The Washington times., 1912-07-31
GRIFFITH WANTS TO
CHANGE POSITION
OF FIELD UMPIRE
Present System Interferes
With Vision of Second
= Baseman.
WILL CONFER WITH
PRESIDENT JOHNSON
Can Judge Play AS Well BY Stand.
ing Outside Of the
-" Diamond.
BY SENATOR"

BY SENATOR"
DETROIT, Mich, July 3.-Clark
Griffith, manager Of the Nationals, is
seeking a reformation in the practices
of the field umpires, who insist on
standing between the box and the Sec
ond basemen. He wants President Ban
Johnson to have them stand behind
the base lines and thus not interfere
with the vision of the second basemen
He will confer with Ban johnson next
week when he lands in Chicago.
This is an old argument with me-"
says Griffith. II have always contend
ed that the field umpire should not be
allowed to take a position inside the
play just as we'll without stepping in
side of the diamond. -
Ask any second baseman in the busi
ness today II the field umpire isn't more
than half the time in front of batted
ball. He Is right in line between the
plate and the second baseman. OF,
course he gets out Of the way as soon
as he can, but it frequently happens
that he interferes with the player try
ing to field the ball, especially when 1t
is a slow bounder and the player is
coming in on 1t.
1T shall try and have Ban Johnson in
struct his field umpires to take posi-
ton outside of the diamond next season.
OF course, they can cut across to third
base whenever the necessity arises. but
that regular position back of the box
should be abolished"
Trouble With Evans.
"I had some trouble with Billy Evans
in Cleveland, says Ray Morgan, the
Nationals wee second -sacker. 'On one
play he was right in front of me and I
couldn't see the batter at all. l yelled
to him and he stepped out of the line.
that moment might
been hit to me. If it had 1t would have
gone right by, too, for l never had a
chance to see 1t coming.
THE second baseman Is the only one
bothered by the umpire in the field. He
never stands on the other side of the
box. The second baseman always has a
big bulk in front Of him. 1t isn't fair
to us, either. hope President Johnson
can see the point of Griffith's conten-
ton: It would be great help to us
second basemen."
Henry Resting.
John Henry, resting at his home in
Amherst. Mass, has reported to Grif-
fith that his injured knee is recovering
very slowly, and that he may not be
able to report for a few weeks yet.
However, he is willing to join the team
at once, If Griffith says the word. The
manager will do this though. hgur-
ing that Henry Is useless to the team in
his present condition, and he will allow
him to take his own time about report
ing; =,
says Griffith, there's no need of Hem
rvs hurrying. He can take his time. II
a pinch comes, and l feel he rnight do
we'll to take light exercise with the
team, shall have him join the team
at once. But that doesn't seem prob
able"
1t is very chilly here. and many of the
players are suffering. from slight colds.
However, they are in excellent condi-
tion every other way. Dan Moeller Is
suffering no pain whatever from his in
jured shoulder, and was in the lineup
today
ming at least three Of these four
Games to be played with the Tigers
on this trip. However, he does not
intend to use Walter johnson in the
box Until Friday. He hopes to have
Cashion make good today. That will
allow Bob Groom to pitch tomorrow's
game. johnson comes after him on
Friday and either Hughes or Petty
close the series in this city. The first
game in Chicago next Sunday will
probably see Jim Vaughn in the points
for the Climbers.
without exception the players we're
pleased today that they will be able
to get int" the game again. Not one
OF them calcs for vacations while the
in there every day fighting for the
in their every day fighting for the
nsst dom,t h"n9fS; s;ls tnsss short vacations "
said Manager Griffith today. They are
bad for any team and particularly for
q winning tenn. 1t doesn't take much
for a winning team to lose its stride.
Both the Nationals and the Athletics
are likely to suffer from their two days
rest on this trip. Something should be
done about billing games in Cleveland
during grand circuit week. Either do
not schedule them there at all or play
them anyway, regardless of the races.
II think that yesterdays workout, how
ever will tend to counteract the ef-
fects Of the rest l hope so, anyway,
for for ! am hot on the trail of the Red
Pull for Tigers.
Manager Griffith, accompanied by his
entire team, witnessed yesterdays VIC
tory of the Tigers over the Mackmen in
the last inning at Navin Field. 1t is
needless to say that they were roofing
for the Jungaleers and they were a
appy' bunch when that winning run
came over in the final frame.
The score board in center field with
its story of the White Sox victory over
the McAleer troupe, attracted the at
tention OF every member of the Climbers
They watched that story inning by inning
and raised quite tumult in the grand
stand when the Chicago victory was
settled.
The Climbers have now gained q
lull DOtu tHS "Ull6 oOA dlU
the Athletics. Griffith expects ia
gain at least two more on the leaders
before the team returns to Washing.
ton. He points to the fact that Joe
Wood and Ray Collins were knocked
out of the box by the Callahan tribt
as evidence of their approaching
weakness on the mound.
The bad blood between the Athletics
and the Climbers asserted itself sew
eral times yesterday. Both teams were
stopping at the same hotel and Eddie
Collins would not look at Gandil. whC
was charged recently with attempt
ing to spike him in the game "a
Washington. Ira Thomas. Franz
Baker, Chief Bender. and Jack Barry
hobnobbGd with their friends on thc
Washington club but the others stay
ed away. Several times during th'
game sarcastic remarks were tosset
at the Mackmen bY some of the Climb
ers, but that was all Clark Griffith
breathed a sigh OF relief when Connie
Mack took his team away to CleNe