Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-03
BY J. ED GR1LLo.

Five Of the six defeats which the Ma
tionals suffered this spring have re-
suited from errors. The first New York
game here last week was the only one Of
these games which cannot be attributed
to misplays. There have been few errors
made by Grifhth's team this spring which
have not been costly, and yesterday was
not an exception to the rule. The reason
for this. however. is not hard to find.
Being a weak hitting team, 1t is neces-
sary for 1t to have alright fielding so as
to hold the opposing team to a minimum
score. for any time it gets over three runs
the Nationals chances are slim. Errors
or course. are part of the game. There
is no way to prevent them. in fact it
speaks well for the standard ball players
have attained that there are not more
misplays.
To date no team the Nationals have
met has outplayed them When they
have been defeated they have beaten
themselves. 1t is becoming more appar-
ent with every game, however, that more
batting strength is needed. The hitting
Is lamentably weak, and while it seems
certain that there will be improvement
it is long while coming.
The announcement is made by Manager
Griffith that. beginning next Tuesday,
games on the local grounds will begin at
o'clock. For the past two seasons the
starting time here has been $50, which
seems TO have proven very satisfactory,
and the change comes as surpr Sc. In
every other city the trend has been for
earlier starts, and in every instance
where the patrons of the game have been
given an opportunity to express their de-
sires in the matter the games have been
sent forward as much as an hour over
Asv
here to allow the patrons of the park to
vote on the question and let the majority
rule.
It does not pay to take liberties with
the throwing arms Of that Boston out
field. There is no better throwing trio
anywhere, and it was thought this fact
had been impressed on all players who
have been in this company for year or
more. Whatever chance there was for
the Nationals to tie the score yesterday
was thrown away in the eighth inning.
which Schaefer opened with three base
hit.
There was but one run needed to tie.
and surely no team could ask for bet
ter start. With none out Flynn raised a
short fly to left. Lewis caught the ball
about twenty yards behind shortfield. yet
Schaefer attempted to score after the
bali was caught with the result that
Nunamaker had the ball waiting for him
as he slid toward the plate True, Schae-
fer might not have scored had he waited
for the next two batters to bring him in,
but it would have looked like better base
ball to take that chance
Groom would have gone along SWIM
mingiy had it not been for Schaefers
inning with one run over the plate and
two out. After this misplay Boston
scored three runs, where it should have
had but one. Groom was not as effective
as he has been for the reason that Bos-
ton nit everything he offered In the
pinches.
Walter Johnson will try his hand at
tanning the Red Sox this afternoon. He
beat them in Boston a few days ago on
best. and he looks to have good chance
to repeat this performance today. Gle
cote or Pape, most likely the former.
will be on the slab for the visitors.
The first four men in Grifith's batting
order are going fairly well with the
stick. Any one Of them Is apt to get q
hit when 1t Is needed, but when those
ting are very slight. To date Foster is the
mainstay of the veam with the bat, while
Milan and Schaefer ere going fairly well.
but from there on down hits are as scarce
as hens teeth. Considering the inability
of majority of the team to make a re-
spectacle showing with the bat, il Is
really surprising tAat the greater number
of games the team has played have been
victories, and 1t speaks well for the work
the pitchers have been doing.
Those three runs the Nationals scored
In the second inning, which allowed them
to tie the score, We're really q gift. With
two out and two on bases Moeller hit q
high fly to center field. Speaker. in going
after the ball. caught his spikes in the
sod and fell. allowing the hit to go for
three bases. and an error by Hall. which
followed tied the score.
1t Is more than likely that Grifiith will
be forced to work one of his young pitch
ers for the first time this season tomor-
row. With Hughes on the injured list,
Walker and Groom having worked the
last two games. and johnson slated for
today. Grin1th IL almost compelled to give
one Of hts kids trial. and 1t will most
likely be Cashion. He might in q pinch
bring Walker out again. for that worthy
| contends that he Ia now In good form
! and ready to do all the work that can be