Evening star., 1926-04-12

All the fanfare of the season open
ing doubtless will interest the throng
in Washingtons big base ball plant.
p II always has in other years. The
fans will derive much pleasure from
the entertainment to be provided by
Meyer Goldman'S musicians in a pro-
gram beginning at | o'clock. They'll
be amused by the efforts of the players
Of the rival clubs to keep in step as
will the Army bandsmen led by Capt.
r. G.. Sherman. commanding, and
Capt. w. j. Stannard conductor. And
they will stand uncovered and in dig
nitied silence as the colors are flung
to the breeze.
But after all the ceremony, they'll
get their real thrill of the inaugural,
the game itself. And they'll be watch
ing closely the work of their favorites
and calculating their chnaecs to win
for the National Capital a third sue
cessive pennant in the American
League. For to the fan. base balls
the thing of the day, be it the opening
or the closing day Of the campaign.
Teams Personnel Unchanged.
And the fans will have much to con.
slider, even though the team due to
take the field tomorrow will be the
same in personnel as that which rep
the flag race the greater part of last
year. But some of the athletes have
indicated in performances during the
Spring training that they may not be
so effective this year. while others
seem likely to begin this new battle
for Il championship III better trim
than they were at the outset of the
1925 struggle.
The fans will be especially interest
ed in the attacking power of the Ma
tionals. While il is contended that a
club must stand or fall by its pitch
ing staff, even a good pitching staff
needs runs to carry it along. Every
thing cannot be left TO the mounds
men if a club is to finish ahead of its
rivals in league.
What the Nationals may be eX-
pected to accomplish in the way of
attack. at least in the early part of
the season, perhaps may best be
gauged from their offensive in the
nine game series with the Giants
brought to a close yesterday. In
those games the American League
champions We're called upon to face
well conditioned pitchers, who in past
seasons have earned no little fame
In the senior circuit. They were
tested by such craftsmen as Virgil
Barnes, Hugh McQuillan, Jim Ring,
Jack Scott. Fred Fitzsimmons. Jack
Wisner and some others of slightly
less ability.
Three Regulars Hitting.
And what the Nationals did against
those hurlers indicates that in the
early part of the campaigning in the
American League the club must de-
pend mainly upon the batting efforts
of three regulars. only one of which |
regarded strong cr-
er last season. In the Spring series
with the Giants, the burden of the
attack was borne by Manager Bucly
Harris and OSSie Bluege, among the
weak wallopers of 1925. and the gen.
orally sturdy batting Joe Judge.
This trio hit savagely in the Spring
series. although Boss Bucky slumped
somewhat in the last three engage
ments. But he did we'll enough in the
early games to establish u batting
mark of .433, getting 13 hits, all sin
giles, off the Giant hurlers. Judge
pounded the opposition for ii safe
ties. Of them two-baggers, for a. 400
mark. Bluege hit for .294.
Ossie really hit the ball much hard
er than his .294 average indicates.
He got only 10 hits. of which were
doubles, in the nine games, but he
always gave the fielders plenty of
work. He was credited with a pair
Of sacrifices and led his mates at
driving men across the plate, his bat
ting being responsible for z tallies
registered by fellow clubmen.
Myer Strong on Attack.
Roger Peckinpaugh, the other mem
her OF the infield quartet, did not re-
veal a keen batting eye in the six
games of the series in which he par