Evening star., 1911-06-02
By J. ED GRILLO.


The infield on the local grounds may he
| changed to conform with the new stands
before the present season is over. Such
| a move is now being considered by the
| club officials at the earnest solicition of
Manager McAleer, who contends that the
short left field is great handicap to his
team because he is blessed with decidedly
| few left field htters. The best batters
of the local team are left handlers and
| their chances for hitting into the stands
are slim. Visiting teams have been very
successful in hitting into the stands. and
| these hits If the field was clear would
have been easy outs.
1t will. Of course. be no easy matter to
| change the infield during the playing sea-
son. Such a move will necessitate the
removal of the right field bleachers and
the erection of temporary bleacher In
deep right, but the greatest difficulty will
be in getting the sod to take root on the
infield after it is changed. But Manager
McAleer is willing to put up with new
inf1eld II he can get away from that short
left field, to which he attributes many of
the defeats the team has recently sur
fered.
II it is possible to make the change it
will be done while the team is on its next
long trip during July.
Yesterdays game illustrated why the
Detroit team is leading the American
League race. 1t is not the great pitch
ing or the defensive strength of the Tigers
that allows them to win, but their really
wonderful run-getting proclivities 1t is.
Of course, great hitting team, but as a
rule the Tigers get more runs for their
hits than does the average ball team. On
the bases 1t is undoubtedly the strongest
team in the circuit. Jones. Bush. Cobb.
Crawford and Moriarty can all run the
bases and, what is more. they are con-
stantly at it. And also the team is made
up of hustlers. Under all circumstances
every man is on his toes and doing the
best he can to help his team. With high
grade pitching the Detroit team would
simply walk away with the nag TINS
year, but with a staff Of twirlers which
is none too certain Jennings may yet
have q hard fight on his hands.
Some awakening elixir injected into sew
eral members of Jim McAleer's team
might have q beneficial effect. Whether
this be in the form of drug or a. sub
stantial fine matters not just SO there IS
an awakening. Stupid base ball has been
the order Of things ever since the Nation
ais returned from the west Some OF the
players pull plays that would lead to the
belief that 1t was their first appearance
on a ball field, while others go about
their work as II they were in a trance.
The base work of the locals during the
past six or seven games would hardly do
credit to an amateur organization. Wash
| ington crowds are decidedly lenient with
a losing team. probably because they have
become accustomed to il, but stupid work
on the part Of ball players drawing sal
ary from a major league club, many Of
whom have been in the game for years, Is
not excusable. The team cannot expect
to win II 1t throws away opportunities
because OF the lack of thought.
Umpire Perrine has worked seven con-
secutive games behind the bat here. In
none of these has he given satisfaction
to either team, and some of his decisions
on balls and strikes have been SO palpa-
bly, incorrect that even the occupants of
the bleachers were in a position to see
the errors.
Neither Sheridan. who worked here for
yesterday, has been allowed to work be-
hind the bat This must be taken to
mean that Perrine Is the superior In this
capacity of the others or that he has
proven himself so inferior that he was
sent here to practice the art at the ex-
pense Of the local team.
If Perrine must be made into an UNI
pire, it should be done at the expense Of
all the teams in the league. and Wash
ington should not be picked out as the
goat Perrine has had three years in
this company, and aside from the inn
provement he shows in brushing the plate
he gives no indications OF being a major
league umpire.
It is 80 now that when Ty Cobb gets
on the bases the opposing players become
nervous and stealing is easy for the
Tigers star. Yesterday he pilfered three
and only on one occasion did he draw a
throw from Street. In the sixth inning
he stole second and Street could not get
hold of the ball. He then went to third
and beat the throw there, and in the
eighth. after doubling. he again stole
third and Street again failed to make
throw. 1t was very good day for
Tyrus, he getting three hits and three
stolen bases.
Ty Cobb. when told yesterday that
Manager McAleer had started negotia-
tions for his brother Paul, who is play
ing with Lincoln said: II don't believe
McAleer will make a mistake picking him
up He is only twenty-one years old and
q natural player. His only fault has been
his lack of ambition. but I think he is
over that now and husting. He can hit
and is fast, and l believe he could make
good here
In the last three games Paul has played