Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-18
2Gr Expects His Team TO Make Good Showing Against Cham
OF OTHER TEAMS
ARE PULLING FOR NATIONALS
Good Showing Of Griffith's Men Pleasing to
Neutrality-suspicious. Groom Slated
to Pitch Today.
make arrangements to turn Johnson over
to some minor league team.

make arrangements to turn Johnson ovel
/ TO some minor league team.
! 1t does not require a prolonged re-
| search to locate the cause for the Ma
\ tionals winning streak On the whole
Griffith has a we'll balanced combination
| He has fast fielding, good throwing and
| hitting outfield In Shanks. Milan and
Moeller; a good hitting. brilliant fielding
I infield, and a set of catchers that cannot
be equaIed by any team in the country
Headed by Johnson, that pitching staff
Is far from weak. and, best of all. the
| finest spirit exists in the ranks.
There is not slow man in the Ma
tionals lineup. Every one on the list
can steal a base or take two bases on
hit. AS a run-getting team 1t has few
equals as its record of an average OF
nearly seven runs per game since 1t left
son that the showing made by the team
was not a scratch. 1t played far better
ball than any team 1t met after the WIN
ming streak started. and while 1t must
be conceded to have a chance for the
pennant. 1t seems certain to be q con-
tender for the flag right down to the fin
ish even If it does not land it. 1t is
expecting a whole lot from young
team like the Nationals to become pen
nant winners in a single year, but any
one figuring that this team is not going
to be prominent In the race is underes-
timating its strength.
Some one asked Jack Coombs, the
Athletics iron man, how he accounted for
his ability to work in so many games and
not lose his form. That is simple. =
was the reply. "Once 1 am in condition
l can work with two days rest, but l
| reason that / never touch ball when !
am not working. This thing of warming
up on days that a pitcher does not work
Is the most harmful thing he can do II
ruins the arm. loaf on my idle days
and the result is that I can go in and
pitch good game after have two days
rest / believe that more pitchers ruin
themselves by warming up every day
than by pitching lot of games
Should Griffith succeed in securing Null
lin from Detroit he would not figure on
using him for a couple Of weeks, during
which time he would expect the big fell
low to get himself into playing condition.
overweight. 1t is said that he has dis
regarded the training rules for some
weeks and that this is responsible for
his slump. Griffith believes that with
proper handling Mullin can regain his
form in a very short while. in which
event he would be of great help to the
team. though the suspicion is prevalent
that the asking Of waivers on him by the
Detroit club is merely bluff to force
Mullin to get down to business.
IL StduUS 10 reason Ildt dnOtlor sea
soned twirler would make the local pitch
ing staff look as formidable as any in
the league. and team which has pen
nant aspirations cannot be too we'll sup
piled with tWirlers.
Gnfith's team has undergone several
changes since 1t made its last appearance
here. Gandil has replaced knight
Schaefer and Flynn at first, while Nor
gan has become the teams regular second
baseman. Moeller has been shifted to
right field. where he really belongs, while
left has been given over to Shanks, where
the youngster has played sensational ball
There is great difference in Jack
Knight since he left here with the team
over three weeks ago. Knight has grad
ually gotten himself into condition and
IL the occasion should arise that he will
have to play he will prove this fact.
Jacks arm has entirely regained Its
strength and he can shoot the ball across
the inf1eld with all his former speed. He
really looks like different player now
and he may still prove himself 4 valua-
BILE man for the team. Being able to play
any position on the infeld. Knight Is a
most valuable man for utility purposes,
and rumors that Griffith intended to send
him to the minors were erroneous, for
Grif figures that the time may come
when he will be Of much service to the
team in the present campaign.