The Washington times., 1912-08-11
CLARK GRIFFITH
SAYS TEAM WILL
YET WIN FLAG
Nationals Boss Has High
Praise for His Fighting
Youngsters.
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you know, yet this spring he was al
Tays asking to be sent into the game.
<e knew that our pitchers were going
ball. Hughes made himself solid with
me right then when he showed himself
willing to do more than his share of
pitching, II II would help the team.
'twhy, I could talk ali day about the
gameness of my players, it's my hobby.
There isn't one of them but will have
q broken heart IL we are nosed out In
the last rush for the pennant. from
when it comes to ability, show me a
ball club that is better balanced than
mine. Boston is the club that we must
pare the two teams. The Red sox are
better hitters, on paper. In every other
way, though. they are no better, and
Now. tell me- how their hitters are
Coing to do anything with our pitching? :?
Will Speaker, Gardner Lewis, and wag-
ner pound Johnson, Groom, Hughes. and
pitehersY I don't believe % it 'HaSe myself. Hne I
believe that in the seven games to be
played between us and the Red Sox, we
shall win at least five Of them, and that
will be enough to settle the fight for the
nag.
mo, the Nationals don't slug the ball
so very much, but they get the runs
from their hits that win ball games. 1t
is the runs that count not the hits.
those Red Sox pitchers enough to win a
majority of the games.
What are nay plans for those seven
games? Well, that's hard to outline
and means to land this flag, you know,
but baseball situations change from
day to day. However, Walter johnson
is ready and willing to pitch every
other when
Joe Wood do that? l don't think he
can.
Better Than Red Sox.
I'm all-around ability for resourceful-
ness on the field-and that counts for
much, too, in baseball-for hitting,
pitching, and fielding, my club is bet
ter than the Red Sox. Where the Red
Sox are weakest We are strongest, In
Syr Tr baekstoHpping; s1H Speaker Hooper, and
Henry, Ainsmith, and Williams. My
backstops are better in every way and
much of the brunt of the fight rests on
the catchers.
Now take a peek at the schedule
Tuesday We are back in Washington
again for three weeks. That's long
enough for any team to be at home. too.
You know. the fans become SO wrought
hurts them to see an error made, a
daring play tried only to fail. or a pitch
er get into hole. Gradually this feel
ing is communicated to the players, in
some cases wholly unnerving them just
when they should be coolest, With a
young team like mine this Is doubly
dangerous.
During that three weeks we have
sixteen games with Western clubs, all
of whom have been badly beaten by us
in the campaign to date. New York
and Philadelphia finish our home stay
with six games, making total Of twen-
ty-two games
Then comes the trip that will tell
the tale. We meet Boston in four
games on their own field and we
shall lick 'em out of their boots right
there. That series may be the turn.
ing point in the campaign for both of
us. I am confident, too, that we shall
leave Boston with at least three, II
not four. victories to our credit.
opening in Cleveland. BY that time,
You know, several of these teams
will be experimenting with young
players and we should romp away
otSerwise wi With the Red sox. though.
"By the time Stahl and his men hit
the road the pitchers will be pretty
even now. When a club has to divide
a game between two pitchers almost
daily, there is something wrong with
should the prey %e the ns Red S
pitchers. Chicago and Detroit are
Certain to cause trouble and 1t won't
take much to trip the Sox. When we
return to Washington on September
the pennant will be determined then,
II not before. ..
Schedule Ideal.
sThe schedule, hard as 1t has been
in places, seems ideal for US. 1t gives
us games with our oponents right al
a time when victories will count
Aoubly. II 1t is matter of game OF
two to decide the winner, johnson
may pitch all three. Yes. the big fell
this, If the worst comes to the worst
However, am In hopes that it will
not be needed. ~
"Our final games are in New York
There's no sense in comparing thu
Highlanders with the Athletics as foe
men and the Red Sox have their row
%Sst SSs fGn more aae is there doe to e be- sad
shall win the pennant. barring accident
to our hest men, and we shall win !
with few games to spare, too, accord
ing to my way of thinking. We shat
to the very end of the campaign.
"The worlds series? Well, while
this fight is on. what's the use Of dis
cay this much That If we win am
have to meet the New York Giants
Washington will have two pennant
next season. instead of one"
Manager Griffith is living almost II
a dream. He sees but one goal-th
championship-and he breathes an
thinks and sleeps baseball from morn
ing to night. 1t is doubtful If he look
at anything but box scores in the news
papers. He is nursing this player an
that. thinking out new plans for play
to be worked against unsuspecting op
ponents, laughing and joking wit
players who seem to need 1t and roast
ing other more robust spirits who nee
that kind of treatment.
Underneath every action OF Manage
Grifith is a deep-seated plan, winnin
the American League banner of 1912 ]
is impossible to joke him out of his idea
either. He says he has the team an
the opportunity and what more is ther
needed?
Defeat" exists not for Clark Griffit
nor his merry men in their quest 10
the championship. They refuse to rec
ognize 1t. They will win the pennan
Griffith says so.
Davis Drops Ball
Hod Gate DaIaa c.