Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-01
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Brimfull of confidence and claiming to
be in much better form than they have
been at any time this season, the Boston
Red Sox reached town this morning, san
guine that before the series here is closed
they will be leading the flag race. Wita
but half game behind Chicago, which is
leading, and anxious to redeem them
selves for the series they lost to the Ma
tionals in Boston last week, Jake Stahrs
men have it figured out that majority
of the games to be played here will prove
victories for them. Either Cicotte or
Pape will do the twirling for the visitors.
while long Tom Hughes has been selected
by Griffith. Hughes pitched a splendid
game of ball against Boston a week ago.
but lost it because Of the errors behind
him. Hughes stands a chance to win if
he duplicates this performance and his
support is not wobbly.
This series means much to both teams.
II the Nationals could win three out Of
end Of the week, while Boston stands a
chance to have a comfortable lead by
that time should it make a clean sweep
here. With perfect weather conditions,
the chances are that the general playing
Of the Nationals will improve, in that the
bright sunlight is expected to bring forth
the batting eyes Of several Of our young
men who have been hitting far below
their standard to date.
THAT rule which prohibits infielders
from taking practice between innings is
not new by any means, in fact, has been
in vogue for three years." remarked Chief
Of Umpires Jack Sheridan this morning
1--WE have allowed the inf1elders to in
dulge in this practice during the early
games in the spring. when the weather is
cool and their arms need loosening, but
after the season has been two weeks old
we have called halt. Not in three years.
barring a few weeks in the spring, has
this practice been allowed. and the rule
will be adhered to from now on
Sheridan says that interest in base ball
out west is greater than ever. Though
the weather has been Of the worst. the
attendance records in Chicago. Detroit
and Cleveland have been broken, and
these cities are base ball mad. Il never
saw such interest before" said he. They
have some splendid teams in the western
end of the circuit, and It looks as II most
of them would be factors in the race"
Sheridan is authority for the statement
that Ty Cobb looks faster this spring
than ever before. and that the great play
er has just rounded into his best form.
IF by this fall haye Developed
Cashion and Engel so that they can take
their regular turns on the rubber. will
| consider myself decidedly lucky" says
Clarke Grihlth. II am satisfied that both
these youngsters will make great pitch
ers. but they need a lot Of experience.
though they show signs Of constant i'm
provement. When Cashion gets right he
will prove a great help to us, for when q
team can work two pitchers like johnson
and Cashion. when he gets what I ex-
pect him to be, 1t Will be hard to beat
l don't believe l ever saw a greater pitch
er than johnson. He has improved Won
derfully since ! was in this league be-
fore, and he comes nearer to being q
finished artist now than any other twirler
In this league. johnson should make a
wonderful record this year. barring ac-
cident, for he has a splendid start. and
with the coming Of warm weather he is
sure to be in even better FORM
johnson Is mixing up his Deliveries
more than ever before. He Is using slow
ball quite frequently in the games he is
pitching and GrifY1th is working with him
to perfect this delivery. Grifath. in his
day, had one OF the best slow balls In
the game, and he believes that Johnson 8
effectiveness will be greatly increased
when he masters the slow ball.
Griffith is not discouraged because of the
fact that several OF his players on whom
he relied to do most OF the teams hit
ting have shown up poorly in this re-
spect. He says that It stands to reason
that these players are better hitters than
they have proven themselves, and that
when they get into their stride they win
make up lost ground. Moeller, Milan,