Evening star., 1924-04-27

here, three Tits going to the AS
But four other safeties were CLEANED
on the National hurier, while only one
or the five passes-that granted in the
nrst round-did any damage. But this
good pitching did not nearly match
RommePs effort that yielded only five
hits and stopped the National ba atsmeu
completely in the pinches.
Harris club really had but two good
chances TO get runs across. These came
in the third and fifth frames, the only
innings in which the Nationals saw
third base. In the third, Nationals
Janlmed the bases with two down, and
in the fifth they had runners on second
and third with two gone. but could not
drive the ball beyond the infie!d. The.
MacKs, 100, passed up several scoring
opportunities, but with their pitching
ace performing 50 splendidly they could
afford to.
Only GriiFs' Pitching Is Good.
Three factors constitute base ball sue
cess-consistent hitting, tight fielding
and good pitching-and of these the Ma
tionals so far have had only good pitch
ing. At times the club has shown some
strength at bat and some of its in
dividual members have flashed mechani-
cal fielding ability, although infrequent-
", but generally the performance of
Manager Bucky Harris athletes in the
first ten games of the 1924 CHAMPION
ship campaign Of the American League
have been far below the standard set by
practically the same combination over
last year $ course
feature of the Nationals work in their
nrst ten engagements has been the utter
lack of steady defense. In six games
with the Athletics and four with the
Yankees, eighteen errors have been
charged against Manager Harris crew.
establishing d club fielding average of
940, figures comparing most unfavor-
ably with the .s66 mark made last sea
son.
There always has been a tendency
among 6ase ball men to condone
erratlc play to a great extent, but not
| TO overlook a players weakness at
| bat. 1t seems reasonable, though
that these conditions should be re-
Tersed. for, after all. fielding is
| largely mechanical, while hitting de-
pends considerably upon the indi-
yidual. and a wobbly defense will lose
games about as readily as a weak
| attack.
MLscues Prove CoStIY.
! This has been especially so in the
case OF the Nationals since the start
| of the season. Only four of the first
ten games played came their way, and
Li lHi VI lllS IOSStS lHe ODpOSlIlcn
was placed in a position to get the
bulk of it's tallies by National fielding
miscues. Had these slips not heen
! made the Nationals in all likelihood
would have been victors. OF course,
many IF" problems can be propound-
ed after an error is committed and
much is related of the breaks" going
. to the victor. but good fielding be-
hind good pitching does not give the
opposition many beneficial breaks"
While the batting of the Nationals
has been nothing Startling-the club
in ten games walloped for .257 aver
age, against d season mark of PA
last year-it hss been vastly better
than the fielding. A comparison of
runs earned by Harris men and the
| opposing Athletics and Yankees dis
closes that fact. OF the 45 tallies reg
istered by the Nationals. 81 were of
the earned variety. while but 81 of
the total of 40 runs scored by the
Athletics and Yanks were earned.
! Even with an attack none too I'M
| pressiye in itself the Nationals prob
ably would have been quite lot bet
! ter off in the standing of the clubs
had their fielding been of higher or
| der.
Generally the pitching staff has
worked valiantly and apparently is
| in good enough condition to continue
| its excellent efforts for some time,
| but it cannot be expected to carry
the entire burden. The strain caused
| by insecure support is bound to tell
| and tell heavily. More power in at
| tack is naturally welcome, but first
| of all there must come improvemen ent