Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-18
BY J. ED GRILLO.

II is up to Bob Groom to stop the Ath-
letics today. Griffith has selected the tall
twirler to work against the worlds cham
pions and II he displays the form which
has marked the games he worked on the
western trip Mack's team Is going to be
rather busy this afternoon. Against
Groom II is most likely that Cy Morgan
will be pitted. The fact that Cy has been
a stumbling block twice before this sea-
son gives him the preference over the
other twirlers today: incidentally. Cy did
not work in Detroit, so he is we'll rested.
Mack's players realize that they will
have their hands full winning q majority
Of the games from the Nationals. The
players appreciate the fact that a team
which can win sixteen straight games is
setting a fast pace and must not be un-
pionship aggregation.
Griffith does not believe that the Ath-
letics have any right to beat his ball
team. Notwithstanding the fact that the
champions are the only team which has
won the series from the locals to date
Griff insists that the present series will
more than square matters. Much de-
Ponds on the outcome Of the seven games
To have either make clean sweep
would virtually put the defeated team
out of the running, though. of course. II
is not likely that this will happen. Bos-
ton seems to have the best OF the pres
ent argument between the Nationals and
the Phillies. because the Hub team will
be battling with the weak Highlanders
for four games and these games are apt
to furnish them a comfortable lead in the
race.
Everybody is pulling for Washington"
remarked Jack Barry. the Athletics SEN
sational shortstop. Even the majority
of the members Of our team would rather
see Washington win than any other team
II we can't land 1t ourselves. This con-
dftion seems to be general throughout
the American League. The ball players
a team which has always been tatlender
UP in the race, and the Nationals win
ming streak was decidedly popular with
them"
Walter johnson was slightly improved
this morning, but the chances are that 1t
will be several days before he will be able
to work. Unless he is much better by
tonight he will not be taken on the trip
to Philadelphia with the team, being able
to report there in few hours should he
recover in time to be Of service to the
team.
Judged on its recent showing. the Phil
adelphia team is going at a pace second
only to the Nationals. OF the twenty
two last games played by the champions
fifteen have been won and seven lost,
showing a great improvement over the
work the team did earlier in the cam
paign. There is no doubt. however, that
In tackling the Nationals the visitors will
be up against the best team they have
met since playing Boston, and this Is
also true so far as the Nationals are con-
cerned. The series should really prove
a great struggle and incidentally a
splendid test for Griffith's team.
Joe Boehling and Guy johnson. two re-
cruit pitchers. who were farmed out by
the local club this spring. have been re-
turned to Manager Griffith. Boehling,
after pitching some splendid games for
Chattanooga, suddenly developed wild
streak and could not be used. while John
son failed at Syracuse But Griffith has
not weakened on Boehling. Billy Hart.
the veteran umpire, who is working In the
southern league, wrote Grif the other
day not to let boehling out, that the
youngster had more than he had seen in
years and that II properly handled he
would develop. Griffith will take this tip
and hold on to the left-hander. but he will