Evening star., 1925-09-01


That Mack's pitchers can swing into
their consistent winning stride again
is very doubtful. They have been sadly
overworked, much more so than the
National veterans-and the latter have
not had an easy time of it this sea
son. Sam Gray, Ed Rommell and
Bryan Harriss occasionally may flash
the fine form that made them such
terrors to opposing clubs through
July, but the odds are against them
fully to recover their poise.
To make matters worse for them.
the Athletics are to enter a flock of
double headers this month. Early-sea-
son postponements and the ban on
Sunday base ball in Philadelphia has
brought this about. 1t seems that 1t
will be impossible for Mack to rest his
hurlers properly from now on. 1t was
weakness on the slab. due to the en-
forced employment of tired pitchers,
that was responsible for the disastrous
Western tour of the erstwhile leaders,
and there seems no relief in sight for
the haraSsed hurlers.
Vet HurIers Feeling Strain.
However, the Nationals will have to
look to their own laurels during the
remainder of the season. While the
acquisition of Alex Ferguson has been
a boon to a mound staff that was fast
losing it's balance, the pace appar-
emily. is beginning to tell on Stanley
Coveleskie and Dutch Ruether. Dur
ing the past month these two veter-
ans have been none too sure of them
selves Covey complained of a tired
arm, and much of his pitching indi-
Gated he was Ill need of a good rest.
Ruether was quite wild in his efforts,
and had to pitch himself out, even
when winning.
This lack of control was very notice
able in Walter Johnson's pitching,
TOO, although he was able to put sew
eral games on the right side OF the
books for the Nationals. Jez Zachary
really has been the most steady of the
moundsmen recently. His games in
Cleveland and Chicago were excellent
and he is apt to retain that effective
ness to the finish of the campaign
Marberry Has Ailing Arm.
Most of the relief pitching within
the next week or two probably viii
have to be done by Allen Russell,
veteran, and Win Ballou, recruit, now
that Fred Marberry has developed
nerve trouble in his salary wing.
Marberry'S arm may not be seriously
affected, but it pains him considerably
and he finds it difficult to grip the ball
properly. , brief rest, however, may
restore the kick" to F'red's arm.
All told, the pitching staff of the
Champs is far from being as effective
as it was prior to July 6. Changes in
mound personnel in games since that
time have been frequent, at times as
many as five fingers participating in
a single engagement. But at present
the Nationals mound corps seems
much better than the Athletics, at
that. Given the good support in at
tack and defense it was given in the
three Chicago games, it should do a
deal of winning.
Now that the Nationals apparently
have convinced themselves they are
TO be repeaters in the flag race, they
are likely to accord their pitchers
that necessary support. For a time
after barely overhauling the AS the
Champs fioundered about as helpless
ly as their rivals, unable to lay by
a cent as one of the veterans of
the club expressed it.
But since jumping we'll to the front
the club has perked up noticeably.
Confidence in itself that was sorely
shaken for time has been restored
and it may be expected to show more
Of the dash that characterized its re-
rnarkable drive last year. That 1924
club played as one inspired. This
1925 club has not. But it always has
had an idea 1t was good enough to
repeat it's success in last years
league pennant struggle and recent
developments have caused that idea
30 grow into a belief that it will.
Play of a brand of which the Ma
tionals are capable plus that attitude
ought to carry them far during the
waning campaign.