Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-16

from Louisville Yesterday morning. and
he predicts a great jump in his batting
average from this out.
If it was the aim Of New York play
ers to make it appear that Grimth erred
when he traded Charley Street they made
a bad mess of it yesterday. Five of them
tried for second and one of them, Chase
got there in the first. The four others
Ainsmith threw out in sensational style.
On the other hand, Gabby did not look
good. He dropped the ball quite often,
and Moeller stole third on him, while
Milan easily stole second, the only two at
tempts that were made to pilfer. Gabby
looks bit overweight, and Is said to be
nowhere near his usual form, not having
had chance to get himself in trim this
spring.
1t is no wonder that the Nationals
young catchers are making a good show
ing this spring. Both are strong throw
ers. but the fact should not be. over
looked that in Mcbride they have one OF
the best infielders in the game today to
throw to. Mcbride saved Ainsmith on
two different occasions yesterday, reach
ing out and getting wide throws and put
ting them on the runners. His play in
the ninth undoubtedly saved the day.
Wolter had been walked and after Dan
iels had struck out he attempted to steal.
Ainsmith's throw was wide of the mark
and Mcbride threw himself on his knees,
reached out yard or more for the ball,
caught it with one. hand and with the
same motion touched the runner.
| It looked for all the world as II the
ming. which Wolter opened with a two
| Dagger. passed ball put him on third.
Foster made brilliant stop Of Daniels
grounder. throwing his man out at first.
Foster. who, while on the run, picked
up the ball and tossed 1t to Ainsmith in
| time to retire Woiter at the plate. Noel
| Ter suffered similar fate in the eighth,
when Dolan threw him out at the plate
on Milan's grounder.
| Johnson can be depended upon to show
steady improvement in his work from
this out. He gave a much better per-
| Torrance yesterday than he did In Phila-
delphia last Thursday. He seems freer
| in his delivery and had better speed and
curves, and yet he was not at his best.
But the fact of the matter is that john
son has changed his style of pitching
considerably. He is no longer relying
on his speed alone to win his games
He is mixing up his deliveries In such
way as to make him more effective, il
not as sensational.
| Walters slow ball is proving a great
asset to him. 1t not only helps to rest
| his arm, but as 1t comes up at unexpect-
| ed times 1t absolutely battles the batter
and is never hit hard II at all. Johnson
| is slated to pitch the opening game
| Thursday in Washington. He will have
had but two days to rest. but expects to
be fit and strong to go the route. This
| Is the first spring since Johnson has been
| with the team that he has shown any
thing like his real form and he Is apt to
retain his present skill for some time to
come.
| There is no question about Moeller's
ability as a left fielder. He is doing
splendid work there and q catch he made
in the sixth inning yesterday OF
| Chase's bat came near being the fielding
feature Of the day. The bali was hit far
| over his head and he was forced to turn
and run with 1t, turning just in time to
make the catch. Moeller is hitting the
ball better, too. but he is still unfortunate
in not getting 1t safe. Most encouraging,
however, is his speed on the bases. When
he stole third yesterday he not only got
a splendid lead, but he travelled fast and
slid perfectly.
johnson had men on the bases in every
inning but two. but under such condi-
tions, he was at his best and got out Of
every hole. Only one of the locals
reached third base and that was Wolter
In the first. and he died at the plate on an
effort to score on a tap to Foster.
4
| playing condition. The team Is hitting
| fairly well, but 1t shows plainly that 1t
has not had a. proper course OF training.
/ What is more, all there appears to be
| to the infield is Chase. The rest of 1t is
! far from classy, and Roy Hartzell. at
short, is not apt to stay in that position
long. He has been tried on the fnfield
by both st. Louis and New York and
! found wanting, and he is not apt to make
good on this occasion. But Wolverton
has good pitching staff and when his
team gets to working properly 1t may
| do a whole lot better. But in the mean
| time trouble Is brewing for the new
manager. They don't like q losing team
here. and four straight have started the
when Wolverton was secured. Unless this
losing streak is broken up soon. Wolver-
| ton will have a hard time making HIM
| self popular here, not only with the spec
| tators. but the owners Of the club, who
| are making long faces because Of the
decidedly poor attendance.
The difference in Grifhth's team since
| the season opened is so great that 1t is
hard to convince some folks that 1t is
| the real team. Several of the scribes
who were in Washington with the Giants
a few weeks ago and saw the National
League champions trounce the Nationals
were astounded yesterday at the differ
enoe in the teams showing. Fosters
work occasioned the most comment, for
as he Is going now he does not look like
/ the player who faced the Giants in the
exhibition games. But what holds good
in Fosters case is also true of every
member of the team. To see it in action
now might lead one to believe that 1t
had a chance to do things that all Wash