Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-28
BY J. ED GRILLo.

tsSpeclal Dlspatcn LIE star
NEW YORK, May 2s.-Is there sign
/ tipping bureau in operation on the New
| York American League grounds? That is
| a question which the members of the
Washington team are asking one another.
| The performance of the Highlanders dur
| ing the four games the Nationals have
| lost here has, to say the least, been most
peculiar, and things have happened which
have created all sorts of suspicious.
Every one of Griffiths pitchers who has
worked here has been hit hard, and,
strange to say. most of the hits h-ve
come at the right time, thus making them
productive.
| The New York players have displayed a
peculiar penchant for knowing what the
opposing pitcher was about to hurl at
them, and, with very few exceptions. they
have not failed to hit safely. Walker
Groom and Hughes, and even johnson,
have fallen victims to the Highlanders
| bats, and that when they apparently were
all at their best
| 1t seems a bit strange that an entire
pitching staff should suddenly go to pieces
and be hit to all corners of the lot. not
withstanding the fact the catchers han
ding these deliveries aver that each
pitcher had as much skill as he ever 01s-
played.
In yesterdays game it was noticeable
that whenever the home team had men on
the bases the batters facing Hughes
seemed to know just what was coming
and governed themselves accordingly
Players who ordinarily would chase a
curve ball to first base in an enort 10
meet it walked into the ball like star
hitters and pasted it hard. There were
several instances when this was apparent
1t has been so during the previous three
games, according to the players. mere
is no such thing as fooling a member or
the New York team under present condi-
tons. They seem to have premonltlons
of what is coming, and most any batter
so blessed can hit. In the four games
Washington has played here the new
aggregation that was ever organized, yet
their averages on the season do not make
the team look particularly formidable
with the bat.
The accident to Martin Saturday, when
Johnson hit him in the face with fast
ball is pointed out as a result of being
tipped off on what is coming. only that II
this particular instance the tip was wrong,
and Martin stepped in for what ne
thought was curve, when In fact 1T was
a fast ball, as a result Of which he was
laid low.
II is argued that no player would take
the liberty to try to guess when John-
sons curve ball is coming, for fear OF
the danger in the event of his making
mistake but Martin stepped in with
every confidence, probably because ne
had reason to believe that a curve was
coming. Griff's pitchers have shown as
much here as they ever did. and yet
every one of them has been pounded,
but not without reason.
Griffith refuses to admit that he mas
any such suspicious. but his players 90
not hesitate to make the charges. Inc
facts are that the New York team, when
1T Ion hon a. &c
best, has been hitting at a terrific rate
recently, and that against pitchers VINO
have shown ability. A team which knows
what is coming from an opposing pitcher
naturally has a big advantage. II coui0
refrain from res0rting to the tipping on
of signs until men were on the bases,
when hits would do the most good, and
then make itself very hard to beat.
The New York club was guilty OF TINS
breach of the rules once before. In 1909
the Detroit club discovered and exposed
a tipping bureau in operation on the To-
cal grounds. and at that time the best
pitchers in the league were sunerlng eN-
periences similar to those which the VA
tionals have encountered here on the
present trip. 1t may, of course. be a mere
coincidence but it is rather strange that
a lot of weak hitters should suddenly
have taken such a wonderful brace with
the bat.
The absence Of Dan Moeller from the
lineup Is felt. Moeller had developed
himself into the most valuable man on
the team when he met with the accident
which forced him to get out of the game
Moeller left here last night for his home
in Iowa, where he intends to remain un-
til the Nationals open their first series In
st. Louis, when he expects to report to
Griffith.
Griffith says that Moeller was playing as
good ball as any man in the league at
the time of his accident. and that he
seemed daily to be improving. With him
out of the lineup the team Is badly
weakened. for he not only added much
by reason Of his hitting and speed. but he
was hustler and fielded his position well.
Moeller has a scheme for preventing
repetition of the accident which has placed
him on the injured list. His left shoulder
Is susceptible to disclocation whenever he
Is forced to get into a certain position
and he proposes to have it strapped to his
side just as soon as he gets on the bases.
His scheme is to have a little strap on
the left side of his belt with a catch at
tached. On his left sleeve he will have
a hook; as soon as he gets on the bases
he will snap the catch In the hook, which
will prevent him from raising his left arm
or having it showed in the position which
causes it's dislocation. AS this dislocatfon
always happens when he is sliding, he fig
ures that this device will save him in the
future.
The failure of every one of the four
regular pitchers that he has tried here
has placed Griffith in a quandary az to
how he will operate from this out The
series finishes here today. and then he
has four games in two days in Boston. A
doubie-header is slated for Wednesday
and two games for Thursday Oecora-
ton day.. This will make II necessary
| for him to work some of his youngsters.
| though he has hesitated about doing so
because he does not have the utmost con-
| fidence in their ability because nearly all
| of them lack control. 1t Is just possible
that he will pitch Walter Johnson today
and then right back in one or the games
Thursday. He may switch to Cashion for
| today's game, but he naturally prefers to
work Johnson. In the Boston games he
/ will have to work one or two OF his
youngsters. and either Engel, Musser or
Cashion may be given trial. though he
may not decide what he will do until
| just before the game today.
Just as soon as Gandil reports at
Boston tomorrow, Jack Knight will be
| benched. The former New York player
4 is not going good. He famed three
1 times yesterday, and twice there we're
men on the bases. He did get one
| timely hit. but he is not standing up at
| the plate with any confidence, and Grin
| intends to give him a rest. Every one
/ who has seen Gandil. play says he Is
! a star. and Griffith intends to keep him
| on the bag regardless of whether he
/ goes well or not, SO as not to dis
/ courage him. On what Griffith saw
/ him do in Sundays game at Montreal
| he is satisfied that he is q great first
Il bassman. but he did not hit that day.
| so that he Is not familiar with his abil-