Evening star., 1912-06-03
BY j. ED GRILLO.

slight possibility of Eddie Cicotte, unit
this year the best pitcher on the Boston
team, becoming member OF the Ma
tionals Boston has asked waivers or
Cicotte and Griffith has refused. Only
last week Griffith offered to trade Dixie
Walker for Cicotte, but McAleer refused
though he is now asking waivers Just
what is wrong with Cicotte no one seems
to know He is not suffering with a
lame arm, but in most of the games ne
has started he has been forced to retire
Griffith, however, is willing to take a
chance with him and would willingly pay
the waiver price to have him join his
team. Just whether McAleer is willing
to see Cicotte join the Nationals remains
to be seen. but at any rate Griffith thinks
1t worth while to make the effort. He is
anxious to bolster up his pitching staff
and if he succeeds in this he thinks that
his team will cut a figure in the race. In
every other respect the Nationals are do
ing very hfgh-class work. The hitting
and fielding are far above the standard
the team formerly established, and all II
now needs is pitching good enough to
hold it's opponents in check.
There have been other instances where
pitchers of the Cicotte caliber have come
back to life after a change of clubs, and
~',~~
Cicotte is through.
Ever since the Nationals have been on
the present trip they have averaged SIX
runs to the game, which in eleven games
is a remarkable record, and shows plainly
that the strength for a winner is there.
What games have been lost on this trip
were due to weak pitching, excepting
the one charged against Joe Engel, VINO
lost his game on mlSplay. Ihe most
noticeable change in the work of the
lie ic RI imDrOEpment
in the teams speed.
There is now not man In ne ilne-up,
unless it be the pitchers, who is not a
fast runner. Even the catchers are fast
on their feet and the result is that their
speed helps as much in the scoring as
their hitting.
What Is more, it is an unusually intel
ligent ball team. There are few bone
PLAYS being pulled, and Griffith has his
machinery working as smoothly as that
of any team in either major league. AS
was predicted in these columns, there mas
been vast improvement in the work or
the pitchers over what 1t was In New
York and Boston, and from this out the
chances are that the Natlonals VIII hidhe
a good showing.
Those wise men in ST. Louis who sar-
castically referred to the washington
team as the Walter Johnsons. are being
made to eat their words, for though
his appearance here, and, in fact. is al
present at his home in CoffeyVllie, the
Nationals have won the two games they
have PLAYED here. and have so far out
PLAYED the Browns that they DO not seem
to belong in the same class
Today Joe Engel will be pitted against
Raumgardner the Browns sehsdtionai
youngster, and Tuesday Johnson VIII De
asked to put the finishing touches on the
tail-enders.
Interest naturally centers in Ensel
work today The fact that he made SO
brilliant a debut is taken TO mean t,ia.
he will do even better here, but II taxes
more Than game or TWO 10 p.oN aii
pitcher's worth, and the players. as Wen
as Manager Griffith, are anxious TO sec
how he will perform here =,
Engel looked to have everything III
Boston the other day, and there is no
good reason why he should not repeat.
Gf ha could win over Baumgardner II
would be a big feather in his cap.
There seems to be no end to Dan Noel
Ier's brilliant playing. Saturday ne star
tied the natives by beating OUT thlse tho
field hits, and yesterday switched the
proeram and drove out two clean singles
and double Moeller looks like one OF
the hest outfielders, all things considered,
in the league, and it is really TO De re-
gretted that he is in danger at any time
dislocated shoulder.
Griffith would give fortune TO nave
that shoulder mended, ana ne proposes
tn have Moeller undergo an opefa'ioh
next winter in an effort to correcl .hu
injury. He is now consulting the leadlns
surgeons in all the big cities to learn IL
a cure is possible, and ne Is receiving
whole lot of announcement.
ST. Louis has for years been Bob
have broken the spell, and gave one Oh
the pretttest pitching exhibitions or MS
career here YESTERDAY
Groom had an uphill fight on his hands
right from the outset, but he was not
scored against after that until the ninth,
when a couple of errors gave the Browns
their final run. He allowed but six hits.
struck out nine and did not issue pass
until the ninth, when after two were OUT
he walked twf men, He was effective in
every pinch and crawled out of the few
holes he was in with Judgment.
Joe Lake, who is usually a trouble
some customer for the Nationals. was far
from at his best and succumbed before
the determined efforts the Nationals
made in their fight to overcome the lead
which the Browns had gained early in
the game. Elmer Brown, who followed
him, was but little better.
crowd by stealing home in the seventh in
ming. With two out and Morgan up he
made a dash for the plate. The bal
seemed to beat him there, but in sliding
he kicked it out of Krichells hand and
was safe.
Moeller also tried the play in the ninth
inning, with Shanks up and two out, but
Shanks hit to Wallace and retired the
side. Moeller would have scored witt
ease but for this.
Griffith likes his ball team He has beer
more than satised with the work his
players have done and he predicts tha
if he was blessed with couple more
good pitchers that he wuld give any team
in the league a fight for position.
Griff undoubtedly deserves lot o.
credit for the manner in which he ha:
his team working. 1t is hustling aggre
CATION, which is fast and can hit. Griffith
| figures that by the time the season is {
month older that his pitching staff viii
| be in much better shape than 1t is now.
He has ordered all hands off of Cashior
and is himself taking the big fellow il
| hand. He works with him an hour ever,
| day before the game and the improvement
| Cashion is showing is nothing short OF
marvellous. He thinks that Cashion Will b,
able to deliver the goods in about two
weeks, and if he does he and johnson
| will do the bulk of the pitching the re
| mainder of the season. This pair. with
| Engel, Hughes and Groom sandwiched IL
| between their games should make tht
| Nationals more formidable than they
| have ever been before.
| While Ray Morgan is giving a very sat
| isfactory account of himself on secont
| base, a position which is new to him
| Griffith proposes to give him lots of prac
home in the hope of improving him. Nor
gan can hit, and that counts for much IL