Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-08
usser May Pitch Today, johnson Being Saved for Detroit
EIGHT STRAIGHT VICTORIES
IS NATIONALS GREAT RECORD
Expert Opinion Places Washington in First
Division Permanently, Bar
ring Accidents.

the beginners is daily growing less. so
that if the Improvement continues IT VIII
only be matter of time when GriHth
will have finished ball team
| Moeller and Foster. OF course. are
established. There is no longer any ques-
ton about their ability, but it is good Tor
sore eyes to see how Shanks and Morgan
are coming through 1t may sound like
bold statement but il will he proven i'll
| time that there is not a better left fielder
| in the American League today than
Howard Shanks. If there is anything hit
into that territory that he cannot get the
batter is indeed entitled to whatever his
drive may net him. He was the star of
yesterdays game in that he cut down
many long drive by his really wonder
full work in the outfield.
Now. as for Morgan, that young man
is establishing quite reputation as
hitter. All pitchers seem to look alike
to him, and incidentally he is learning
whole lot of how to play second base
that he did not know heretofore. He is
gradually becoming accustomed to the
position. and at the present rate OF i'm
provement there will be few players In
that position by the time the season
closes who have anything on him In any
respect.
Because Ed Walsh said things to I'm
pire O'Laughlin during the seventh inning
of Thursdays game. President Ban
Johnson has suspended him for five
Gays. but walsh VIII likely De UeHcHteu
by his lay-off. for he seems to have been
working too much of late.
Both Moeller and Foster looked weak
against LANCE the first two times they
faced him, as both struck out twice. But
this fact did not discourage them, and
it was oster who eventually caused the
defeat of LANCE and his White Sox. His
three-base hit in the seventh. which was
the second hit made off of LANCE. broke
the backbone of a strong stand which
the league leaders were making yester-
day. After that LANCE was not near SO
formidable and runs came rather easily
for the Nationals. Lange also seemed to
have something on Gandil but in the
ninth he drove beautiful single to left
| which gave his team another run and
was responsible for the scoring Of the
two in this inning. Gandil continues to
| show better form In his fielding. and even
Hal Chase would have to hustle to beat
| him playing the bag.
Ted Sullivan, undoubtedly the oldest
base ball man in the country today, has
watched the three games the Nationals
have played here and after yesterday, s
game he said: Griffith has good ball
team. 1t may not win the pennant and
| its present pace may be little fast for
| 1t, but just as sure as you're born that
| team will be heard from in this race. 1t
| is a first division team beyond question
| surprising. / don't believe that there is
| another instance on record where man
ager has picked up so many good ball
| players in one year as has Griffith.
Though Germany Schaefer is not filing
a position on the team, he is more than
earning his salary. His work on the
coaching lines Is of the greatest value to
his club as there is not the slightest doubt
that by his antics he distracts the atten-
Of thn
many amusing things and does SO many
stunts that he frequently has the minds
of the older players on him instead or
their game.
| But that is not all Schaefer is there
/ with a pat on the back for Griffith $
youngsters. He walks with them to the
plate. praises them for the benefit OF
| the hostile crowds and makes himself
useful In a thousand and one ways.
Schaersr's greatest stunt has been to call
| the turn on the innings in which the Ma
tionals score the deciding runs. He has
not failed here in this, and he called the
turn in st. Louis several times.
| Another effect that Schaefers coaching
has is to keep the crowd in good humor.
| even when the home team is losing. for
he has most of those within earshot more
| interested in what he is saying than In
! what is going on in the game.
The superiority Of the Nationals catch
ers over those of opposing teams is being
demonstrated here. In the three games
which have been played the White Sox
have pilfered a single base, while the Ma
tionals have nine to Their credit. Base
running is supposed to be one of the
strongholds of the leaders, but Henry has
been tossing them out as fast they
would start in the games here. Yester-
day Milan and Morgan stole second twice,
and they did ii like experts, while Col
lins the only one to attempt the trick
against Henry, was thrown out by three
| feet.
| The three defeats which the Nationals
, have inflicted on the White SoX have been
| an awful blow to the rooters here. The
! first two days the crowds seemed to SYM
pathize with Callahan's players because
| they considered them the victims of bad
luck In being beaten by Washington, but
the game yesterday seems to have
! brought about the sudden realization that
Griffith has ball team. There are more
| inquiries now as to where the various
| cured than ever before Folks are
sort of taking an interest in the players
under Griffith. and they are making a
strenuous effort to acquaint themselves
with their antecedents.
In the ninth inning yesterday one of
| the best and yet most peculiar plays of
| the day occurred With Lord on first
| Bodie hit a sharp grounder to Foster.
| The ball was hit so hard that Foster
| could not get his hands down to it and
| ii struck him on the shin. 1t looked like
| a base hit. but Mcbride had run over to
| back up Foster. and when the ball came
| to him he made a wonderful throw to