Evening star., 1912-07-15
BY J. ED GRILLo.

In an effort to make it six straight from
| the White Sox Manager Griffith will send
Bob Groom to the slab this afternoon
Nothing is more pleasing to Griffith than
/ victories over the Sox, who are in charge
of his old pal and former teammate
Jimmy Callahan Callahan had the laugh
on Griff when the Sox made their first
appearance here this season and took
| four straight but Griff got more than
even since then. His Nationals during
| their recent invasion Of the west took
the Sox into camp four straight days. and
made 1t five by winning Saturday. But
| that does not satisfy Griff. He wants the
two remaining games, and he figures that
Groom is the man to turn the trick today.
| Bright and early this morning Griffith
was at the ball park. He expected to
find the field flooded as a result of last
| nights downpour, but was agreeably sur
| prised to discover it in better shape
| than 1t has ever been. The hard rain
had packed it down. and it was as smooth
as a billiard table and frmer than 1t
has been for some time.
! Callahan will most likely pitch Benz
or Lange, either Of whom is capable and
usually very hard to- beat. Williams will
| handle Groom for the first time this sea-
| son.
Should Comiskey succeed in getting
| Hal Chase from New York it would
| make big difference in the White Sox
Once away from New York. Chase would
| play much better ball. He has been with
the Yankees too long and under condi-
| tions which have been far from ideal
| He is no longer appreciated there and
the fans charge him with not trying
when he happens to go poorly, because
1 fc <ha< Io ;e tool or uor
Wolverton, who succeeded him as man.
ager.
| The wisest thing the New York club
| can do is to get rid of Chase, and Chi
cago no doubt could offer good induce
mentS for trade.
Harry Davis Maps are doing the Ma
| tionals some good turns by winning from
| the Athletics. Four out of five from the
| champions is about as good a perform
ance as the Maps have been able to boast
of for some time. It is because of this
| good showing that the Nationals have
| drawn away from Connie MacKs team.
| which they are now leading by four
games. 1t may happen. too. that the
| Maps will do more good work when they
| play Boston, thus helping to cut down
| the margin between the Red Sox and
| Grif1th's team. Boston has six and
| half game lead over Washington, a
| rather comfortable margin, but one that
can be cut down hurriedly should slump
overtake the leaders. And slumps do
come to teams. The New York Giants
are just now experiencing one. which il
| 1t continues little longer may make
| the National League race a very inter-
esting one before the season comes to a
| close.
Though still confined to his bed at
Georgetown Hospital. John Henry's in
| jury is not as serious as was at first
| believed. There are no bones broken in
| his knee nor is the knee injured. The
trouble Is with the ligaments. which have
| Henry will be back at work within three
weeks.
st. Louis follows the White Sox here,
and as there is a postponed game with
| the Browns, they will open here with a
double-header Wednesday. It will help
! the Nationals a whole lot to make
cleanup of the five games with the low
| ly Browns, though this cannot be accom-
| plished without the team putting forth
| its very best efforts.
Walter Johnson's performance Saturday
| was the best he has shown since his re-
cent illness. Johnson is rounding into
from this out johnson will likely make
his next appearance in the double-header
with st. Louis Wednesday.
| Gr1ntn u1Q not make mistake Wnen
he secured Barney Petty and Jim
Vaughn for his pitching staff. Both
have done excellent work since coming
here. and have made the Nationals
pitching department one Of the strong
est in the league. The change that has
taken place in the work Of these two
jplayers since changing clubs is only an
lother instance which shows that environ
ments have much to do with a ball
players success. Neither was Of much
value to the team he was with. yet both
have shown winning form since join
ing the Nationals.
| 1t was a brilliant move to secure
| these pitchers when Grifith did. He
might have experimental for months
| with minor league talent in an effort
| to bolster up his pitching staff, and
would not have found two men as COM
petent as Vaughn and Petty.
To no individual does the credit for
| the Nationals good showing in the
race belong. Second place has been
| gained with a chance for the pennant,
because of the strength which Griffith's
combination presents as a whole. His
team has speed, is only fair in hitting,
but has good pitchers, and is strong
Extensively. There is not slow man