The Washington herald., 1911-07-09
By WILLIAM PEET.

Comparing the standing OF the NatiUn-
ais this year with last seasons mark
reveals the interesting fact that despite
recent setbacks and discouraging losses
the club is right now only 81 points lower
than this day a year ago, and there is
still plenty Of time to get UP to the top OF
the second division.
Reviewing the work Of the past week,
the club upset all calculations by pulling
down two games out Of the four from
Boston. better than the team could get
away with at any time last year. Thurs
day was an on day. and while the two
games Friday and yesterday fell to the
Detroit Tigers, the Nationals gave q
good account of themselves and were
subject to the bad breaks Of luck.
The Nationals this week are going to
be as busy as flies around a barrel OF
molasses. Games to-day and Monday
will be played against the Tigers. On
Tuesday and the three following days
Cleveland will be tackled in the Ohio
city. and on Saturday the scene shifts
" SiASo6OB AAAS al ~ u q AOAA-
game series is booked.
The results of games played yesterday
IN the big leagues caused a shift in. both
the American and National leagues. IN
the National circuit, New York jumped
from third to first and Chicago is second.
st. Louis, by winning again, is only
twenty points behind the Phillies.
In the American League, Chicago went
up to third place. New York and Boston
now being tied for fourth.
Long John SomerIot is covering first
base for the Terre Haute club Of the
Central League and is putting up a rare
fielding game; he is also getting in his
little hits quite regularly.
Somerlot was a big disappointment TO
Manager McAleer this season. as the
local boss felt sure the first sacker
would hit up to his fielding standard. but
Long John was a weak sister against
the American League twirlers.
The Nationals new outfelder, Long.
of the Gadsen club of the Southeastern
League, continues to play sensational ball
for that team, which is at present lead
ing the league by a fair sized margin.
Box scores from the various Alabama
papers show that seldom a day passes
but that Long rakes in from one TO
three safe hits.
Pitcher Fred Sherry is negotiating
with the New Castle club of the o. and
P. League and may sign up within the
next few days. Sherry. with his big
league experience. should make things
hum in the minors. y
There is one type of man who ought
TO be stopped by Injunction from his
nefarious work. He is seen in every
grandstand and on every bleacher. His
presence is more to be feared than a
pestilence, and the fans in his immediate
always turn up their COL
lars to escape his communicating infiu-
ence. He is the chronic kicker.
Good fans may come and go, but the
croaker we have always with US. He
sits with melancholy face, and at
every brilliant play shakes his head and
mutters something OF how the old field
ers would have handled the hit so Diff
ferently. II the local team is winning,
he has little say. beyond few ghastly
predictions that luck is breaking with
the team; that It cannot last; that So
and-So will slump soon, and cannot keep
UP the pace, and that the team will find
out what II is up against when It meets
such and such a club.
II the team is losing he comes as
near smiling as he ever does. He has all
kinds of criticisms Of what would have
happened II advice that he thought of
long ago had been taken.
The croaker is not only a chronic bore.
but a real detriment to the game. His
crowd about him, and we all know how
much of an inspiration and vital element
of success to the home team Is the atti-
tude of the crowd. { is the groundwork
Of inspiration to the team, and no ono
can overrate it's Importance. The eroaker
is his own worst enemy. He Is denying
himself the privilege OF enjoying the
greatest game on the face OF the earth,
and is interfering with the enjoyment Of
others. II it is necessary to have q con-
stitutional amendment that he be sup
pressed we most heartily advocate that
It be done at once. for no work in base
ball Is more cryingly urgent
A dispatch from Boston last night said
President Taylor cannot conceive how
he has been credited with asking Jimmy
AfcAleer for the world when the
manager tried to bring
about a deal whereby one or more Of
the Red sox would be shifted to the
Nationals. It is true that he asked for
Walter johnson, and that McAleer
oacked away with his hands high in the
air. Since then stories have been circu-
lated to the effect that President Taylor
tried 10 bring about the effacement Of
the Washington club. including its fran
chise and grounds. He was somewhat
rerplexed. but finally concluded that
fandom regarded the mighty
johnson as the world" and, truth 70