Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-07
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHICAGO June THE pennant bee is
buzzing in Clark Grif1ith's bonnet. The
manager of the Nationals would perhaps
be the least surprised individual in the
world If his ball team finished at the top
of the heap in the present campaign. He
is not making any predictions but he
insists that he has not seen ball team
this year which he would rather be in
charge of than the Nationals.
Not one of the teams that we have
played. and we have met them all. has
anything on u.s. said he. I'VE have not
been outplayed in a single series. and
while we have lost games that we should
have won they were lost because the
breaks of the game went against us.
will frankly say that at no time In my
twenty-five years experience in base ball
have I been connected with a team which
like as well as the one / am now man.
aging Not only have We a great ball
team, greater than any one suspects, but
1t Is a pleasure to be identified with
a lot Of players who do nothing but
hustle and are inspired with that spirit
which makes winning ball teams. If
had one left-handed pitcher of class.
fellow like Plank, l would want to go on
record now as believing that we would
win the pennant; but as 1t is. We may
land there, and we are sure to be con-
tenders right down to the finish We
have a team which can score runs, and
whenever that Is the case all that is need
ed is good pitching to assure success
Nothing that the Nationals accomplish
this year will surprise me. and / want to
say that any team which beats us out in
the race will know it has been in a
struggle"
Nothing that has happened this spring
Torrance OF Paul Musser in yesterdays
game. Musser proved beyond question
that he is entitled to be worked regularly
from this out. and that he will win a
majority of his games. He did not go
the entire route yesterday. but while he
worked he gave evidence of being a
really great pitcher. He worked In six
innings, allowed but two hits. both OF
them scratches, walked three men and
did not allow run. His control was
much better than was expected. and the
stuff that he displayed shows plainly
that Griffith has uncorked another twirler
who will be hard to beat.
While one could not help but regret that
Musser had to leave the game, yet 1T
was a splendid bit of judgment to make
the change and bring Walter Johnson
into the struggle. Not only did Walter
stop the Sox, who rallied. but he was
directly responsible for the overwhelm-
ing victory. in that he made home run
with one on the bases, which virtually
changed a hard fought battle to an easy
victory.
Musser performed brilliantly He has
all the earmarks Of a pitcher who will
have to be reckoned with. but in the sixth
inning he slipped a cog which might have
been avoided. Kuhn, the first man to
face him, with two strikes and three
hoI lie him hit QrOyIndcr to
short. Mcbride had to cover ground on
the ball. fumbled and then made low
throw to first and Kuhn was safe. Walsh
followed with scratch hit over second
which no one could reach, and there were
two on. Musser pitched splendidly to
Rath. having him three and two for
some time, and then showing ball after
ball over the plate. which were fouled
He finally walked him. The Nationals
had a two-run lead at the time, and
Johnson was called in to save the day.
He did it. but not without the assistance
of Shanks. who played marvellous game
In left. 1t was his catch of Lords low
liner which undoubtedly saved the day.
Though taken out. Musser made a splen-
did impression. and there is not the
slightest doubt that he will be heard from
from this out.
The good showing of Musser means
much to the team Griffith now has a
pitching staff which will compare favor
ably with any in the league IT, in fact.
II does not prove iteslf the superior of
all Musser and Engel. two youngsters,
have displayed ability. and i'm addition
to this pair he has Johnson. Groom and
Hughes, five pitchers any one of whom
is apt to win from any team he is stack
ed UP against. Within the next few weeks
Cashion will be added to the regular
staff. and then Griffith will have one of
| the strongest combinations there is in
the league
This pennant-winning talk is not all
| tablished reputation as a tail-end team,
! Washington is never taken seriously.
When it wins or plays good ball the
| average fans consider 1t a mere dem
onstration of the uncertainty of base
ball There are not many players in
Griffith's lineup who have established
regulations. but. mark, the prediction, be-
fore this season is over there is going
to be a general awakening, and fol-
lowers of the sport are going to realize
that Washington has great ball team
one which will have to be considered
when the probable winner of the race is
being discussed.
| The eyes Of the Chicago fans have
been opened There has been a Won
derful change of opinion here as a result
of the two games which the Nationals
have PLAYED with the league leaders.
| The fact that Griffiths team drove Walsh
| from the rubber yesterday came like a
l thunderclap from clear sky, and In
cidentally brought about the realiza-
| ton that Washington has real ball
team.
Unknown though its members are to a
great extent, there is lot of class to that