Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-24
BY J. ED GR1LLo.

1t is to be hoped that the Detroit clut
will see its way clear to accept Griffith's
offer and turn MOriarty over to the Ma
tiOnals With the Tigers captain hold
ing down the third station on the local
infield, Grif1th's team would be better
fortified than any team which has rep
resented Washington in recent years.
With Moriarty in the lineup the one
doubtful position on the team would be
in experienced hands, while it would give
Griffith an opportunity to do further ex-
perimenting at second In the event that
Cunningham should not recover from his
last years slump. There is no reason
either why Moriarty should not play as
well the coming season as he ever did
before. The fact that he had a COM
paratively poor year in the last CAM
paign does not indicate anything. on
seasons come to most players and Nor
arity is too young a man to be cOnsid-
cred on the down grade.
Reports from Detroit say that Presi-
dent Navin is considering Grifith's cash
offer for MOriarty, after having turned
down proposition which would give the
Tigers Ainsmith in exchange for the third
baseman. but this is probably in error,
for Griffith has not proposed trade to
any one since taking charge of the local
club.
The lighting game in New York is rap
idly getting into the same doubtful class
with the wrestling hippodromes. 1t is
questionable If there have been more than
two or three fights in the big city since
the Frawley law went into effect which
were strictly on the level. Most of these
alleged contests appear to be prearranged
by the fighters. who find it just as easy
to get the money by stalling through ten
rounds as If they went at 1t for keeps
and exerted themselves. few more
fake fights and the boxing commission
will not have to put the ban on the sport,
for even in New York the public will
eventually tumble and withdraw its sup
port
One advantage that the Nationals will
have over teams which go to the far
south to train will be that there Is hardly
any difference between the climate at
Charlottesville and that of Washington,
SO that the players will not have to
undergo any change after quitting their
camp and coming to their own grounds.
What is more there will be q couple OF
weeks to put on the finishing touches
here. SO that when the season opens there
is no reason why every man should not
be fit.
There is no doubt that it is a serious
mistake to have players work out in an
extremely warm climate and then send
them to cold one to open the season.
Such q change often brings about a seri-
Gus setback from which the players do
not recover for several weeks. Seven
years ago Jake Stahl took the Nationals
to Charlottesville In the spring, and the
team led the race for a month or more
as a result of their superior condition. OF
course, it eventually finished last. but be-
cause when the other teams got In their
stride it lacked the strength to hold its
own.
Much Of Connie Mack's success has been
attributed to the capable manner in
which he selects his pitchers. always
picking the man who is most successful
against certain teams, regardless Of
whether it Is his turn or not. Incidentally
Mack never wastes one of his best pitch
ers II he is up against hard proposition.
preferring to take a chance with one OF
his lesser lights on such occasions. Grit
nth, like Mack, does not believe In work.
ing his pitchers in regular turn-that Is. II
he has pitchers who are better against
one team than another. or course, IL the
entire batch is mediocre 1t matters not in
what rotation they are worked. A pitcher
like Walter johnson is about as effective
against one team as another. and in his
case it is policy to give him say three
days rest between games. regardless of
what team he is to go up against. but
there are others who when properly ham
died in this respect will be much more
The chances are that the proposed
wrestling match between Jack Johnson
and Frank Gotch il nothing more than
an effort to gain publicity. but II such
q contest should take place II may end
Johnson's career as a fighter. It is not
age-and he is no longer a youngster-
can be taught the wrestling art to such
an extent as to give him a chance with |
the champion of them all. Johnson |