The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-03-21

IT is doubtful II any ball club In the
world gets along as we'll among them
selves as do the Nationals. Harmony T.
the keynote. and the veterans are doing
all they can to help the youngsters, while
in turn the new recruits are working for
all they are worth to make good. If
there are any petty jealousies, they are
not apparent on the surface.
Manager McAleer at times is exacting.
He insists on each man doing a certain
amount of. work a day. On the other
hand he is considerate with his men, and
il a man complains of feeling a bit under
the weather his practice hours are short
ened.
On every ball club there is likely % be
one of two disturbers; players who are
disgruntled. and who set bad examples
by word or deed McAleer will not toll
crate any men of such stripe Last season
the Nationals had two players who were
dsturbers and neither is with the club
now.
One would naturally suppose that
veteran like kid" Elberfeld would have
little to say or do with young Bunting.
who is trying to make good at third base.
Bunting is a promising player, with all
the earmarks of a conner, and as Elber-
field has seen many years service. he
will soon reach the stage when it is time
TO drop down and give somebody else
chance
ElberfeId has taken it upon himself
during the past week to coach bunting
on playing third base. The Kid has
taught Bunting more in a few days than
the latter would learn by himself in
year. and Bunting shows Improvement
already
The foregoing is a sample OF how the
men under MCAleer are working together
for the good of the team.
II used to be like that once said Cab
by Street to the writer rs Gabby called
attention to Eddie Ainsmith, whistling
the ball down to second like rifle shot.
Look at that pep Eddie cuts loose, as If
he never heard OF a lame arm" the vete-
ran added. 1T will take me about three
weeks to reach Ainsmith's present form"
declared Gabby. When first broke into
the American League. was just as live
ly.' he declared, and then murmured:
NO use talking. / reckon I'm getting
older every year-but wait until the big
games start: then I'll show the young
sters something"
Nat VI. Wills, Of vaudeville fame. who
makes Washington his home. and who
Is playing at local theater this week.
is a great baseball bug. He Is known
to almost every player In the big
leagues. and is a loyal rooter for the
New York Giants.
Mr.. Wills said this morning: 81 have
already bet most of my loose change
that the New York Nationals will win
the championship. The Cubs are not
the same old team, and to my mind
will not start"
Mr.. Wills was introduced to Walter
Johnson. and to the amusement of the
players, said: Mr.. johnson, I'll give
you $1,000 right now II you will get
your release from the Washington club.
so that / can sell you to McGraw. OF
New York"
johnson grinned and replied, NO:
thanks, old man. Washington seems to
agree with me all right. l have no
desire to change"
The actor, turning to Schaefer. said:
Gee. but wouldn't the Giants trickle
the National League like
water through a tin horn with Christy
and Walter Johnson for
pitchers. They could each work twice
a week, and by the Fourth of July
New York would be so far ahead the
other clubs would never see them"
There IS big Bull Durham sign in
deep center field on the Atlanta
grounds, and ii is the ambition OF every
one of the Nationals to drive a ball
to the bull on the fly before pulling up
stakes for the Capital. Tom Hughes
has done it in practice, while knocking
out flies. but nobody has come any
where near it in a game.
bill Otey is some day going to be one |
OF the best left-hand twirlers in the |
American League" said Mike kahoe to- !
night "Otey only lacks experience. He |!
has the greatest curve ball have ever |
seen in years, and plenty of speed"
Otey is a first-class hitter. too. He |
showed his ability at bat while with the |
Nationals a short time last fall. One day |
in New York the lanky twirler drove |
the ball over the right fielder's head a |
mile. and had he been in good shape |
physically would have made the circuit. |
AS it was, he got a three-bagger on the |
wallop
Gabby Street and Elberfeld cannot see |
Boston in the first division, and they !