Evening star., 1911-05-24
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our interest
ing booklet.
THE Truth
About Coca Cola"
BY J. ED GRuLO.

Manager McAleer is not satisfied with
his ball team. and in this respect he does
not differ from any Of the followers of
the Nationals. According to The
Stars Detroit correspondent McAleer
has his mind prepared to make several
changes in his lineup as soon as he gets
in a position to do so, which naturally
must mean that he will have to wait
until he gets some new material.
The teams fielding has been miserable
on the entire trip. and several Of the
games in which 1T was badly beaten
would have been victories but for the mis-
plays which gave the opposition a chance
to make winning rally. 1t was so again
yesterday. AS the team is now made
up 1t is unquestionably the strongest that
McAleer can put in the field with the
material he has on hand, barring, of
course, the catcher, for a more experienced
man than Henry would be Of much more
service. But it is evident that McAleer
intends to start experimenting much
earlier this year than ever before. He
says that he will give all kinds of
youngsters chances. for he believes that
even though they lack ability they would
be of more service to his team than sew
But 1t is not going to be an easy mat
ter to get playing material at this sea-
son of the year. Players on minor league
teams are not available just now. and it
seems doubtful If there is a chance for
McAleer to make any trades now that
would benefit him without giving up play
ers he cannot spare.
The fielding this spring in the major
leagues has been far below the usual
ct nd Ri
others. can be attributed to the use of
the lively ball. After while the players
will be able to judge the bounds of this
new ball better than they do now, but so
to be plentiful. for the reason that the
ball will every now and then come at a
fielder with such terrific speed that it is
impossible to handle 1t. The change Of
balls has changed the game entirely. and
1t is questionable If there will be any
Improvement in the contests as the sea-
son progresses because Of the installa-
tion of new system which the new ball
requires.
One Of the most remarkable winning
spurts is just now being experienced by
the ST Louis Cardinals. This team,
which was not believed to stand chance
Of being factor in the National League
race, is going along at a clip which
threatens to force 1t into the first divi-
sion ere long. Though playing on foreign
grounds for the past three weeks Bres-
nahan's team has won ten games and lost
have gone down before it as If they
were outclassed. The team has worked
itself up into fifth place and stands a
good chance of going higher before it fin
shes its eastern trip.
1t is remarkable how great a figure a
single error cuts with a losing team. Look
over the accounts of the games of the
teams which are down in the race and 1t
will be found that a single misplay
usually causes their undoing Winning
teams can make errors without causing
any great harm. but a loser cannot make
a wobble which does not prove fatal
most of the time.
No team is better equipped in the event
OF accident than the Tigers. Jennings
was taught q lesson in the last cam
paign. when he found himself without
players to fill the positions made vacant
by accidents, and he does not propose
to be caught that way again. For in
stance, he Is carrying three extra in
fieders this year-OLeary, Lathers and
Ness-while he has Drake and Shallor,
two young outfielders. to he used in the
event of emergency. OF course. this lat
ter pair could not fill the shoes of Cobb
and Crawford any more than the utility
infelders would be able to make any of
the regulars not missed but they are of
class enough to hold their own for
time at least.
Notwithstanding its excellent lead in
the race the opinion is growing that be-
fore the Detroit team can be figured to
stay at the top of the heap to the finish
Of the race it must show more pitching
strength. With very few exceptions Jen-
nings has not shown a high-class twirer
this year. True. they have Won a ma
jority of their games, but they have
failed to stop their opponents from hit
ting and victory has been made posi-
BILE only by the wonderful batting of the
Tigers. 1t is wonderful ball team that
Jennings manages. but 1t is doubtful If
his team can continue to hit enough to
prevent those pitchers from losing.
With ball players as scarce as they
are, it will not be at all surprising If
many of those sent into the minors dur
ing the past few seasons will be recalled
this fall George Stone, who was with
the Browns for several years, but was
let out because he seemed to have lost
his prowess as a hitter, Is setting things
anre with Milwaukee, and 1t would not be
at all surprising to find him with the
one of the major league clubs is sure to
pick him up. There are any number of
former major league stars in the minors
today who would be an improvement
over some Of the players now holding big
league berths
They are all getting the habit now. Mike
Donlin Is the latest one contemplating