Evening star., 1912-11-13
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

Official records show that Walter John
sons performance last season excellee
that of any other pitcher in the league
Notwithstanding the fact that Joe Woot
had a better winning percentage thar
the Nationals great pitcher. johnson
proved the hardest man to score on, ant
incidentally led the league In strike-outs
tanning 3O3, which is just ten below his
record.
All this was accomplished by johnson
notwithstanding the fact that he hao
period during the season when he was
not in good health and could not dc
himself justice. Barring aceident' John-
son ought to have a wonderful season
next year. He is but twenty-four years
old, and has had just enough experience
to make him at his best. incidentally ne
will have an incentive to work his best
His contract expires next season, and he
will naturally want to be in position
to demand an increase.
He will want to have a record which
he can point to to substantiate his claim
for a bigger salary. johnson pitched the
best ball of his career last season. he
was brilliant and showed evidence OF
experience. He will be an even better
pitcher next year, of that there is no
doubt.
Reports that Johnson intended to pitch
during the winter in California have been
proven erroneous. He is on his farm in
Coffeeville taking life easy, though he is
not keeping himself idle.
A perusal Of the pitching records of the
American League will show that John
son had some able assistants on the Ma
tionals' staff. Groom did not finish far
behind Johnson and CashiOn was right
behind Groom in the averages.
Hughes came next, having won more
<Iova hA Inst ND 10 a
as good a mark as O'Brien of Boston.
But the most encouraging feature or
the averages from a local standpoint is
where it is shown that Carl Cashion won
eleven games and lost six.
It was the big fellows first year in fast
company, having worked but a few
games the previous fall. and young
pitcher who can win a majority OF ms
games the first year of his major league
career is doing splendid work
Cashion's only fault has been his lack
of control, but there were occasions last
season when he seemed to be improving
in this respect. He should be much bet
ter next season, and once he gets so that
he can have confidence In his control, ne
will prove a most capable running mate
for Johnson.
Cashion will eventually make a great
pitcher. His physique is such that he
will be able to do a lot of work without
growing stale. With Cashion in posses
sion OF COntrOI next SedSOu, IIHhlH ,
chances to improve the teams standing
In the race will be materially increased.
A strong pitching staff is much more
valuable to a team than lot of hard
hitters. No team has ever won pen
nant which could not boast of two or
three really great twirlers. Even with
out Griffith's team being better to any
extent extensively, there would be good
chance for it to finish at the top next
season If another consistent pitcher was
developed Cashion looks to be the man
for the place. and II he comes through
next season and helps out Johnson and
Groom, Griffith will have a trio of twirl-
ers who will be able to take their regular
turn on the slab and lose decidedly few
games. But the team need not rely en-
tirely on Cashion. There are several other
youngsters on the staff who are sure to
make good sooner or later. Engel, for
instance. has all the earmarks of max
ing a good pitcher. and the few occasions
that Gallia worked he made a very ia
vorable impression. Nor must the veteran
Hughes be overlooked. If he can be
worked with plenty of rest between
games he, too, will prove winner. Then
there are several pitchers who have not
yet been seen in a Washington uniform