Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-24
By ]. ED aR1LLo.

I" o6uiu0lOu mas Qi6yCu o6oAoS w.
Pniladelnhia and Boston, generally con
ceded to be the two strongest teams II
| the American League, Manager Grifftf
| insists that he has not met q team thi
season which has a cinch on beating ou
the Nationals. Such statement woult
naturally bring forth ridicule or doub
as 10 It's sincerity. but with Griffith 1t Il
on the square.
So optimistic is the Nationals leader
that he Is impressive. He says that h
| fails to see where any Of the teams hi
| has met have anything on i,is aggrega
tior, notwithstanding the fact that thu
Athletics beat him three out of four
He contends that these games were los'
because Of the breaks Of the game ia
vortng the champions, and that he would
have won them all with luck breaking
even
1 They may prove to my satisfaction
the season, but UP to date figure my
team as having as good q chance as thu
rest Of Them" said he.s ITO date we nav,
not, been outplayed,- and, mark my word
year. I'm not claiming pennants or any
thing Of that sort, but l realize that II
does: not take q team OF all stars to bt
prominent In this race"
There isn't any question In the world
that under Grinith the team is showing
everything he does. and, above all, ht
knows the game. His whole heart and
soul is In the success Of his present ven
tre,f and he seems to have inspired his
players with the same spirit. There was
q time when the members Of the Wash
ington team considered themselves beaten
before they went on the field. 1t is diff
ferent now. The teams success to date
has brought about . change. They no
longer fear any team or any pitcher
Confidence has been instilled and the diff
ference in the general playing is a mat
ter sof comment among patrons Of the
game in other cities.
The best feature OF the teams showing
ing. 1t looks better with every game. 1t
may happen that there will be a charge
Tor tho worse later, but there ID no indi-
cation OF 1t at the present time
Gfinth is going to make pitcher. of
Bob Groom. The tall twirler from Belle
ville.s Ill.,. Is better pitcher today than
he has been at any time since he Joined
the Nationals, and all because Griffith
has used Judgment In handling him.
Neither his manager nor his teammates
Had tho slightest confidence In him.
Under. Grihith, Groom has improved
wonderfully because Grimth has i'm
pressed him with his own ability. He
has pointed out what position he ought
err, that there II no Teason why he should
not be q success, ana the result ID that
Groom Is beginning to believe in him
SAT-:
when conditions. are taken into considera-
ton. Before the game 1t did not seem
that there was q possible chance for the
Nationals to win.
With both Mcbride and knight out OF
the game the chances for victory scanned
n offs 49, q 81
II 4 ball game was ever played IN such
weather before. It was abominably cold
and few pitchers would have extended
themselves under such conditions. But
really gave a splendid exhibition. He
showed 70 his best advantage when he
was In trouble. He seemed to have some
thing in reserve when he found himself
In danger, and to this and his gameness
the victory must be attributed. Without
staff, 1t can be truthfully said ths< 1t is
doubtful II any Of them could have &C.
complished what Groom did yesterday.
It was Grimth's original intention to
Knight both out Of the game and the
day 10 cold that game. should never
have been played he wisely decided not to
take q chance with his star twirler, and
Groom was chosen to take his place.
There il. nothing phenomenal about the
strength Of the Grifnth team. Every one
must. realize that fact, for the reason
that It u far from q hard-hitting aggre-
gation. It h a good fielding team, hits
fairly well and has good batteries. 80
that its success cannot depend on actual
strength. =. But when it comes to spirit
and intelligent playing Of the game 1t will
compare fAvorably with its rivals, and to
this must be attributed its success to
date.
It's defensive play Is strons, while il
has system by which 1t Is sure to score
Q, lot Of runs out Of anything but strong
offensive playing. But best OF all is the
fact that the players believe in them.
selves. and that is more than half ths
battle in base ball.
Because Of Jack Knights lack Of condi
tion,, and weak throwing arm in particu
lar, Manager Grimth did not want to take
any chances by olaying him in yester
conditions. and Cunningham took hi
place. Cunny, though he has not been II
the game. gave good account Of him
self. Morgan was forced into the game
he 10 not q star In the position, he die
considerable to make the victory posi-
bic. His catch Of Speakers line drive
which he, turned into q double play II
the third inning, prevented runs in tina
round. and It was his single TO center IL
the eighth which brought Flynn HON,
With the fourth run and started the ran,
which clinched the game for the Ma
tionals.
Bob Groom can no longer be referred t,
IS joke batsman. He got, two hits II
yesterdays game, and there was nothin,
duky about them. either. His drive ii
! the. eighth brought home a couple OF rum
and was a liner to center which
Spencer had to brace himself for to pre-
vent becoming a double. Grfnith ha.
changed .0Foop's style at the bat, and b,
y now almost ~ apt to hit Is any o
the twiriees on the team.
An effort to make it appear that 10,
Wood 10 In the same class with Walter
johnson. which IL often done In thil
section. Ii absolutely absurd. Wood vii
never see the day when he can be classet
with the Nationals star. To begin with
does johnson, and he has nowhere neal
| the stun. Wood relies principally on hi
speed. He labors under the mistaken
ttmpeAsslon th1t he can put his fast bal
over and not have II hit, In which hi
is very much mistaken. He has NJ
change Of pace, but every ball he send
ing q bAtsman to any great extent afte
I.he' has faced him for IN inning or two
II the weather 10 favorable Walte
iJoAh1on win pitch against the Red So,
he ~ apt 10 30 Ct his very best. Eithe
Cicetts or O'Brien II scheduled for tn
home team. - .4 4.
There are to be no more suspension
q. nemhers OF the Washington team
during the present season. Manager Grit
f1fhl Nrspanayra6 sflvaa,. Ys1os-ufn~ Efn No