Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-15

to cut down 'ClevelandS two-game lead
in the present series is doubtful. Having
beaten Bender in the first game on Sat-
urday, the Maps may have smooth sail
ing In the remaining two games. Gregg
Is pretty sure to be pitted against the
Mackmen today. and he Is always sue
cessful against them, while II is the
intention to pitch Falkenberg again to-
morrow, 80 that 1t would not be at all
surprising If the Maps took two out of
three from the leaders II they do not
make a clean sweep Of the series.
Washington still has seventeen games
to play before the season ends. Philadel-
phia has nineteen, while Cleveland has
but sixteen. Fourteen of the Nationals
seventeen games are scheduled for the
home grounds, while the only games to
be played away from home are three at
New York. After the two games with
Chicago. Detroit and st. Louis come
here for three games each. Then the
locals go TO New York. and Philadelphia
and Boston come here for series Of
three games. Barring the six games
with Boston and Philadelphia, none OF
the games Is with a team which ranks
with the locals. though Detroit has prov
en- q hard team for the locals in the
present campaign. Furthermore, condi-
tons will be favorable to the Nationals.
for the chances are that they will be
fighting for q position right down to the
finish, while the Tigers and Browns will
not stand a chance to Improve their
berths and therefore not apt to play up
to their standard.
John Henry has developed into a very
competent golf player this summer. He
puts in much Of his spare time at the
Columbia Country Club links and is at
tracing considerable attention by his
ability to make long drives. Alva VIII
liams spent his first day on the links
yesterday, and for beginner he, too, dis
played considerable ability.
It is almost an impossiblity for either
Cleveland or Washington to pass the Ath-
letics. If the leaders win nine OF the
nineteen games they still have scheduled
II would be impossible for either the Maps
they should make the remarkable record
Of winning all the games they have to
play. They would not pass the Atm
letics if they won nine Of their remain
to do. Manager Mack's chief concern at
the present time Is to get his team ready
for the grapple with the Giants. His
team has but to go at a 800 clip now to
assure its winning the pennant.
But there is a good chance for the Ma
t,onaIs to beat the Maps ont of second
place. The Maps have but few games
left to play at home and will be on the
road the greater part OF the time. rec
ords show that Birmingham's team has
and it has already made the miserable
start Of losing five games and winning
one since coming east
In the National League there is still
chance for Philadelphia to beat out New
York. but 1t Is a rather remote one. New
York has q seven-game LEAD over the
Phillies. Like the Athletics. they need
but to win half Of their remaining games
TO cinch the flag. while the Phillies would
almost have to make a clean sweep OF
their games to beat them. which Is ex-
pectinS quite too much. The Phfliies still
have five games to play with the Giants.
saa they two wop Dsfor nav GOING there IN
to be able to tie them up with q sweep OF
the entire series. 1t is therefore plain
that the chances greatly favor the NC
GRANTEES, and that 1t Will De GIANTS ana
That no team in the American League
has suffered more by reason OF In
turies and Illness to Its regular play
the present campaign Is generally
conceded. The illness Of Foster and
the injury to Gandil robbed the team
OF two Of its most valuable players
during at least six weeks OF the sea
fold both Shanks and Morgan were out
for several weeks. Shanks' absence
was most disastrous. for 1t can be re-
called that at least five games were
lost because Of the incompetency of the
fielders who tried to I'LL his shoes and
the same Is almost true Of Morgan's
absence, for at the time that he was
hurt he was in splendid hitting mood
With but nine games separating the
Nationals from the lead 1t Is easily
figured what conditions would be II
the team had been intact all season.
Instead Of now lighting for second
place the Nationals would have COM
Portable lead In the race ana would
undoubtedly be contestants In the COM
ing worlds series.
While Manager Grihith has but little
hope of being able to strengthen his out
field by the acquisition OF some minor
league star, there may be a chance for
him to secure a valuable player from one
OF the National League clubs. He already
has lines out In this direction. Several OF
the National League clubs are carrying
superfluous outhelders, any one OF whom
would help the Nationals, and during the
OF season some sort OF deal may be ar.
ranged whereby one OF these can be added
to the Nationals list
Barring the chance Of securing a new
outfielder to help out Shanks. 1t is not
likely that any other changes in the team
will be made. excepting. OF course, the
ACQUISITION Of several young pitchers, In
which department Griffith seems to be
better fortified than any OF his rivals, il
some Of these youngsters live up to their
minor league regulations.
Hut tho infeld is sure to remain as II ID,
and Moeller and Milan are not apt to bel