Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-19
6ERTINENI @nMENT
Happenings Sportdom

show flash enough now and then to war
rant their retention, but winning ball
clubs are not built up In this way. At
least the system has not been successful
here
The Washington club has for years had
| a salary list second to none in the league,
barring perhaps the clubs which won
pennants and thus were forced to raise
the pay of the players. but 1t has not re-
ceived much in return
For several years it has been admitted
that the nucleus for good ball team
| existed here, yet 1t has been impossible
winning team. Three youngsters. Ain
smith. Henry and Cunningham, were add
ed last year, and while the trio Is not
brilliant. yet they are sure to improve
Something that cannot be said for any
of the old members of the aggregation.
McAleer Is up against a rather tough
proposition. He has some good ball
players and also lot of poor ones. He
must use the sieve and make a clean
sweep Of everything that Is not up to the
standard. He may find 1t a difficult prob
lem to find suitable young material to fill
the numerous holes. but he will have
something to work on If he gets players
who will improve in time. rather than
carry a lot who are constantly going
back.
During the final year of Joe Cantillon's
failure Of the Nationals was due to mis-
management. 1t was charged that Can
tillons system was antiquated and that
his personality was not of the kind to
make ball players work for him. Absurd
as were these charges 1t was no easy
matter to convince the patrons Of the
sport that 1t was not msmanagement,
but lack Of playing strength, that kept the
Nationals down in the race. New hope
came with the engagement of McAleer.
yet so far IS the general condition here
is concerned there has been no sign of
Improvement. McAleer will fail as did
Cantillon. unless he secures the material
which a winning team needs. No doubt
McAleer knows the game as well as any
of his rivals. His methods of handling
the team are no doubt as up-to-date as
those employed anywhere. His sugges-
lions and system of play may be brilliant
yet what does all that amount to if he
has not the players to deliver the goods
on the ball field
Nor can it be said that the effort to
secure such material has been lacking.
The club has been liberal in its expendi-
lures for playing material and generous
to a fault in handing out salaries. In the
last four years some splendid players
have been secured. Milan, Johnson.
Street, Mcbride. Elberfeld Of the old
guard and Ainsmith. Henry and Cum
ningham of the youngsters. Even Lelivelt
could be included in the list of ellgibles
If conditions were such that he could be
played where he belongs. But that link
which changes loser to a winner has
always been and is still lacking. Such
player. or players, Is not apt to be secured
from some other major league club. He
must come from one of the remote clubs
as did Cobb. Speaker. Lajoie and all the
other great lights Of the game. Hence it
will be policy to continue to try for
youngsters notwithstanding the fact that
the entire squad which was taken south
last spring was not up to the standard.
The present condition Of the American
League race does not promise much in
the way of financial returns for the club
owners With the Detroit team tin-can-
ming out in front with hardly a chance
of being overhauled, interest in the pen
nant race threatens TO be confined to