The Washington times., 1912-04-13
| Connie Mack Favors Grif-
! fith's Policy in Developing
a New System.
PLAYERS SHOW FIGHT
IN ARGUING POINTS
Hour Is Spent Each Day in Dis
cussion and Study
|. of Game. 49,.
By SENATOR.

BY SENATOR"
PHILADELPHIA. Pa, April 13-
Though the Nationals have yet to win
their first game in the campaign Of
1917, they give every sign of being an
improved outfit over last years aggre-
cation. Connie Mack, astute leader Of
the worlds champions, is favorably in
clined toward them on what he has
seen.
Manager Griffith has a better team
this season than McAleer had in 1911,
said Mack today. IF nothing more the
team has gained in speed very de-
;sirable quality in baseball as 1t is played
these days. OF course, there are many
weaknesses in the team yet. but / ap-
lprectate the position in which Griffith
lis placed. He is experimenting hoping
10 hnd team to suit him. l had to
do that long time before got together
my team of today. However, Washing
ton ought to be glad that a manager Is
In charge of the team who is radical
enough to cut out the old system and
attempt to build from the ground up.
i wish Griffith all the success in the
world"
The Nationals are going to school in
earnset, too. each morning there is an
hours session in the managers room,
where plays are studied and the weak
nesses of opposing players discussed,
the mem bers of the team are urged to
offer their own original explanations Of
plays and the freest possible discussion
is held.
Griffith is putting a lot OF life into
his team in every way. They are fight
Ing for every point, every ball, and
every strike. No more has Washing
ton a weak, inoffensive outfit, willing to
take anything and say nothing. A rec
ord is likely to be made this season for
tthe number of players banished from
the park or the game. Captain Nc
,.Hridn iS IN
leader In all these arguments with the
iumpires.
Yesterday he came close TO being fired
out of the game by Umpire Westervelt.
You don't get anything without fight
ing for it," says Griffith. "and want
my team to be fighting all the time
A cold, steady rain started last night
and continued all morning, but Connie
Mack refused to call the game until the
last moment. II there Is sufficient time,
the Nationals will leave at o'clock to-
day for New York.
! Though there were some startling
fielding plays by Dan Moeller and Eddie
Foster in juxtaposition with admirable
twirling by Dixie Walker, the Mackmen
fogged their way to glorious victory
second time over the Nationals yester-
day to the tune OF to !.
A Doleful Story.
AS long as the Griffithites can col
lect as few hits as they have started
to collect this season in their daily con-
ficts upon the turf, this will be the
tale from sunrise to sunset, and no
amount of alibis will change the dole
full story. Yesterday they might have
copped the honors with few we'll
placed bingles, for Dixie Walker had
but one bad inning. But ICY" Morgan.
tthe spitball hurler. was weaving a
marvellous spell upon their wagon
tongues, and 1t wasn't any use for
Moeller to rush around to the fence for
q long fly or for Eddie Foster to stop
everything shot at him. or for Jack
Flynn to develop telescope arms and
are not scored against any team these
days, particularly the worlds cham
.pions, except with few bingles to
help along.
Morgan was in perfect condition. His
splitter was working beautifully, and his
control could not be beaten. He made
the heaviest hitters pull away from the
pan or dive foolishly after his wide
ones. Eleven of the Washington lads
swung like gates at the delivery, and
only Dan Moeller was credited with
making safe drive; There just ,wasn't
they played great ball in the field and
shrieked and scratched like a bunch o
wildcats from first to last. That ISM
the way runs are manufactured.
Baker Gets a Hit.
In the sixth, with j. Franklin Bak.
er, hero of Trappe. Md. and future
constable of that fourishing burl
when his baseball days are done
prancing about on first base, Danny
Murphy cracked a resounding drive
between Moeller and Milan. 1t seem
ed out of the reach of either noble
young athlete and the frigid fans
+ jumped to their feet with yells an(
screams. They wanted even NOR,
runs than the three already scored
But Daredevil Dan" Moeller was VI
and away, running for the little grad,
reached third in his made plung'
and Murphy was well set for seconc
when Mueller got under the sphert
and mace neat catch of II. Thi
Moeller person is some fielder.
Morgan had the Nationals dining of
his digits from the opening of th
battle to its very end. In the thirC
he passed Dixie Walker. but got tn
feet-footed Milan for the last deatl
However. his mound supremacy suf
fered a partial eclipse in the fourtl
and the Nationals were quick to fal
upon him Schaefer waited aroun,
until given free transportation. Noel
Ter hammered one on the ground t
Barry's right and the crack shortstol
knocked ii down, but couldn't Ee
either runner. This went as a hit
to become the one lone hit made b,
the Nationals during the melee. Nor
gan appeared tlustered at that. toe
sent both lads up a peg.
Here is the bitter pill:
WAsHINGToN, II PHILADELPHIA.