Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-13
BY j. ED GRILLO.


Special Dispatch 10 The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April 13.-Five
base hits in two games of ball do not
warrant any victories, and it is to this
lamentable weakness that the dual defeat
of the Nationals here must be attributed
Even when it is going at its best Crit
fith'S team cannot be clasSed as a hard
hitting aggregation, but it is now
performing with the stick. It is undoubt-
edly one of the very weakest. Give the
team a base hit or two at opportune
times and il would look about as well as
a majority of its rivals. for aside from
its hitting it is playing good ball. and
in fact making an impression. But when
the offensive strength of team is such
that almost any sort of a pitcher can
establish a record against it, it cannot
hope to win from teams in its own class,
and surely not from worlds champions.
Without wanting to detract from Cy
Morgan's performance of yesterday. when
ne went nine innings and allowed but
one hit. and that of a rather scratchy va
r;ety, il must he conceded that Cy does
not rank high among the pitchers in the
major leagues. Yet yesterday he was
combination of Mathewson and Ed Walsh.
u
displayed. but because he was fortunate
enough to be .pitted against a weak hit
ting team which was not hitting.
The announcement that Morgan would
pitch was hailed with pleasure by Griffith
and his warriors. 1t was figured that he
would prove an easy proposition and i'm
mediately plans were laid to bring about
his downfall. Every man was to wait
him out until he had placed himself in
hole. for MOrgan's reputation is that
he lacks control. Well. these instructions
were followed to the letter by the play
ers. but unfortunately fer them Morgan
refused to be party to the scheme and
instead of pitching wide of the plate he
go, them over. The result was that the
batterS were in the hole most of the
time. and eleven Strike-outs which fol-
lowed tell best the story of what really
happened. 1t was a clear case of being
outgeneraled. Connie Mack has had
Morgan long enough to know what the
other fellows expect and instead of
having him try his splitter continuously,
he has him put it straight over, knowing
that the opposing team is waiting him
out However, there is some satisfac-
ton. perhaps, in knowing that the
worlds champions is the only team
which has beaten us this season.
Walkers pitching. He did a mastery
piece OF work. but in the face of the
weak support with the stick that he re-
celved there never was lOOk-ln Tor him
unless he was able to shut out his OPP
ponentS. Shutting out the Athletics is
not easily done. Look down that bat
ting order and YOU can't find a weak
spot in it, Walkers bad inning was the
fourth: not that he was hit hard, as the
score might indicate, but because he did
not have single break. Four hits are
recorded against him and three of these
were the absolute result of good luck.
But winning ball teams always do just
what YOU don't want them to do, and also
always seem to have all the breaks. Elk
cepting this inning, Walker gave splen-
did performance. and if he can keep his
present pace he should win whole lot of
ball games this season.
The system of battery signals which
are in vogue among the Nationals bat
teries is either too complicated or there is
something wrong with the eyeSight of the
pitchers. In Thursdays game Walter
Johnson and Ainsmith were in constant
mix-up about their signals. They had to
have several conferences during the game
regarding them. because A.nSmith was
constantly being crossed. Yesterday
Henry and Williams had just as much
trouble with Walker. 1t seems that two
different systems of signaling the pitcher
are used. in order to prevent the stealing
of them by the opposition. 1t is when
the switch is made that the mistakes are
made. and unless this is adjusted the
catchers will either have their fingers
broken or there will be some disastrous
passed balls.
If Eddie Foster keeps up the present
clip at third base he stands I'm a fair
way of gaining the reputation of being
the best fielding third baseman in the
league. Foster has already caught the
eye of the local critics by his brilliant
performance around the bag in the two
games played here HIS fielding yester-
day was easily the feature of the game.
He seems able to get the ball anywhere
within reach. and his throwing has been
nothing short of marvellous.
When il was agreed that visiting play
ers should dress at the ball grounds of
the city in which they are playing. in
stead of parading through the streets
in their uniforms before and after the
game, it was generally supposed that
every club would make special effort
to give the players good accommodations
Griffith made perfect arrangements at
quite an expense at the Washington
grounds. but he finds upon coming here
that conditions almost intolerable.
A little bit of dingy room III which
there Is not even heat, has been set aside
shower bath in ii, and not room enough
for two men to change their minds at
one time. Griffith has taken the matter
up with President Johnson, and there is
very apt to be strong order issued
within the next few days to the sort
of accommodations the home clubs are
to furnish visiting players.
To Clyde Milan's failure to hit, much
of the teams troubles can be directly
attributed. Milan has always been a
factor in the teams playing, because he
got on the bases a whole lot and was
fast. Now, he is neither hitting nor get