Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-20

The work of Billy Evans in the series
here has been excellent and again proves
that he is by far the most competent UNI
pire on Ban Johnson's staff. sheridan.
too. would be competent II his eyes1ght
was not faulty. but the veteran, who must
be nearing the sixty mark: retired some
time ago because of this defect and his
vision has not improved during his alb
sence from the game. He still knows the
rules and handles game well, put ne
makes a lot Of mistakes because he does
not see we'll Sheridan. by the way, IS not
working behind the bat but giving base
decisions exclusively
Manager Griffith realizes that IL his
team is to have a look-in for the pen
nant 1t must make good showing IN the
series which opens in Chicago tomorrow
He hopes for three out of four, and feels
assured that his team will at least get an
even break. 1t Is mroe than likely that
johnson will be used in more than one or
the games, even though Boehling pitches
the opener. To win a majority Of the
games from the White Sox is sure to put
the Nationals in good position 10 Wrest
the second place from the Maps. But the
White Sox are believed to be the strong
est team in the west so it Is not going to
be an easy matter for the Nationals to
gain much ground while opposing them
While the pitching in the games here
has been decidedly classy, the Nationals
hitting has been far below form. Morgan
and Gandil seem to be the only ones who
have kept up their pace but none OF the
others have come through with any de-
gree of consistency. 1t is, OF course, not
to be supposed that this slump will last
much longer. Foster, Moeller and Shanks
are bound to get going soon and 1t is not
unlikely that this will happen during the
Chicago series, in which event the work
of the pitchers will be made materially
easier than 1t has been here in st. Louis.
But for the strength Of his pitching
staff there would not be chance or
Stovall finishing out of last place with
this years Browns. His pitchers are
keeping his team out of last place and he
also has catcher in Agnew who Is at
tracing a lot Of attention. and Is sure
to be numbered among the crack back
stops of the league before the year Is
ended. In the series here with the Ma
tonals Agnew has caught five base run
ners mapping off first with quick throws.
He does this more cleverly than any
other catcher, who probably goes through
a season turning this trick once. Today
Tom Hughes, who was walked in the
ninth inning, fell victim to AgneW
snap throw, and four others before him
did the same thing in the series. 1t has
been Agnew's good work behind the bat,
as much as the effective work OF the
pitchers, that has held the Nationals
scores down.
ST. Louis fans were not aware that
Walter Johnson had gone to Chicago the
night before, ana they expected 10 see
him walk out on the rubber when Hughes
got in bad in the ninth yesterday. The
fans were craning their necks to see II
Johnson was warming up and they could
not understand why he did not walk on
the rubber and pitch against Austin and
Compton. Unfortunately johnson was
miles away or he would undoubtedly
have accommodated the Browns sup
porters.
Three of the four games here have been
pitched by left handlers and it is about
time that the Nationals got siege OF
rlght-handed pitchers to fatten their bat
ting averages on, though it may happen
that they have become SO accustomed
to the southpaws' sIants that right
handlers will be more troublesome than
they used to be. Walsh. who, though
winning, is said to be decidedly shy of
stuff is picked to work against the Ma
tionals today and he will have to show
something in order to beat Boehling, who
is not yet off his winning streak.