Evening star., 1912-04-03
onk to Meet Giants in Final Game Today Sports Of All Sorts
NOT IN SAME
CLASS WITH McGRAW'S GIANTS
National League Champions Prove Them
selves Ready for Real Playing.
Our .Catchers Look Good.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

! BY J. ED GRILLo.
There is no occasion for surprise be-
| cause of the showing the Nationals have
made against the Philues and Giants.
Both of these teams are much stronger
than the locals that victory is hardly to
be expected. Griffith's team is clearly
outclassed by these two National League
the old league pennant this year. while
with Washington it is a question of fin
ishing better than seventh. or couse,
the game against the Giants yesterday
was the worst the Nationals have put up
this spring. Whatever else its failing
may be. the team has been fielding well
until yesterday, when it broke into the
wobble column with a vengeance. But
it might as we'll be realized now that, all
things equal, Griffith's team has no
license to beat teams like the Giants and
Phillies. They might win from them
once In great While, but not very
often.
The team which McCraw had In the
field yesterday was the same which faced
the Athletics in the last worlds series
and if anything his team was in better
shape yesterday than it was last fall,
when the strain of a hard campaign un-
doubtedly told on it. This was particu-
larly noticeable in the case OF Marquard.
who pitched by far a better game OF ball
yeserday than he did against the Attn
letics- lie seemed all in then, but was
fresh and strong yesterday.
McGra W is not apt to make. any changes
in his lineup this year unless the un-
foreseen happens. 1t is not an easy mat
ter for a manager to change about
ball team which has won pennant. NC
Graw said Yesterday that he had been
rather fortunate in the selectlon OF
youngsters: that he has several who were
expect to use any of them regularly this
year unless one of the young pitchers
should prove to be a winner.
Those who have feared that the trad
ing OF Street would leave the locals
catching staff in a seriously weakened
condition should by this time be ON the
verge of changing their minds. Henry,
strated in the few games they have
caught that they are capable. Ainsmith s
catching of Johnson yesterday was per-
feet He handled the big fellows de-
dentally demonstrated that his arm is
strong as ever. and more accurate
Henry, too, caught we'll. The one thing
noticeable about the work of the two
young catchers is that they are not
afraid to take a chance TO use their
arms. They frequently make a snap
throw to first or third when there are
runners there i'm an effort to catch them
Off, a chance which few catchers care
to take.
Manager. Griffith. said this morning that
when he announced that Mathewson
would pitch YESTERDAY he had assurance
that patrons were disappointed, but he
gives assurance that in the future when
similar announcement is made it will
be carried out to the letter.
Mathewson is not in good shape as yet.
The great pitcher. has reached that stage
Of his career where getting into condi-
ton is no longer pleasant task and
naturally McGfew is not f9reins him to
work in couple Of innings today.
McGraw has followed the policy of the
old Baltimore team, Of which he was a
member. in the matter OF putting up a
hair-raising preliminary practice.
1t used to be said of the old Orioles
when Jennings, Mct;raw. Reitz and Doyle
covered the infleld positions, that they beat
most of their rivals by their sensational
exhibition which brought applause from
the stands. There were only ten minutes
OF 1t. but it was fast and brilliant, and
there is no doubt that such exhibitions
always have a discOuraging effect On the
opposing team. Doyle. Fletcher, Herzog
and Merkle have perfected the art OF
making circus plays in practice. and in
this respect have 1t on any infield that
| Walter Johnson is gradually rounding
| into form. He used more stuff yester-
day than he has at any time this spring,
and as the game progressed he grew more
effective. His control, which is usually
perfect. however, was still lacking, and
| this undoubtedly was responsible for sew
eral of the hits which the Giants made
early in the game.
| Indications are that Rube Marquard
will have every bit as good a season in
this campaign as he did last. If not bet
| ter. Not only does he appear to be in
perfect form, but the confidence which
| last years success gave him is sure to
| help moro than a little. Marquard is
bound to be a wonderful pitcher now
that he has control, for he has every
thing else that goes to make a winner
form the Giants are sure to be UP in the
race, even though they should not sue
ceed in repeating last years performance
of winning the pennant.
| Much Of McGraw's success with the
Giants Is undoubtedly due to the fact that
| he does not lose confidence in any Of his
players II they convince him that they
with the fact that he held on to Marquard
| when every one believed that young mar
I unworthy Of major league position
Few managers would have held on te
Murray, the right fielder. after he wen,
| through the worlds series without get
| ting a base hit, and Merkle's experience
with McGraw would indicate that the
! player who cannot make good under him
cannot charge that he was not given a
| chance.
| 1t is not often that ball player after