Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-13
BY J. ED GRILLO.

One run is again cutting a lot of figure
with the Nationals games. 1t has been
the history of the local team for years
to fall short by this small margin more
often than any of it's rivals, and while,
Of course, luck frequently cuts a figure
In games which are decided by single
run, it is really an indication of Lack
of strength. The two games which have
been lost to Cleveland by one-run mar
gins might have been won but for sem
sational catches by the Maps at critical
periods. and while it is conceded that a
winning team has to be lucky. it is
reasonable to suppose that in long cam
paign luck would break about even.
1t seems to be the old story over again
of the Nationals failing to hit behind
good pitching and lacking good pitching
when the team is hitting. Both the
Cleveland games were well pitched. Good
enough to be victories ordinarily. but
inability to hit at the right time placed
them on the wrong side of the ledger. A
few weeks ago. when the pitchers were
ing five and six runs to a game. Now
the pitchers seem to be In form, the Of
fensive strength of the team again looms
conditions are never favorable to the
Washington team, for even though 1t
does not class among the strong teams
of the league, 1t would be higher up il
it could get more good breaks
Even should the Athletics lose every
one of the four games OF the present
series to Detroit 1t would not put them
out of the pennant race. The champions
present slump is not going to last much
longer. When Collins gets back in the
game there will be change, and with
the schedule giving the champions long
stretch of games at home at the close Of
the season they stand a great chance to
overcome any lead the Tigers may secure
just now. But it is not going to be the
easy race that was predicted 1t seemed
to be the general impression that once
Mack's team got in the lead 1t would
make runaway of 1t to the wire. In
this the Athletics have disappointed. They
failed to hold the lead more than a few
hours and the expected slump of the
Tigers once they were overhaued failed
to matertalize. Let Jennings have the
benefit of good pitching and his team is
handily. None of the other teams is in
the same class with the Tigers when 1t
comes to making runs, and all it needs
is pitching strong enough to hold the
other fellows down to a reasonable score.
There seems to be no end to Ty Cobb's
ability Every day he is doing something
more sensational than on the day before.
and his prowsss has become SO well
established that there is not the slightest
doubt that opposing teams fear him, and
this only helps to make his work easier.
ocarce.y a day passes that Cobb does
not accomplish something which makes
him stand out from his teammates. Under
resent the featuring of single man when
no doubt all Of them are entitled to credit
for their vic tories. but Cobb by his wonder
full work has convinced his teammates as
we'll as players of other teams that he is
in class by himself, and they take no
offense at the prominence Cobb is given
for his work.
What is perhaps most remarkable about
Cobb is the fact that he seldom meets
with injury. though he takes some of the
most desperate chances. Neither does he
ever appear to have an off period o" days
when he lacks the spirit. 1t is every day
With Cobb. and he appears to like the
game better with every season.
It is difficult to estimate how great a
difference it would have made in the Ma
Eonals' standing had Bill Cunningham
played the kind of bali this year that e
did last fall. His failure to hit has been
one of the most severe handicaps the
team could be asked to shoulder. and
III ere is no telling how many defeats can
be traced to this youngsters inability 70
connect with the bail. There never has
been a more garing case of reversal of
form than that OF Cunningham Last fall
he had all the earmarks OF being a great
ball player. and yet this spring his work
has been more like that of a schooboy |
than a professional
Just what has caused this slump is hard !
to say The fact that he reported over |
weight and was forced to work out in !
ca sed in a rubber shirt may have had |
some effect, but one would suppose that |
after few weeks the bad effects of such |
a course of training would wear off. Nc |
Aleer is not yet convinc ed that Cunning |
ham is not a good ball player. He is at |
a loss to explain his slump and proposes |
to continue to play him whenever pos
sible, in the hope that he will hit his
stride before the season closes. If Cunny
fails to do that he will be farmed out in
the hope that he will develop.