Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-13
Hughes or Bob Groom to Face the Athletics in Todays Cam(
NATIONALS FAIL TO HIT AND
ARE EASY FOR ATHLETICS
Start to await OCT" Cy Morgan, But
Spitball Artist Has Control and
Allows But One Bingle,

ting on the bags very often, and the
effect is easily realized.
1t is with Milan and the Nationals as 1t
would be with Cobb and Detroit should
the batting champion have slump and
not hit up to his standard. Just what
ails Milan no one seems to know He is
not discouraged himself, but figures that
every day will fine him getting into his
batting stride. But in the meantime the
Nationals are extensively weaker than
ever before for the very man who scored
most of the teams runs last season is
now but seldom reaching first base.
Ordinarily CIV Morgan would have had
to retire before finishing the fourth In
ming yesterday. for it was in this round
that the Nationals had a chance to cinch
!, the game. though they got only a single
run Morgan started by walking Schae-
fer. Moeller hit sharply toward left.
Barry made great stop of the ball, but
fumbled temporarily, or he would prob
ably have forced Schaefer at second, and
the Nationals would not have had a.
single hit to their credit. With none out
Morgan followed this with wild pitch,
and second and third were occupied be-
fore a man had been retired. Flynn al
lowed himself to be fooled into striking
out. knight hit long fly, which scored
Schaefer, and then Foster died at first.
All that was needed in this inning was
one base hit and Morgan would have
been sent to the stable.
Today either Hughes or Groom will do
the pitching honors, but so long as the
team is hitting as it Is it matters little
who pitches, for it seems impossible to
get more than run or two on any
sort of twirling that may be stacked
against the Nationals.
Heretofore the Nationals have always
been decidedly lenient on the umnpires.
They have seldom made any protests, but
took good and bad decisions in the
same manner. It is different now: how
ever They are doing a whole lot of kick
ing, and. unless there is change. occa-
sions are sure to arise when some Of the
players will be ordered off the field. Um-
pire Westervelt made his debut behind
the bat yesterday. His judgment on
balls and strikes was not of the best, but
he insisted on discipline and refused to
have his attention called to anything by
the players.
In an effort to help the batting of lis
team, Griffith had Foster and Mcbride
switch places in the batting order, but it
did not make the slightest difference.
So far as fielding and general playing
are concerned more could not be expected
of any team, but the Nationals hitting
weakness is not Offset by their other
good work. In the two games here the
team as whole has played splendid ball,
but that is all wasted since it cannot
score any runs. AS matters now are the
pitchers will have to shut their opponents
out to give the Nationals a chance to win.
Two or three runs look as big as noun
tain against them. because it is hard to
figure them a chance to get that many.
There will, of course. be Improvement in
this respect after while, for Milan and
some of the other players who have es-
tablished regulations as being 800 hitters
are bound to get to going sooner or later,
but until, they do there is little or no
1t takes a mighty classy ball team tie
beat the Athletics when conditions are
normal. Mack has a team which can hit
and about as wise and effective a lot of
pitchers as are to be found anywhere.
There is not a weak spot in the batting
order when any one but Morgan is pitch
ing, and an opposing pitcher is never in
a position to take things easy. What is
more, Mack's players have all the con-
idence In the world in themselves. Two
successive worlds championships have
brought this about, and the fact that an
opposing team gets a lead on them in the
score only tenf to bring forth their best
difference in the Athletics and the Ma
tionalS Grifffth's team has made a very
good showing here.
Just why Philadelphians do not give
the Athletics the support they deserve 10
somewhat of a mystery. Opening day
here under the most ideal conditions
was a frost, and yesterday only a hand
full of people witnessed the game. 1t
seems that the fans here are tired of
seeing the team win, and the best thing
that could happer would. be for the
champions to take slump. Should the
team get good start in the race this
year, and have the pennant virtually
cinched by July. Mack might have the
novel experience of managing a cham
piOnShip team which would be a financial
failure. Winning ball games has become
an everyday occurrence in Philadelphia.
so far as the Athletics are concerned,
and 1t is an actual fact that the public
appears to be more interested in the
rival teams.
The fourth inning was the only one in
yesterdays game which was productive
of runs. In the first half of this round
the Nationals got their lone tally on
pass to Schaefer, Moeller's hit. a wild
pitch and sacrifice fly. In the Athletics
half they cinched the game. Oldrfng,
the first man up. hit little short fly to
left which Moeller failed to reach by
inches. Umpire Westervelt then called a
Collins made. two unsuccessful attempts
to sacrifice and then hit high bounder
through the pitchers position for a sin
gle. A wild pitch helped both along, and
Murphy's grounder to Knight allowed
Oldring to score. McInnis' hit brought in
the two other runs, after which Barry
flied out, ending the inning.
Morgan was in trouble only once-in the
fourth. Before and after that he was
not hit out Of the diamond, and most Of
the batters who faced him struck out.
Walker did good work after the fourth,