Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-19
EXPECTS NATIONALS
TO FINISH HIGHER
MCAIeer Believes His Team
Will Show Better Form
Than Rivals Expect.
CONFIDENT HE WILL
HAVE GOOD OUTFlELD
Proposes to Give New Men
Fair Chance and Give Po-
sitions to the Best.
BY j. ED GRILLO.

In the opinion Of Jim Mc-tleer the Ma
tionals stand an excellent chance of fin
fishing several positions higher in the
coming race than they did last season.
McAleer a man who is not given TO
making predictions on base ball matters,
knowing the uncertainty OF the game,
has. he believes, team with strength
enough 10 force its way ahead of two
or three of the contending teams this
year. Though no: given credit for hav-
ing greatly improved his team since last
season by rival managers and base ball
experts. Mc-Neer has il figured out where
his team IS going to show marked inn
proyement in the coming campaign.
While there has been 10 fault found
with the Nationals infield, there has been
considerable speculation as TO whether
or not the outfelG would be up I, the
necessary standard to make the team
more formidable than it was last Jear.
IcAleer, however. is not worrying about
his outtield. He believes that with the
material he has to pick from he VIII be
able to get two capable running mates
for clyde Milan, in which event his gar
dens would be better taken care OF than
they have been in many years
True, we know nothing certain about
our outfitld,' said he. but think we
are going to surprise every orc i'll that
respect. In Milan we have one of the
greatest players in harness today. He
proved his class while playing with Cobb
and Speaker las, fall in the All Star
Athletics series. No player i'll that team
had anything on Milan, and he Will be
even better this year
While figuring on the youngsters whom
fnr
TO come back to ms old Boston FORM
Doc had a poor year last season, but he
IS not apt to have another. I look for
him to hit as he ought to, and IL he does
the rest of the picking will be easy. VI
the six or seven other outfelders we
ought to be able to pick one who can fiji!
the other position. and If it should hap
pen that Doc does not get into his stride
] am sure that we can get TWO men 20
help out Milan. l have been investigat-
ing the young outfielders we have on
the list, and l am sure that there IS some
good material among the lot.
''Somerlot will round out our infe.d.
Don't judge this yo1ngstcr on his SHOW
ing last sall. He is better ball player
than he showed himself. IL Sorneriot can
hit 80 70: us next season. he VIII have
added great strength, for the reason that
he is brilliant fielder, u good base run
ner and smart ball player in every
respect. There is no question about Cum
ningham. lie is a star already, and Ell
berfeld and Mcbride need not be men
toned. Cor we know what they can do.
II look for Walter Johnson to have the
greatest year OF his career. and Tom
Hughes is going to be great running
mate for him. Then there is Walker.
He writes me that his health is perfect
again. and that WAS all that allied him
last Seaso This trio Will pitch great ball,
and then there are others to lie rcckoned
with. Doe Meyer. / believe. will be a
success during the early spring games
though l doubt whether he can stand the
real hot weather. But Doc will do Il lot
Of pitching III the spring. and nc will win
q majority OF his games. Bill Otey tells
me that he has gained weight. and was
never better. Now. If he is good as he
vas last spring. when lac pitched against
us at Norfolk, he will be winning left
handler.
$50 far as the catchers are concerned
there s no way we could improve the
staff. Every one of them can take his
turn behind the bat and deliver the
goods
In not sending catcher to Hot Springs
with the rest OF the squad which is now
IN training there. McAiecr believes lie
struck upon a plan which will insure the
pitchers TO be in great shape when they
report a. Atlanta. He does not want
them to work ont too much with catchers
for fear that they will strain their arms.
His ORDERS were that the players at the
springs should take the baths ana long
walks lmoGSl tac nils to strengthen
their muscles and wind. Of course they
can DO n little pitching. but il must be
easy and just enough 10 timber up their
ar:ls. II they had a catcher with them
re argues. they would be WORKING out
twice 4 GaE. and lie does not want them
10 do that until they report to him at
Atlanta.
While Mc3leer always had n high re-
gard for Walter Johnsons thinking pro
ciivities, his estimation OF the yornp
pitchers business ability has gone un con-
s:dcrably since he was in correspondence
Mith nm TINS winter regarding the sign
Ing OF . contract
McAieer says that in al lis experience
IN handling bali players. lie never en-
coontefed so wise business proposition
as Johnson. The average ball player.
when making demand for an iucrea So
OF salary. makes threats or grows uel,-
Not SO Johnson. He writes convincing
letters. and never insinuates that he won't
report. or that he intends TO quit the
game The result is that he conyincas
his bosses that he is entitled to what he
asks. and usually gets it. ''o
1oHhSon is the wisest young man in
base Dali today. He would be a s,,ccass
In Any walk of life. for he has brains and
knows how to Use Them" is the way NJ
Aieer sizes up his pitching phenonl.
McAieer is much disappointed ha
cause OF the retirement OF Doc Reisl;n.
Il can't understand his action nj ali =.
siiid ne When we parted last fan
he was loud In his praise of the 1reat-
inent he had received from the Wash
ington club. and hoped that he wou,a
be able to be of more service IN The
team next season. I sent him his con-
tract weeks ago. but strange IN cav ~,
has never answered my letter, and his
announcement that he had quit the
game comes as a surprise to me
should like to have Doc with us He
is such 4 willing. -workin. fol-
low. who is always trying to helm
every one else on the team thai
Re WAS of much value aside from TIE
pitching he did. 1t may he that Doc
las good reasons for wanting to ouit
but what they are i have not the faint
est idea"
There is no player misunderstood or
more nalizned than Ty Cobb" remarked
NcAleer, land learned that during the