Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-07

Morgan is predicted and this naturally
would make a wonderful difference.
Year before last Gandil and Morgan did
most of tho effective stickwork on the
local team. Gandil wound up with an
average Of .31s, while Morgan hit over
the coveted mark the greater part OF
the season and wound up with .272 to
his credit. Last year Gandil hit ESQ and
figures were far below their standard
and big improvement is looked for.
Clyde Milan is one of those who fig
ure on the team having a good chance
and he is sanguine that both Gandil
and Morgan will come back and hit up
to their standard.
whenever the two men in the clean
UP position of batting order fall
down, ii places remarkable handicap
on the scoring strength of a ball team.
said Milan. That is just what happen
ed US last season. 1t was our bad luck
that both Chic and Ray should have a
slump at the same time. But for this
we would have been much nearer the
top at the finish. But l look for a
ers who have the natural ability to hit.
as have Gandil and Morgan, are not go
ing to slump more than one year. l
look for them both to come back with
a vengeance and If they do we will
have a better chance this year than
ever before, for there is every reason to
believe that our pitching staff will be
considerably stronger than it has
been"
If reports from Charlottesville are to
be believed, several of the young pitch
ers who have been training there during
the past week already have shown
great improvement over the form they
displayed last season. Encouraging re-
ports have reached here of Bentley.
ay,l Clor nd RI hn
certain that Booth Hopper, too. must
be considered as having q chance to
be one of the teams regulars. II john
son and Boehling work to form the
coming campaign Griffith is sure to
have a pitching stan that Will compare
favorably with that of any of his ri
walls.
It is to be hoped that Bentley and
Harper will come through for this pair,
together with Boehling. would give the
team three young left handlers. any OF
whom can do a lot of work. They
would be sandwiched between the
right handlers, and this would be puz-
zling to the opposing teams.
Good spirit is sure to prevail in the
ranks Of the Nationals the coming
season. Federal League offers are not
going to be as prevalent as they were
because most of the players are signed
to long-term contracts and cannot %
disturbed. Last spring 1t was dlllerent
The Feds were constantly buzzing some
of the local players, which affected
their playing, because their minds were
on figures which were offered and not
on the playing of the game.
Outside influence played havoc with
some teams and the Nationals was one
of them. This condition has been
changed since year ago and It Is 70
be hoped that different spirit VIII
prevail among the players OF all teams
in the American League.
There is no doubt that the four west
ern teams in the American League
Will all be more formidable this year
than they were last season. The ac-
auisition of Eddie Collins alone Is sure
to make quite difference IN the
White Sox. So brilliant player, and
there is no one his superior. who not
only is a great hitter. but a base run
ner and brilliant fielder with 1nteill-
gence, Is apt to do wonders on almost
any sort of team, and those Sox have
other strong points. They may have a
cracking good pitching staff. though
Joe Benz will be missed.
Detroit has had a nucleus for Win
ner for several years. and if Jennings
has picked up ball player or Two and
his pitching improves, he is apt to