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

At least one of the scribes who visited
here with the Giants believes that Grit
fifth has a better ball team than McAleer
left here. Harry Schumacher Of the New
York Mail believes that when the Ma
tionals get to going at their normal rate
they WILL show more than did the team
last year. In speaing of the game john
son pitched, Schumacher says:
johnson is not right now any more
than he was year ago. He did not get
anything like all the work he needed on
the training trip to Charlottesville and
is not only less speedy than he should be
and will be later on, but wild in the
bargain.
IF ever Griffith gets his outfit moving
along as it should the Nationals of 1872
ought TO be about - per cent stronger
than the outfit that labored for Jimmy
McAleer last season. Walter Johnson.
though not yet himself, Is In such shape
that it will require only q couple Of weeks
to put him on edge for another sensa-
tional year.
One thing that Jake Stahl seems to
have accomplished with the Boston team
is to inject a whole lot Of confidence into
his players. The Speed Boys actually
think that they are going to win the pen
nant if their statements on the subject
are to be believed. and there is no doubt
that they have g. chance to make a fight
Of 1t IL they play up to the form that is
to be expected from a team of its
strength.
staff, and this. together with a team
which can hit and Is very fast, Is an ideal
with which to make a good
showing in the race. to say the least.
There is only one obstacle which re-
mains to be surmounted. and that is to
prevent interference. There are a great
many interests represented in the Boston
club, and If all of them will keep their
hands of and allow Stahl to do as he
pleases there is q chance. But IL there
ia any butting in by the various owners
! first division berth will even be out of
the question.
Clark Griffith is doing a lot OF quiet
observing, the result of which VIII be
that he will know the strong and weak
points in every one Of his players by the
time the season opens, by which he Will
be guided in selecting his team. 1t is a
matter of comment that as yet Grimth
has made his appearance On the coach
ng lines but once or twice. but there are
reasons for this. He can get better
inc on his players from the bench than
from the coachers box, for he believes
that a players disposition shows itself
more on the bench than in the field. and
ne is particularly anxious to get line
On the dispositions Of his players. Once
he is familiar with his charges he will be
found on the lines whole lot. wash
ngton has not had manager IN severai
Years who tried to encourage his players
from the coaching lines.
Had Carl Morris made himself clear as
to his opinion Of those engaging In the
lighting game some time ago he would
never have created any doubt as to
whether he had a chance to prove a real
white hope. Morris says that those in
pugilism are much too rough, that the
game is conducted by thugs and that there
Is no chance for a clean-cut, honest fel-
ow to succeed. He insists that the sport
Is brutal, and all that sort of rot with
which the average man is familiar Box
ing has never been a parlor game. and 1t
IS not a sport for mollycoddles. 1t takes
4 lot of nerve for a fellow to make
success of it, yet 1t must be said to
Morris credit that he displayed plenty OF
This in the several gruelings he got while
ne was a fighter.
But he is not made Of the right stun to
7 fighter of success, for he appears
n I too genteel.
G. tith's offer to Mathewson Of $1,000