Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-21
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Untimely as was the fire which de-
stroyed the old stand at National
Park, it was, no doubt, a blessing in
disguise after all. 1t means that before
the present season is very old Washing
ton will have an up-to-date base ball
plant, something that has been needed
here for many years. 1t is to the credit
Of the local owners that they lost no
time In getting to work to build new
plant while the smoke from the old was
still to be seen. 1t was a splendid stroke
Of enterprise, and again shows that
Washingtons base ball interests are in
proper hands.
Modern ingenuity and Yankee hustle
will make it possible to play the opening
game on the local field. The stands will
not be completed, but there will be ample
accommodations for the thousands who
have looked forward to the opening OF
the base ball season for weeks. 1t would
have been bitter disappointment to have
been compelled to open the season On
foreign grounds and probably not to have
shown here for six weeks after the sea-
son opened. Not only would the public
have suffered a severe loss of pleasure
by reason of the fire, but the team would
have been asked to shoulder q handicap
WHICH IL WOulO nave lOunu OllllCuiL
matter to bear, for to have played for
weeks on foreign fields would have given
the Nationals but little chance to i'm
prove their position in the race.
Though Arthur Irwin. the Yankees
scout, would lead his hearers to believe
that it is none too early to arrange for
the playing Of the worlds series on the
HighlanderS' park next fall, there does
not seem to be the same confidence in
the 9fmOSnhara ahonf Hal Chase the
manager of the team.
Reports from Athens are to the effect
that the successor of Sta.lings is not
satisfied with his ball team, and he is
making all sorts Of experimental changes
In his lineup in the hope of getting a
more satisfactory combination out of his
squad.
For instance, he is trying Birdie Cree,
an outfielder, at short. Otis Johnson
having indications of blowing up. Elliott,
the third-sacker, who has been boosted
to the skies, has not impressed Manager
Hal, and Roy Hartzell is to be tried
there. All winter long the wonderful
prowess of Johnson and Elliott have been
held up before the New York public and
yet indications now are that neither will
make good. 1t is the old story over again
of a team looking good on paper, but
not on the ball field.
1t must be dawning on Chase that he
did not drop into the softest spot imagin-
able when he slipped into Stallings' SHOES,
for it viii be no easy matter to keep the
team as well up in the race as did his
predecessor.
This season may teach the boy manager
that It is easier to criticise the work OF
another than accomplish satisfactory re-
suits himself. In the meantime Arthur
Irwin's chest measurement may undergo
a severe shrinkage.
Jim McAleer has been placed in
rather unenviable light by the report that
he was tacitly backing Walter Johnson IN
his demand for an enormous Increase or
salary. Those at all familiar with the
situation know, of course. that such Is
not the case, and that the club is acting
in the Johnson matter on the advice or It's
manager. If Jim AcAleer would say the
word tomorrow the club would accede TO
the demands of its star pitcher. 1t was
McAleer who called a halt when Johnson
made his demands. and. as said before, II
was on his advice that the club has taken
the stand not to accede to the big pitch
er's demands. McAleer is open and above
board in his dealings with the club and
the players. and to say that he is backing
Johnson in his stand is placing him in
false light.