Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-28
BY J. ED GRILLO.

| After a two-weeks' trip through the
morning empty handed. having failed to
| find an outfielder who would help the
| Nationals.
| kahoe went to look over Mcbride OF
| Birmingham and DAILY of Montgomery.
| OF the pair Mcbride is considered the
| better man, though he doubts his ability
to make good in this company. What Is
more. 1t developed that the Athletics
have an option on this player. so that
he was out of the question; even If ka-
hoe had sthought we'll of him.
II saw nothing in the way. of outf1eld-
ers that are any better than those we
have. There are no good young players
in the Southern League. Most of them
are veterans who have had years of ex-
perience," said Kahoe.
Kahoe will leave on another scouting
trip shortly. though his exact destina-
ton has not yet been decided upon.
The easy manner in which the Nationals
last three days has caused quite a change
Of opinion here as to where the Nationals
will wind up the season. Though there
was really nothing to base it on. there
We're not a few who believed that Nc
Aleer's team had chance to break into
the first division this year, and there
were many who could not see the team
lower than at the head of the second
division While the teams showing in
Philadelphia has not been such as to
has by no means decided its final posi-
ton In the race.
While the Athletics have played con-
siderably ahead Of their normal gait for
no team could keep up such a batting
streak), the Nationals have played con-
siderably below their standard. Not only
has the team failed to hit as 1t should.
but the pitching has not been what is to
be expected Of McAleer's twirlers. This
combination could assure nothing but de-
feat for the team when stacked against
the worlds champions. But there are
reasons for believing that there will be
considerable improvement I'm its showing
from this out. True. McAleer hasn't a
strong hitting team. but when his pitch
ers are working as they will he will win
q lot more games than he has.
The next month is going to be hard
one, for the reason that, excepting the
four games which the Athletics play
here next week. all the Nationals games
starting next Wednesday. But the west,
barring Detroit, is not going to offer
near as strong an opposition as has the
east, and in this may be found some
hope.
That the cefeat of the team by rather
lopsided scores should cause a lot of
grumbling was to be expected, and that
q few filings should be at the teams
manager is but natural. 1t is the man
ager who is usually blamed for a teams
poor showing, though seldom given the
credit he deserves for its good work.
But McAleer is not to be blamed for
the Nationals consistently poor work on
the present trip. He has done the best
that could be expected under the circum-
stances. He is not responsible for his
teams failure to hit or the ineffectiveness
of its pitchers. The best he can do is
to keep on trying. There was material
improvement in the Nationals batting
yesterday. and this may mean that the
team will hit up to its standard from
this out. something it has not done previ-
ously on the present trip. In the mean
time assurance can be given that every
effort will be made to strengthen the
team where 1t is weakest, in the out