Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-05

OpOu Iuo 6uO"luS " HldkeS
in Its coming long home stay will de-
pend in q great measure what its ulti-
mate chances for a respectable berth
In the American League race will be.
It will then have measured strength
with all the other seven clubs Of the
circuit and have afforded a pretty ac-
curate line on what can be expected
Of it for the remaining three-quarters
Of the race to the wire in October.
1t will largely devolve upon the
pitchers whether the club will continue
to trail along among the tailenders, or
attain place in the select society of
the first division. To date the team has
to put up with a very weak brand Of
hurting. This and some wretched work
aiield accounts for the lowly position
it occupies at the present time.
form a quartet of moundsmen who
measure up well in ability with any
set in the circuit. and there is little
question but that they will find them
selves as soon as warmer weather ar
rives, as it likely will during May in
Washington. AS for fielding. the Ma
tionals at present are bad last in
this respect, having an average some
20 points lower than that Of the club
next above them. while their total of
Of the Yanks, the next most Industrious
compilers of errors. What can be said
Of the Improvement expected from the
pitchers holds equally good for field
was strengthened in this respect by
the acquisition Of Shotton and Lavan.
and the pilot has been banking to great
extent on an alright defense to par
TALLY offset the lack of power with the
stick which admittedly prevails.
In hitting the team rc31lv iS travel
ing below its normal stride. Shotton
and Ainsmith are plugging along at
about the pace to be expected of them
and while both Shanks and Lavan un-
they know how at present. 1t is equally
true that Foster, Milan and Judge-and
to lesser extent Morgan-are per-
forming far below what they are cap
shanks and Lavan gracefully slide
back to where they belong in the
averages. as they are sure to do, the
team percentage as q whole should be
boosted when the players at present
tagging hit their true stride.
With the close Of the game today
Du Mont dotted his uniform to don it
no moro while tho war lasts. Charity
will get through finally after tomor-
rows exhibition against the Orioles at
the Gentleman's Driving Park In Bal
tlIHOEcs WHICH StdAS III W. ~
ing for the Nationals. Both Du Mont
and Charity are due to report at the
Harland & Hollingsworth plant at
the Bethlehem Steel Company at VIII
mington, Del, Monday morning. Both
will do their bit in turning out the
craft needed by Uncle Sam In carrying
on the war, but they also will play
| base ball one day a week on the team
representing the Delaware plant in the
Shipbuilding League, which also will
have teams at the plants at Sparrows
Point Nd: South Bethlehem, Pa, and
Fall River, Mass. Fred Payne. the old
Detroit catcher, and Eddie Plank. the
| veteran Oouthpaw, are expected to be
connected with the Wilmington plants
club, which 10 being managed by Billy
Martin. former Georgetown University
player and later on the pay roll Of the
boston Braves for q couple Of seasons.
The ShipbuilderH League IL scheduled
to- open next Saturday.
Manager Grifiith is heartily in accord
with the stand taken by President Eb-
| bets Of the Brooklyn, club in refusing to
play a championship game with the
I Phiilies tomorrow at the Harrison, N
j., plant of the old Federal League
| Griff agrees with Ebbets that the con-
| sent Of the New International League
should be obtained before the big league
clubs should play Sunday games at OF
near Newark, as otherwise the majors
would be violating the territorial rights
Of the minor organisation.
| cr1fHfh left Philadelnhia frnmef3fa feIv