Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-08-21
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Only remote chance remains for the
Nationals to win the pennant. The lead
of eight and a half games which the Red
SOx hold at this time seems almost too
great an advantage to be overcome, and
vet stranger things have happened. The
fight is now narrowed down to Boston
and Washington. for by the dropping OF
a double header to Chicago yesterday the
Athletics appear to be hopelessly out OF
the running so far as the pennant is con-
cerned, and there does not appear to be
much chance for them to finish ahead OF
Washington. But Boston has not the
lead cinched by any means. There are
still some forty games to be played, and
while it is true that the expected slump
of the Red Sox has failed to materialize
to date, there is still time for it to make
its appearance.
Matters may SO shape themselves that
it will finally be a question of which
team Washington Boston, can win a
ma jority of the seven games which TINS
pair are to play in September. Washing
ton visits Boston September t. ., d and a..
then the Red Sox come here for three
game series later in the month. There
is, to say the least probability OF the
margin now existing between the two
teams being cut down.
other one of its long winning streaks.
and Boston is apt to lose game now
and then, so that when the clash comes
between the two leaders it may be a
question of which can win the ma
jority of the seven games. To date the
Nationals have won a majority OF the
! games they have played with Boston.
If the team is close to Boston when
their series comes Griffith is sure to
put forth every effort to gain on his
rivals and Johnson may be asked to
| work out of turn several times to bring
this about.
A three game lead does not cinch
second place for the Nationals by any
means. but the performance of the
Athletics has not been consisten ut
enough of late to warrant the belief
that the champions are still to be
feared. Once Mack's players realize
are not apt to put much enthusiasm
into their work. Then. too. Mack MAJ
begin to figure on the future and put
in the remainder of the season expert
menting with youngsters. something
that Griffith is not apt to do so long as
his team is within hailing distance of
the leaders and has a good chance to
finish second.
yersalS. they have proven themselves a
game aggregation in that they have al
ways come back. They have hung close
to the Red Sox land should the lead be
cut down Boston is the team which will
do the worrying.
1t is frequently asserted that We're il
not for Walter johnson the Nationals
would be nowhere in the race. This may
be true to certain extent. for it stands
TO reason that a pitcher who has won
twenty games is of much value to a
team But what applies to Washington.
so far as Johnson is concerned. is also
true of the other teams which have made
good showinSS in the race. Where would
Boston be but for Wood. and had ii not
been for the good work of Plank the
Athletics would be in the second division.
Pick out any winning team. and you will
find it in possession of a pitcher to whom
its success can be attributed. Winning
ball teams have to depend on good pitch
ing. There never was winner which did
not have a pitching star, and it also
stands to reason that even a great pitcher
must have a good team behind him in
order to make any sort of showing.
The development of Carl Cashion gives
the Nationals prospects OF the greatest
pitching staff that any team has ever
been able to boast Of. On what Cashion
has shown of late he gives promise or
being a competent running mate for
Walter Johnson by next season. and two
such pitchers can carry a team along
even though surrounded by mediocre
helpmates. But Griffith has other pitchers
of ability. Groom and Hughes are