Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-08
BY J. ED GRILLO.


cidedly more effective against the De-
troit Tigers than have the western
teams, interest in the American
League race is going to be on the Wane
before July 4. Something must pc
done to stop the remarkable squirt OF
Hugh Jennings team. or the race Will
be over so far as the pennant is con-
cerned before it is half finished
1t is doubtful If there is another race
on record where team has started
the season with such remarkable
winning streak. Nineteen games out
Of twenty-on one have been won, and'
what is most remarkable about 1t ALL
is that the opposing teams have not
found it a difficult matter to score IN
these games, but not enough to OIL
set the remarkable run-getting abill-
ties Of the Tigers.
the opposing teams found it a difficult
matter to get runs of the Detroit
pitchers, but these have been OF no
! avail. for the Tigers usually score
twice as many as their opponents. The
one thing that seems hard to do is to
stop the Tigers from hitting. None Of
| the pitchers of the western teams has
been able to do this, and it remains
| to be seen if the eastern teams have
| twirlerS who can.
| 1t is not at all likely that any team but
the Athletics will be able to give the
Tigers struggle for the flag this year.
| Neither Boston nor New York appears &c
have a chance, and one can't inquire tnat
any Of the western teams have look-ln.
But the Athletics are sure to make a
game uphill fight. They have lot or
ground to make up, to be sure, but the
strength is there to do this oy easy
stages from now to October. OF course
! the Tigers lead puts great handicap
! on the champions, but it is not to be be-
lieved that Jennings team can keep up
| the pace 1t has set, and it is sure TO slump
some time, even though such a stump
may be of but short duration.
Last year the Tigers lost the flag by
overconfidence. They thought they had
cinch and grew careless, and before
! they could recover the Athletics had
struck a stride which landed them on
| TOP. This year the Detroit players are
benefiting by their experience of last
year, and they are taking no chances.
| Connie Mack has developed his young
players because he displays great pa
fience with them. When Eddie Collins.
now one Of the greatest ball players IN
the league, joined the Athletics he did
not promise much, though he gave every
indication of being a natural hitter. MaGk
!
outfield, but there did not seem TO De
chance for him in either position. Mack
would play him a while and then take
him out, and, though Collins did not take
him off and on. and the result is that
he finally developed into a great PAL
PLAYER. Macks experience with FRANK
Baker. his crack third oaseman, Ma
similar. Baker did not impress the tnli,
adejphia crowds and Mack was upbraided
for playing him. But Mack saw the
making OF a ball player in Baker ana,
though the fans howied against playing
him. he used him off and on until he
gradually became a wonoerIul pay Ion.
Mack has been in the game so long
that he knows the fickleness OF the
base ball public and does not allow
himself to be Influenced by II. Base
bali crowds do not diner IN the Harl-
Gus cities. They are all about alike: ihsy
shout for young blood when the OLD
fellows are not going good. but when
the Youngsters are played and DO not
| GET off with a rush they want them
banished. But it is the fact that every
| natron of the game thinks hllnseii
capable Of running the team mucn
better than the man In charge, "hlcn
| does much to make the game the most
popular Of sports.
McAleer. not unlike Mack. gives his
ball players every chance II ne THINKS
he sees something III Sh0n' 20
ured that Red Killifer could De deveI-
oped and he played him day after day
| though Red could not hit at all he
believed that by keeping him in the
game Red would eventually develop
He was wrong, but he had to con-
vince himself. Had McAleer listened
to the fans he would have benched
Cunningham some time ago. but NC
Aleer was convinced last fall that
Cunningham was better ball player
than he had shown this spring and he
patiently waited for him to come
| around Saturday the youngster
/ seemed to have regained his stride and
McAleer's judgment is on fair way
| to be INDICATED.
! It should always be remembered that
| the man in charge Of the team is more
| anxious to have a winner than any one
| else. and that any move he makes is
! with this object i'm view. If he followed
the suggestions of outsiders his chances
| for success would be slim indeed.
| Taking John Henry out of the game
does not mean that this younester has
| proven failure. Henry is hardly out OF
, his teens. and while he may not be pu,
| back on first base again. he looks to have
| the making of great catcher. and it II
| in this position that he will be used from
| now on IL ne does not go hack to the
| bag. But the FIRST base proposition has
! not been solved by any means. Somerioi
| that could be played there. but his weak
ness with the stick puts him out OF thu
running. Henry did not show r4isns oi