Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-18
DETROIT CANNOT GET
OFFENSIVE WORKING
Pitchers Are Delivering, But Rest
of Club Is Not Hitting
Up to Mark.

As desperate a mystery as any the
young season has yet developed sur
rounds the fearful plight in which the
Detroit Tigers ind themselves after
ten years OF more or less continuous
effort. In defiance Of every precept OF
the grand old dope. they have success
fully disputed the Athletics hereditary
title to the rear end of the procession
and are, apparently, steadily going
from bad to wose.
Because of the notorious weakness OF
Hughie Jennings pitching staff in 9TH
er years. it is pretty generally as
sumed that the jungle beavers are
chiefly to blame for their clubs amaz-
ing failure to get away to a flying
start, but it seems that such is really
not the case. The Bengal slabsters
have not been sensationally effective, it
is true. yet competent observers all
bat and on the bases they would have
won at least four out of the first seven
games instead of only one.
1t Is on offense rather than on de-
down and in this respect they have
been nothing, II not comprehensive.
Their batting. contrary to every expec-
tatton. has been weak or ill-appIied
by turns. and their base running has
been osseous in the extreme. AS one
of their historians plaintively remarks:
The White Sox usually are classed as
the last word in bone In this particular
line. but this spring Detroit has Row
lands men stopped. AS often as posi-
BILE some Detroit runner gums a
chance b. racing to certain DEATH
Cannot Bunch Hits.
Even the base running faults could
De overcome. however. If the Tigers
were making their hits count in the
run making as well as in the
averages. In this connection it was
figured, after the Tigers had played
their sixth game, mot since the cham
pionship season started have the
Tigers made as many as three safeties
IN an inning and only eight times In
ufty-three rounds have they been able
to get even two blows together"
Some of the Detroit fans have been
inclined to blame Wits absence for
the critics best situated to pass judg-
ment believe that the Tigers would
have Jared just as poorly with Oscar
as they have without him. Neither
Bobby Jones nor Ben Dyer. both Of
nearly so brilliant defensive player
as the late lamented, but together they
are said to have made practically every
play that Witt could possibly have ex-
ecuted, which seems to queer that
argument
Detroit is just in one of those slumps
that make the best ball clubs look bad.
Everything they try goes. wrong. and
when they don't try they lose just the
same. Every break is going to the other
fellow, which, of course. tends to make
Detroit appear in even worse straits
than 1t actually is. The Yankees had
the same experience during those first
two games with the Red Sox. On the
opening day, and again on the after
noon Of the next subsequent battle,
thew seemed to be entirely outclassed
nv the worlds champions, yet the
moment things started to move in their
direction they played merry hob with
Rarry's Wanted outfit.
Sooner or later Detroit is bound to
ret started, unless, of course, the slump
eats too deeply into the clubs morale
or the pitchers go wrong. A club boast
ing 50 much real batting power and
run scoring ability cannot continue at
its present snairs pace for any great
length Of time. If Jennings can keep
his hurting establishment in order until
and after. his maulers take to hitting
with the vim, vigor and continuity
which customarily mark their work.
there is no reason why the Tigers
should not be mighty formidable
bunch again by the time the Yankees
and the other eastern teams begin
their first western pilgrimage a couple
Of weeks hence.