Evening star., 1911-08-26
BY J. ED GRILLo.

The complaint of Bill Donovan of the
Detroit team that the other seven man.
ayers are pulling against Detroit in the
pennant race, is, perhaps. we'll founded.
1t is undoubtedly true that without ex-
ception the managers and the players
OF the other seven teams would prefer
Detroit, and yet this has not prevented
the Tigers from capturing the bunting
three years in succession. The reason
for this prejudice against the Tigers is
their failure in the worlds series. Had
they been able to win against either the
Cubs or Pirates sentiment would not be
SO unanimously against them. Naturally,
players and managers OF the American
League take pride in their organization
worlds series made them unpopular with
the powers that be in the American
League as well as the players of that
organization. But all this prejudice
would not have the slightest effect on
the team IL Jennings was better fortified.
When he had the best team he won the
pennant regardless Of the efforts of his
rivals to prevent it. His team has been
lacking in the last and present cam
paigns, and as a result the Athletics have
come out on top.
Even the Detroit players are not for
Detroit. They would win the pennant OF
course, IL they could. for it would mean
much to them: but they have no love Tor
Detroit. because OF the treatment the
fans OF that city have accorded them.
One would suppose that a city which had
been given three pennants in five years.
and whose team had been in the thick
est of the other two struggles, would
appreciate the players efforts. but, ac-
cording to the things the Detroit players
say. they would prefer to play on foreign
grounds to being at home.
Whoever is responsible for Horace
Fosel being in base ball should have
much to answer for. Not since the days
OF ANDY Freedman. who made a hercu-
lean effort to kill the game. has any ciup
been in the hands Of a more undignihed
individual. Fogel is constantly protest
ing II one did not know the game to
lieve by Fogel's vaporings that band
of crooks was conducting the sport One
wonders at the patience of Tom Lynch.
the National Leagues president II
seems that the time has come when roger
should be made to substantiate the things
he saws. or be forced to step down and
out How long would a man like roger
last in the American League? Not long
enough to make more than one OF ths
several statements he has been crediteo
with, that is certain. Lynch is In an
ideal position to call some ones hand. he
did not seek the position he occupies. put
il was brought to him. Neither is he de-
pendent on the compensation he receives
from the league, and he would make him.
self stronger with the club owners ana
the public IL he would take stand
against the abuse which Is being heaped
on him and his staff of umpires. Base
ball is not helped when the president OF
a club brands umpires as crooks and ps
his utterances incites demonstrations bor-
derinK on riots at the ball parks.
Walter johnson won his seventh con-
secutive game yesterday. bringing his
total victories to nineteen. against nine
defeats This Is by far the best per-
centage OF victories that johnson has
ever made since he came into fast com
pany In fact. last season was the f1rst
that he ever won more games than ne lost
for the Nationals. Had he been in good
health early in the season he would
most likely be leading all the American
League pitchers now. There is no more
sensational performer than Johnson when
he Is in good form. Barring accident. 1t
is just possible for him to finish the sea-
son without losing another game, for he
appears to be at his best now, and If
pushed to the limit no team has any as
surance of scoring on him.