Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-27
BY j. ED GRILLo.

Pitching such as the Nationals pre-
sented yesterday is not going to win
any ball games. 1t was the worst ex-
hibition of twirling that has been seen
on the local lot in years, and had 1t
been against team of any class the
score would have been even more one
sided than il was Walker gave evil
dence at the outset that he was far
from being in form and he grew worse
as the game continued. He had abso-
lItely no idea as to the location Of the
plate, and Becker and Cashion. who
followed him. were but little better.
There was no fault to find with the
general playing of the Nationals con-
sidering the handicap they were under,
and with anything like major league
pitching to back them up they would
have won their game without much
trouble
Bob Groom will be worked today and
he expects to bring about a redemption
of yesterdays fiasco. Groom has won
every game he has pitched this spring.
He has shown splendid form and
should be at his best now that he has
been working regularly. 1t was evil
dent yesterday. even though the visi-
tors won hands down, that it is not a
team which need be feared, and this
fact will probably be demonstrated
this afternoon. Wolverton has a lot Of
youngsters playing in important posi-
tionS. and the absence of the numer-
Gus regulars naturally does not better
his team.
1t is likely that either Caldwell or
Vaughn will pitch today. Both are said
to be in good form and are sure not to be
easy for the local batsmen.
Dixie" Walker has worked in three
games this spring and has lost them all
In his previous two games he did good
work. losing by reason of bad breaks but
yesterday he was badly off, though he
had had nearly a weeks rest 1t is grad
ually being established that Walker is
not spring pitcher. Last year it was
not Until the warm weather set in that
he worked up to his standard. and his
experience this spring seems to be SINH
lar.
Alva Williams is demonstrating the fact
that he is a cracking good catcher. His
work yesterday of the highest or
der. and it is assured now that no matter
which one of his catchers he may use,
Griffith is sure to have a competent man
behind the plate. Williams displays a
lot of life plenty of ability and good
Judgment behind the bat, and after he
gets to going he is sure to uphold his end
with the bat
While Jack knight is fielding much bet
ter than he did at the outset of the sea-
son. his batting is still very weak but he
believes that he will eventually get to GO
Ing with the stick, which would be bless
ing for the team. AS matters now stand
neither Knight nor FLYNN is hitting and
this proves a severe handicap to the
team, for these two players are placed in
positions in the batting order where they
are expected to do the most damage
When their slump ends the team will look
decidedly better than it has.
1t is not going to be an easy matter for
Jake Stahl to break into the game at
Boston, when his ankle heals, for Brad
ley is filling the bill to perfection His
Wallops yesterday beat the Athletics and
the team can i'll spare so clever a hitter.
Bradley could have been sold to the PITTS
ourgh club for a Big figure and McAleer
would not have hesitated to make the
deal week or SO ago, when he did not
figure that he needed the youngster. but
now It is different. for it would be al
most impossible to get waivers on him.
All negotiations with the Montreal club
anent the securing of First Baseman