Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-10
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Judging from the reports sent out of
Detroit, Clyde Milan is now playing tie
kind of ball that placed his name among
the crack outfie;derS OF the country last
season. But 1t is the first time this year
that Milan has performed in sensa-
tional manner. IN fact, the little speed
marvel did not seem to be anywhere
near his form earlier in the season, and
his failure to play up to his standard
cost the Nationals many games of bali.
But when Milan is at his best he has
no superior as fielder. and II he were
all hustle to beat him as run setter
While Milan must be numbered among
the good hittera OF the league. many Of
his hits are the result of his great speed
in going to tirst base. 1t has betn Lis
speed this year which has kept his aver
age above the coveted mark, though re-
Gently he has been getting his share of
clean drives.
or Its games or more would size I'D well
with any fielder III tile league, not bar
ring Cobb or Speaker bur OH a losing
team players Of the Mian type do not
nave the same number of opportunities
10 shine, and it is therefore all the more
remarkable that Milan shuulI he gener-
ally recognized as one of The greatest
f1elders in the business
The unexpected has happened to the
Athletics in Cleveland. The Maps and
Browns were the two teams which were
10 furnish the way to the lead in the
race Whl1e the champions are on their
western trip, but the former at least
has proven a stumbling block. scoring
two shut-outs over the MackiteS in the
present series. An even break is surely
all that the champions can hope for in
either Chicago and Detroit, and even If
there is no upset in st. Louis it is
hardly possible that they will be able
to pass the Tigers before they reach
home again, July %. But once at
home. 1t is hard to see how the cham
lead By that time Eddie Collins will
be back in the lineup, and there is no
stronger club at home than the Ath-
letics. Collins is surely being missed
are being lost by the shortest kind of
margins might be won if Collins were
in the lineup, for. like all great ball
players, he shows to his best advantage
when the pinch is tight
There has never been a more even
race than the one the National League
is furnishing this year. Any one Of the
first five teams can jump into first
place by winning a few games. there
being but thirty-seven points difference
between the Giants, who are leading,
and Pittsburg, which is in fifth place.
1t would seem from this that these
teams are decidedly evenly balanced,
principally because all of them lack
pitching strength. Each team can boast
OF one reliable twirler, but no more
Much will depend on whether any one
Of the five can develop or secure one
more alright pitcher Let Ames show
high-class form and help out Mathewson
and the Giants will land. and the same
condition exists on every one OF the
contenders. In fact. ST. Louis appears
sistent pitching staff. Bresnahan has
three or four pitchers who always give
a good account of themselves, and this
gives him an advantage.
Yesterdays victory in Detroit, made
possible by ninth-inning rally, five runs
being scored after two hands were out,
only shows that II pays TO play the
game until the last man is retired. Base
ball is made an uncertain proposition
by reason of the fact that the bat and
ball are both round, and for this reason
there is never any telling what may nap
pen. With five runs needed and but one
more man to be retired, it certainly
seemed as if any sort of odds could be
laid against the Nationals, and yet in
less time than it takes to tell it the
runs necessary to win the game had been
chased over the plate Games of this
ball POPULAR though they do put a dam
per on home crowd when the visiting
team accompishes the feat
It is not at all unlikely that the ST.
Louis Cardinals will be leading the Ma
ticnal League race by the end of the
week. After their final game with the
Phillies today Bresnahan's men go to
Boston for four games, and while of
course there is nothing certain about |
base ball ii would seem that they ought |
TO make a clear sweep there if they |
play up to the same standard they have |
shown against much stronger teams. To |
win four games in a row would probably |
give them the lead. While the Cardinals |
are hobnobbing in Boston Pittsburg will |
be playing the Giants and one or the |
other should tumble. Chicago will play |
IN Brooklyn, a team which has always |
been troublesome for the Cubs, and Gin |
cinnati and the Phillies will be hooked |
up So il seems that the schedule gives |
Bresnahan a little bunch at this time.
Though Walter Johnson has won three |
games more than he has lost, ii is evil |
dent from the base-hit column of the
Feams which oppose him that the Idaho