alright game.
or four runs as rule and yet walk
away with a victory, because the Of
fensive department ofthe Tigers can
not be beaten with few runs. Those
same pitchers would have a hard time
getting into the win column with a
team like Washington, which does not
hit much, and scores less. Dolly Gray.
for instance. might be a most success
full pitcher with a team like Detroit
to get runs for him. He would be
but would win his game. and when a
pitcher wins, regardless Of what the
score may be. he gets a reputation
whether he deserves 1T or not.
Dolly Gray. by the way. has a rath-
err peculiar record this year. On
opening day he was taken out because
the Bostons were scoring rather easily
on him. yet he had to be credited with
victory. His other appearance, in
philadelphia. came when the game was
lost. and yesterday. though he was
taken out when the Nationals got a
little lead, he will again have to be
credited with victory. because the
Nationals were to the good when
Hughes stepped in. though 1t was his
magnificent pitching which enabled
them to defeat Boston.
st. Louis seems to have picked UP q
very likely young pitcher in Hamilton,
a left-hander who beat the White Sox
yesterday in a tive-inning 1-to-O struggle.
Hamilton pitched against Detroit re-
Gently and, though hef allowed but three
hits. he lost his game. He is said to
be a good-sized fellow with lot Of
speed. and. unlike mpst young left-hand
ers. has good control.
rh1'ad'''h'a De'r&'t Boston and New