The Washington herald., 1908-05-06

With Kid EIberfeld out Of the game for
at least month, the New York Yankees
were further weakened yesterday when
Ban Johnson suspended Manager Clark
Griffith for an indefinite period.
The suspension was brought about by
Grifhth's actions in Mondays game. when
he protested so violently at one of I'm
pire Connelly's decisions that he was BAN
ished from the field. Griffith refused to
leave the grounds, but sat in the third
base pavilion, where he was later Joined
by George Moriority. who was also
chased for a dispute with the umpire
When Moriority went into the pavilion
he engaged in dispute with a spectator
and for while it appeared as though the
players would precipitate a small-sized
riot
When Umpire Connolly saw that a fight
might start he went to a policeman and
asked him TO remove >Nthe players from
the grounds. This the policeman refused
TO do Yesterday morning Connolly had
g. conference with President Noyes on
The question Of having players removed
from the grounds, but no definite decision
was arrived at.
Connolly reported the whole matter to
Ban Johnson. and the president of the
league Immediately notified the arbiter
that Griffith had been indefinitely sus-
pended,
Wet grounds caused a postponement of
the Jwo professional games scheduled for
this city yesterday, The New York Amerl-
cans caught an early train for Boston,
where they open a series with the Red
SoX to-day, while the Philadelphia
Unions jumped back to their home town
As Cantllon had planned 10 pitch Bill
Burns yesterday and was more than con-
fldent Of beating the Highlanders, he was
greatly disappointed when he went TO
National Park shortly after noon aud
found that game was out OF the ques-
ton
As Griffith was anxious 10 get away as
soon as possible, IL was decided 10 play
the game off the next time the Yankees
come to National Park
To-day the Philadelphia Athletics will
meet the Nationals here. As Connie
Mack's team was rather easy picking last
week. CantlllOn expects TO at least break
even on the series.
The Bandits go TO Wilmington to-day,
and Irwin's team will not be back until
May Il, by which time he expects TO be
out in the front Of the race in the Union
League.
Where are those timely taps that won
such fame for the Detroit Tigers last sea
son?
Where are the great pinch hitters who
made all baseballdom bow down before
them last season2
There is that same sterling lineup and
the hitting seems 10 be as hard as any in
the league. but the base hits are not be-
ing pulled off as they were last year a;
the opDortune moments.
It's the man with the wallop that wins
In the prize ring. the business world, or
in baseball; it's all the same: the man
who hits hard gets there.
All baseball is built around the base-hit
column. Claud Rossman started in base /
ball as pitcher. He couldn't pitch much. /
but he could hit, so they kept him In the
game, sending him to the outfeld He
could bat around 400. but he couldn't field
at ALL So they sent him to first. He
could still hit, but he was awful on the /
bag. He would lose a game every day /
by his fielding. but always win il back by |
his hitting. So they kept him. Gradually /
defensive play was pounded into him, l
and he is now cIassed as a great ball I
player-because he can hit. Men like 4
Scoops Carey, who could make Hal Chase /
Hook average in fielding and taking !.
5throWn balls, are in the minors because I
they can't hit Jimmy Archer was let out /.
by Detroit because he couldn't hit. vet he /.
was a wonderful pegger and catcher. He /
Is in the minors, most likely TO stay. be- 1
cause when he came 10 bat every one 1
knew that one man was out.
It's the man with the wallop who makes /
good IN baseball. ard those Tigers have /
got the base hits But they haven't got /
them where they do the most good.
When the Tigers were going badly 4
early IN the season IL was the pitching
that hurt. During the last week the
pitching has been good, but the base hits /
haven't been coming when needed.
There can be no worry over the pitch 4
Ing, for the last four games have devel- /
oped twirling good enough TO win any or /
dinary game. It has been lack OF ball 4
knocks at the proper time.
While the prospects Of the teams In the |
major leagues always viii be a subject Of /
interest 10 baseball enthusiasts, whether /
they be as far removed from the scene Of !
the games as New York from San Fran /
cisco. the possibilities OF the season OF /
1905 cannot be reviewed thoroughly with /
out a word Tor the minor leagues.
In spite of the scattered discussion dur
ing the winter to the effect that the 4
American Association might pick up /
frebrand and toss 1t into organized base
ball, there is nothing which would indl-
cate that the minor leagues will not en-
Joy more prosperity than ever before. It !
might be inferred from what had been
said by certain Of the American Associa-
ton owners that minor league baseball
had proved to be poor investment for
them. On the contrary, it has been an
investment which paid handsomely and /
it viii continue to pay handsomely. Just
as long as the men who are now in con-
troll Of the clubs refrain from disturbing
the methods which are in vogue in the
national pastime
In the East there is a splendid outlook
before the Eastern League. Montreal is
in new hands. The Newark club has
passed out Of the control of the Burnham
interests to those Of George StaIlings.
The latter is a fighter and also q. good