Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-06
BY J. ED GR1LLo.

Admirers of the Athletics cannot neip
but view with alarm the rather poor
work of Connie Mack's pitchers in the
series just closed at New York. True.
the champions won four of the five games
played, but in every one of them their
pitchers were pounded numerically hard.
and had the Highlanders been blessed
with anything like good pitching Mack's
players would not have won a game in
Gotham
In the five games the New York team
scored % runs, averaging nearly six
TALES to a game. Surely that is not the
kind of pitching which will win pennants.
On the western trip the champions will
encounter some pitching which will hold
them in check considerably more than
they were held by the New York twirlers.
and unless their own pitching staff takes
brace upsets are very apt to come in
punches.
The series between the Athletics and
Clevelands. which opens today, is not apt
to cause the champions much worry,
though there is no doubt that the Maps
are going better now than they have at
any time this season, But it is not to be
expected that the Cleveland aggregation
will make any decided inroads on the
champions percentage. Neither are the
get to st. Louis, but 1t is not going to be
easy picking in either Chicago or Detroit.
The White Sox always have couple or
pitchers ready to bother any team, while
Detroit naturally will be primed for the
invasion of the champions, for il the IT.
gers can take a fall out of them Ii will
greatly strengthen their chances for the
pennant
1t may not be a compliment to say so.
but 1t is nevertheless a fact that Herman
Schaefer has proved himself the best
first baseman Washington has had since
being in the American League not even
barring Jake Stahi, who was not the
player here that he developed into while
with Boston.
Not only has Schaefer played the posi-
ton well, but he has been of the great
est help to the team on the inside. His
hitting has been the best of any member
of the team. while he has been on the
bases even more than Milan.
Had Hughey Jennings suspected that
Schaefer could be made nto a first base
man he undoubtedly would have held on
to him, for Schaefer has played better
nings has had except Gainor, who showed
lot of class this spring.
Joe Cantillon's Minneapolis team has
felt the loss Of Tom Hughes and Dave
Altizer most severely. for the team
which won the flag in the association last
year is finding 1t difficult matter to
keep a berth in the first division this
year. These two players did much to
win the pennant for the Millers last Year
of that there is no doubt, yet neither has
made any materia! change In the teams
they went to. Hughes has earned his
salt with the Nationals. and Altizer has
played fairly good ball for Cincinnati.
but not near so we'll as last year AL
tizer belongs to that type of players
who shine ir their class. but who are
out of their class when they come into
the ma ors.
Robert Lee Hedges. owner of the ST.
Louis Browns, is up against tough
proposition this year. So long as the
Cardinals were down in the race with the
in the patronage that both clubs got. but,
of course. now that the National League
team gives evidence of being contend
er in the race. the crowds are going to
see it and give the Browns a wide
berth. Nor is it going to be an easy mat
ter to better the Hedges team. 1t does not
even possess a nucleus for a winner, and
barring, perhaps. shortfield. where Wal
lace is still a competent hand, there is no
position on the team filled by material
which Is up to the major league caliber.
Barring one or two pitchers, Hedges vir-
tually needs an entirely new ball team,
and 1t requires years to build UP winner
from raw material. even when things are
breaking well. The chances are that 1t
st. Louis club during the winter. for no
doubt the present season will find Hedges
loinsg q whole lot Of money-an expert
ence which he is certain not to relish.
Though Connie Mack's team is crippled.