Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-20
BY J. ED GRILLO.

According to reports from New York,
where the Cincinnati club is stopping
while playing a series OF games in Brook
Ign. the national commission has de-
clared Frank Smith the property of that
club
Just when and how the commission got
into the case Is not known. but tho ac-
ton of this body is not near as surpris-
ing that of the American League clubs
which did not waive on Smith and could
have made good use of his services. 1t
places clubs like Washington i'm an alb
surd position to have a pitcher of Smiths
ability pass out of the league without as
much as a protest There is not a club
in this Jeague which could not have
made of Smith, and why he should
be allowed to pass out of the organiza-
ton and strengthen team I'm the rival
league is more than can be understood.
the Boston club. wired President ,Noyes to
make an offer for Smith, and the matter
was at once reIerfed to Manager Nc
-Aleer. At that time it would seem Tay-
Tor was under the impression that the
deal with Cincinnati would have to be
called off. and that if he did not want
dispose of him 10 one of the other Anne
lean League clubs.
Now, however, comes the national com
mission with a ruling giving Smith TO
Cincinnati. IL the commission made this
ruling Ban Johnson, the head of the
American League, and d member of the
commission, undoubtedly presented facts
which proved that the deal with Cincin-
natl was in accordance with the rules or
he would have protested against the rul-
ing which makes Smith "a member of the
Cincinnati team.
Those who predicted that Joe jackson
would prove only a flash in the pan in the
American League SO far as hitting was
concerned have occasion to crawl back in
their hole. Jackson has already proven
himself one of the greatest htters in the
game. With an average very close to 400
he is among the select hitterS of the
league. Furthermore. Jackson is not dis
playing ignorance of the game. He is
playing up-to-date base ball and has un-
doubtedly been a valuable acquisition to
the Cleveland club.
Big Bill Burns has not changed in the
least. and for this reason the former Ma
tional is now under suspension by the
Cincinnati club for lazness. During re-
cent game in Boston Burns was sent out
to warm up, and after pitching few
balls he went into the clubhouse and fell
asleep. At Brooklyn Thursday 3ie was
sent out to warm up to relieve Gaspar
and he repeated the performance. falling
asleep on the clubhouse steps. AS a
suit Clark Griffith has sent him home
TO get his sleep out. In the matter Of
disinterest in the game Burns has ever
been in a ella IS by himself.
During his career with the local team
he pitched a game in Chicago one day in
which the score stood TO in the Ma
tionais favor in the eighth. The other
players were on a tension watching every
move. but while his teammates were at
bat I'm the ninth Burns fell asleep on the
bench and actually had to be aroused TO
pitch the final inning, in which the SoX
scored two runs and Burns lost his game.
Let ball team start going poorly and
II is remarkable how great a reversal
of form it can show Look at the Ath-
letics Undoubtedly one of the strongest
teams in the country, and yet it has lost
six straight games. in none of which 1t
has even shown/a flash of it's former
strength. Nor is there a good excuse to
offer for the champions. The team Is
intact. its pitchers are not crippled. and
the team is hitting up to it's standard,
but 1t cannot win. All OF Connie Macks
wisdom and ingenuity has failed to stop
the slump, and as result the world 8
champions are now in the second division.
having lost two games more than they
have won. There is ball team which
comes pretty near to being perfect. 1t
would be hard indeed to suggest a change
I'm its lineup which would better condi
tons It is in charge of a man who is re-
garded one of the most competent base
ball men. Material of high grade is surely
not lacking. and yet 1t begins to look
very much as if the champions of last
year, the team which Inundated the Cubs.
are gradually falling out Of the race for
the flag and will have to hustle to gain
a respectable position in the first division.
weak team. when crippled as are the
Nationals. cannot be expected to win.
but there is no excuse to offer for the
Athletics.
Fred Clarke the capable manager of the
Pitt sbures. is much older than the avera ge
ball player yet he is still able to show
the old speed wholly for the reason that
he believes in the simple life. Clarke
is quiet and unassumipg off the field. He
is not given to boasting, and when he was
asked yesterday If the Pirates would win
the pennant he smiled as he replied.
Base ball is mighty uncertain. you
know. We are going along pretty smooth
ly just now and we have hopes. But 1t
isn't wise at any time to claim too much.
There's a long. rocky road ahead and
there's many a. slip. Luck cuts a big
figure in the success of any. team, and we