Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-11
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

Notwithstanding the fact that the Ma
tionals are leading five Of the eight teams
in the American League race at the
present time there is considerable COM
plant from some Of the patrons of the
game when a game or two is lost
When the miserable showing of Wash
ington in base ball is recalled. one WON
ders that present conditions are not con-
sidered absolutely satisfactory. For
years the teams which represented this
city never got out of whispering distance
of last place, when they did not actually
occupy that berth. The Improvement in
conditions mere has been one of the sen,
sations of the game. True, no pennants
have been won. but the Nationals have
been contcnders. That this change should
have been brought about in two years
is nothing short of remarkable. In the
last two seasons Washington patrons of
the sport have witnessed some splendid
base ball, the best in the history of the
team. True, games have been lost, and
there have been times when the team
has slumped, but on the whole it has
proven superior to teams in most other
cities, as its record of finishing second
last season and still having a chance for
that high position this season would in
dictate.
There really has been no occasion for
criticism when the teams entire achieve
ment during the past two seasons is con-
sidered. 1t is. of course, the ambition of
every lover of the sport to see his favor
lite team finish OH top, but there arc eight
contenderS and only one can finish first.
1t is under the regime of Grlmth that
Washington has become prominent in
base ball Under his management the
TIT ptc ttnio oftN- n e
been changed from a joke aggregation,
which was never anything but door
mat for the others, to one when de-
mands the respect of it's rivals and yet
even Griffith has not been exempt from
criticism hurled from the stands.
This was apparent the other day when
a base runner was caught mapping off
first. where Griffith was coaching II
spectators would ever stop to think that
the coacher at first has no way to pro-
tect a runner from being caught by 4
throw from the pitcher they would not
critic.se when this happens.
The only protection n coacher at first
can be to a runner is to prevent the
first baseman. when playing back. from
sneaking up behind him and taking
throw from the catcher. The idea that
the coacher can caution runner When
the pitcher is about to throw 10 nrst
is absurd for by the time this informa-
ton is given the runner the play is
over The runner must display all the
alertness under such conditions, ana the
co.,cher is helpless
But it is fact that every INDIVIDUAL
as !. ritl. who sees 4 bah game. con-
siders himself absolutely more compc-
t.nt 10 run the team than the man IN
charge though that Individual may
have spent the greater part OF his lie
in the came.
Not only nave the Nationals played be- |
low their last years standard this year, |
due to some extent, to a series or In
,,ries which handicapped the team early
in the season, and from which 1t really has
never recovered, but there is no getting
away from the fact that it had two
stronger teams to contend with this
Year than it had last. The Athletics. for !!
instance, have shown decidedly more
class i'm the present campaign than did
Roston i'm the last What is more, that
cleveland team is much stronger this
wear than it was i'll 1872. condition
which, together with the fact that the
locals by reasons of the absence of Fos- /
ter Gandil and Shanks from the line-up, |
have been at their best only on occa-
sions.
But being third. with 4 chance to finish
second is a most creditable showing. A |,
team which can do that needs only the /
breaks and a change or two in its line |
up to realize the ambition of its fo..oVers !
and win a championship. !
The average ball player never goes into
game that he does not try his best !
His efforts may fail as do those in other
walks of life. but there are few instances
on record where a player has not given
his team his best efforts More cannot
be expected. Ball clubs do not carry play |
ers who are not trying, but it is only
human for them to err on occasions. and
such players are benefited more by en-
couragement than by heaping criticism
upon them.
Were errors eliminated from the
game 1t would not be anything like the
sport it is. 1t is errors which add to the
games uncertainty. and it is because il Is
hard to tell what may happen in a strug-
gle that holds the public interest.
Miller Huggins, manager of the ST
Louis Cardinals. has adopted system
which 1t would be we'll for some man
ayers TO Follow Having a team which is |
sadly IN need or Strengthening Higgins
has started on scouting tour through
the minors in search of material mas
much as II Is up to him to select the |
players which the scouts bring in. Hug !
gins has concluded that money and time |
can be saved and better results attained
If he goes out himself and looks over the
material which is available. thus avoid |
ing getting players he cannot use With
his team down in the race, Higgins can |
well be spared to scout for he like many
others. must figure on the future for their |
chances in the present race are long |
since passed.
ACCORDING to Manager Griffith Pitcher j
Love, the left-hander whom he has uur-