Evening star., 1912-09-05
BY j. ED GRILLo.


Special Dispatch to Tho Star.
BOSTON, September MIR. Griffith had
an opportunity yesterday to watch -four
Of his young pitchers in action in an
effort TO stop the onward march of the
Red Sox. and it is perhaps unnecessary
10 say that he did not spend an enjoyable
afternoon.
The trouble with every one of the re-
cruits was that he lacked that essential
requisite. control. and as result OF
which the home team and the coming
champions rolled up runs with compara-
tive ease. Engle was the first to fall.
He got out of the first inning with a
whole skin, but in the second made the
fatal mistake of walking Ray Collins. a
weak hitter. after two were out and one
run had been scored. Then happened
what usually comes as punishment for
too much liberality toward weak stick
ers-some scattered hits-and the first
thing he knew four runs were over the
plate. That, of course, settled Engle. and
Gallia was trotted out. He went little
over an inning when he, too. was benched
because. like Engle, he could not locate
the plate. Musser took his place. and,
while he showed an occasional flash. he
was too unsteady. and finally Herring
was presented. He worked in but one
inning, and let ii be said for him that he
left a much better impression than his
predecessors.
The trouble with Griffith's pitchers was
that none of them seemed to be familiar
with the work expected OF them Tney
have not been in the game enough. Dut
that condition will not exist by the Tune
this trip Is over. for Griffith hopes to find
out Just what he has in his grab bag be-
fore next spring.
The Boston team is a smooth moving,
well-balanced piece of machinery. 1t is
q much better ball team now than what
ii was when the Nationals played here
last. 1t can hit, run and seems TO have
pitching which is of the best. III II Is
weak at all it is behind the bat. There
is no wiser catcher than Carrigan, but
nature has not endowed him with a good
throwing arm and all the base ball brains
in the world would not make up for that
sort of a deficiency. Then, too. this chap
Yerkes at second is far from major
league fielder. but he can clout and that.
of course, makes up for some or his
awkward work in the field. But there IS
nothing to be said detrimental TO the rest
OF the aggregation. That inneid, even
with Engel on first, compares we'll with
any i'm either league and there never was
better outfield. This makes combina-
tion which is in a fair way to win the
pennant and is sure to make 1T decidedly
interesting for the team which opposes
IL in the world series. be it Giants or
Cubs.
The question of who shall hold the
American League record for consecutive
victories will likely be decided during
the present series between the Fed Sox
and Nationals. Manager Griffith this
morning called on Manager Jake Stahl
OF the local club and proposed to him
10 pitch Wood and Johnson on the same
day. Stahl insisted that they had no
regular day to work Wood. and that he
a to 10 or1rt1 20
ment.
Griffith thereupon announced that john
would he held back until such day
Wood would pitch. and If the Boston
star is not worked in the present series
Wood will have shown the white feather.
Before Wood can lay claim to having
beaten Johnson's record of sixteen
straight he must meet him in this series
and let the best man win." said Griffith
IF they don't work him against US. and
they can't unless he hooks up with
Johnson. it will be ample proof that they
are picking games for Wood to work
in so that he can have a record. If
Stahl is game sportsman he will send
Wood against Johnson and let them fight
il out. IL Wood can beat Walter he will
have the record cinched but don't think
he can beat him..
Johnson naturally is anxious to hold
the record he has gained and he has told
Griffith that nothing would delight him
more than to pitch one of the games here
against Wood. AS the meeting of this
pair OF stars would be a great attrac-
ton there is no doubt that II will be
arranged
A big reception for Eddie Ainsmith has
been planned by the good citizens of
Cambridge. his home. during his stay
here. but If his friends and admirers
witnessed yesterdays game IL is apt to
he called off. Ainsmith has not given so
miserable an exhibition since he Joined
the Nationals. There was no department
of the game I'm which he made good The
Sox stole bases on him at Will. he did
not support the young pitchers well. and
is charged with two wild throws In
cdentally he struck out twice. 1t was
surely an off day for AInsmith and his
work had much to do with the number Of
runs the coming champions secured.
Manager Griffith completed arrange
ments today for an exhibition game with
the Cincinnati National League Club. to
he played at Syracuse. next Monday. The
Washington club will receive 81 900 for
exhibiting its athletes at the fair grounds.
but the chances are that the game will
he worth seeing. for IL stands to reason
that Griff1th will do everything In his
power to beat his old team.
The attendance in Boston is exception
ally good. Notwithstanding the fact that
the new plant is not popular, because OF
its inaccessibility. Yet the people OF this
town are enthusiastic about their ball tea m
and they patronizing the game well.
IL is sure TO be a great year for Jimmy
McAleer. who will come pretty near put
ting himself on easy street In one season.
The attendance yesterday was enormous.
Every seat In II inciosure was taken,
and they do not deal for the 2s-cent
patronage here. either. The Nationals
are sure TO prove the best drawing card
that has been here this year. especially
IN the team can win game or so. Bos-
ton folk have grown tired OF seeing the
Red Sox win. They want an opposing
team to come along and give them real
battle. and because of the Nationals posi-
ton In the race they figured Griffith' S
team as the one to give some interesting
exhibitions The opening game however
did not show much for once Collins had
four-run lead he was not exertng
himself
Chick Gandil seems 20 have recovered
his batting eve. He was very much in
evidence in yesterdays game. hitting the
and a single. His triple was a terrific
line drive right over first base. which
carried TO the right field stands on a
line. But Chick threw away run when
he tried to score on ball which Carri-
gan threw TO Gardner and which did not
roll more than FIVE feet from the third
baseman. Gandil was nailed at the plate
when he tried TO score. and Laporte fol-
lowed with long line drive TO Speaker
which would have scored Gandil easily
had he remained at third.
Cashion will likely hook up with O Brien
OF Hall today. and it Is needless 10 say
that he will have his hands full in tha,