Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-17
By J. ED aR1L1o.
Special Dispatch to The Star.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. April 17.-washington
seems to have q real ball team at last.
This is comparatively speaking and must
not be construed as meaning that the Ma
donals are going to be pennant con-
tenders. But it is q team which will
make the others hustle and stands q
chance to at least beat out several OF
its rivals in the race.
The remarkable difference in form that
the team is showing in the champion
games compared with what 1t did in the
exhibition contests is absolutely surpris-
ing and unbelievable. In the spring games
played at home there was nothing to in
dicate that the team had been bettered
in any respect, and the only hope SEEM
ed to lie in the presumption that it would
eventually improve. 1t has done all that
and more. Today 1t stands in the race
| with q percentage of 500. Not particu-
larly brilliant showing. but in the four
games 1t has played the team has given
very good account of ITSELF Even in
the games which were lost In Philadel-
phia the improvement in the general
work of the aggregation was evident.
but in the game here. where it met q
team which comes nearer being In its
class, it has shown vast Improvement.
No team that the Nationals have played
in recent years has been given such q
showing up as were the Yankees yester-
day. Though they started with their star
twirler, Ford, the Grirfithites made them
look like lot of minor leaguers through
the entire nine innings. they Outhit, out
flelded and Outwitted their opponents and,
in fact. created the impression that they
q q no f0n m mr. tn hn nNyrr~ rod ~
the locals.
For the first time this spring the Ma
tionals hit the ball hard. 1ney were
driving it around in almost every inning,
hibition gave them a chance to show
what might be accomplished ii it was q
better hitting team. But the most en-
couraging feature Of their play is the
fact that they are showing much more
speed than they ever had before, and
what is more, there Is that spirit always
prevalent which makes winning ball
teams.
No one who saw Gabby Street in the
two games against the Nationals will
ever raise his voice in protest to the
trade which caused SO much comment
last winter. Street either is far from
being in condition or he has gone back
nothing short of pitiful. He seemed un-
able to hold the pitched balls, and seemed
awkward and lost behind the plate. Aim
smith and Henry stood out like stars
compared to him. 1t is not unlikely that
Street has not reached that stage Of his
training where he can be expected to
do good work. but his chances for be-
coming popular here are decidedly slim
since, the crowds have started to roast
him. Under such conditions ball play
er does not prosper. and Street, who has
a reputation to sustain, stands poorer
chance than the average player.
Billy Murray, scout for the Pittsburgh
club, and one of the best posted base ball
men In the country, witnessed the two
games the Nationals have played here.
and he is very much impressed with the
improvement the team is showing COM
pared to its performances In former
years. Murray believes that Griffith will
have a winner. Il don't mean to say
that Washington is going to finish in the
first division or set the league on fire, but
1t is better ball team than they have
ever had there" said he. Il have seen
them in two games, and while the Ath-
letics and some of the other clubs have
nothing to fear from them, SO far as the
pennant is concerned, 1t Is going to be
troublesome team all season, mark that,
said the former manager OF the Phillies.
1t took Clyde Milan a long while. to get
started with the stick, but now that he
has started to hit he is making life
miserable for opposing pitchers. Three
hits were his share In yesterdays game.
and he walked and got a life on an error
on another occasion. In all he was on
first base five times in as many trips
to the plate. His hits were all clean
drives about the scoring OF which there
was not the slightest doubt.
Perhaps Manager wolverton should be