Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-12
OK Knight and Lefty George Latest Possibilities for the Nationals
TRADING PLAYERS A LOST
ART AT MAGNATES' MEETING
Manager Griffith Has His Eyes on Lefty
George and Jack Knight to
Help Out Nationals.

, MUCH IN evidence AT the mSctlnS. ne
new regime will take hold in Boston jan
uary 1, when McAleer will be elected to
the presidency. Jake Stahl did not put in
an appearance here. Jake Is straighten-
ing up his banking affairs sosthat he will
De able to play ball next season. McAleer
feels confident that he will have q con-
tender in the next race. He believes that
with the STRENGTHENING of his pitching
/ staff he has secured by the acquisition of
Pitcher O'Brien and the fact that Jake
Stahl will play first will make a great
difference in his team.
McAleer hopes to see Griffith make a
success of 1t in Washington. He believes
that if Griffith can be fortunate enough
that his team will be a winner.
Moeller and Foster are going to make
a great difference in the Nationals said
he. They are a pair of fine players and
just fill in where the team needed help. l
believe from what I have been told that
one or two of the players who were draft
ed will also make good, so that the pros
poets in Washington are brighter than
they have BEEN
If the New York club will listen to a
cash proposition for Jack Knight, Crit
fifth will be an earnest bidder. Knight.
in Griffith's estimation. has the making
Of one Of the best first basemen in the
country. and If he secured him he would
install him there and take no chances on
either Flynn. or Spencer, while Schaefer
would be given a trial in right field.
That New York would jump at a chance
to get Mcbride in a swap for Knight.
which might involve other players, there
| is not the slightest doubt, but there is no
chance for Griffith to let Mcbride go. He
realizes that with so finished short
stop Mcbride he stands a better
chance of building up winner than to
be forced to do any experimenting in that
position.
Barney Dreyfuss exploded the impress
sion today that Marty O'Toole. his TWEEN
ty-two-thousand-fiv NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. pitch.
er. has to rely entirely on his spit ball tc
win his games. In fact, the head of the Pi-
rate club is Of the opinion that his famous
twirler will eliminate the moistened deliv-
cry from his repertoire entirely before
the next season is very old. "OToole
has plenty of stuff without his splitter.
said he. HE proved that to us last fal
when he had a cold in his arm and used
splendid account of himself. 1 don't be-
lieve that the use of the spit ball is a
good thing for pitchers arm. and
shall do what I can to have O'Toole cut
O'Toole's arm. He merely had bad colo
in 1t. and when spring rolls around he
will be as good as ever, and l predict a
great season for him."
Harry Davis, the Maps new manager
is here busily engaged trying to make
some sort Of deal whereby he can rio
himself Of George Stovall. Davis realizes
that Stovall is of major league caliber
and under ordinary circumstances he
would not allow him to leave his team
But. having been the manager, he feels
that he cannot hold him for the reason
that If the team should happen to get a
poor start there would be a clamor fol
Stovall to take the reins again, which
would make it rather unpleasant for Da.
Wis.
Davis feels that he has been placed in
charge of q great ball team. There lie
little for him to build up. for the team
as it finished was stronger than most
of them IN the league. Third base is the
one position which is causing him some
worry. however. He is not sure that
enough to hold his own there, though
he has made up his mind to give the
veteran another thorough trial. There
are two or three minor leaguers on his
list who will also be tried out at third.
and should he succeed in getting a COM
petent man for that place he feels that
he will have a team which is sure to be
a contender in the race.
| Griffith is busy arranging an extensive
| list Of exhibition games to be played al
| National Park next spring. He has al
ready booked the Phillies and Brooklyn
and while here hopes to have the Giants
sch duled to play two or three games
there. He figures that game in which
Mathewson and johnson would facs
| each other would prove a great attrac
| ton. McGraw, however, is in Cuba. ant
| Griffith may have to cable him in ar
| effort to get the Giants to visit Washing
ton. The Toronto Eastern League team
| is also expected to come to Washington
while games with Richmond at the latter
place and other games at Wilkesbarrs
and Newark are being arranged to bs
| played before the regular season opens.
"Ill stake my reputation as base ball
player on Moeller," said George Sailing!
| today. He will make good in Washing
| ton, yes, he will do more: he will prove
! himself one of the most valuable men
| in the league.
II look for him to be a sensation for
| he has everything that goes to make a
! good ball player. Foster, too, will help
| lot, for he Is much improved man
| compared to what he was when had him
| in New York. A few years has made a
great difference in his playing, and be-
lieve he will be surprise
The chances are that few. if any. trades
will be pulled off by the American League
clubs at this meeting. Stovall appears to
| be the only player who is really on the
| market, though New York, 1t Is limited, is
| willing to let out one or two of it's
| players. Every year the trading grows
| less, for the very good reason that clubs
| which have good ball players have been
! taught by experience that they are hard
| to get and they hold on to them. even
| though they have their shortcomings
| st. Louis, of course, is anxious to get
some playing material, but 1t has nothing
| to offer in exchange. and Hedges is not
in the habit Of spending real money for
talent