Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-14
ANXIOUS TO TAKE
NEW YORK SERIES
Griffith Wants Two Out of
Three From Yankees to
Break Even.
milwaukee MAY TAKE
ELBERFELD FROM GRlFF
a. A. Club Asks Price on
PIayer-Team Sure to
Improve.
BY J. ED oRILLo.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, April 1s.-Whatever
chance there was for the Nationals to
win one of the three games scheduled to
De played here during the present trip
was eliminated when cold rain blew UP
this morning and continued long enough
to make it necessary for Mack to call
OF the game.
Manager Griffith at once gave orders to
pack. and little after 4 O'Clock the team
boarded a train for New York, where
the players open series Of three games
Moncay.
Griffith is anxious to win two Of the
three games from the Yankees He
wants to have as near an even break
as it Is possible to get on the trip He
believes that his team will beat the Yam
KEGS two out Of three simply because
1t made so good a showing against the
worlds champions, even though it didn't
hit their pitchers. He doesn't figure
Wolverton's team as being in the same
class with the Athletics. and, while he
does not make the boast that his team
Is as strong as New York, he thinks they
are more nearly equal than his team
and Mack's wonders.
The batting slump is not apt to last
much longer. Players of the Milan type,
Tor instance. are not going through many
more games without getting the ball
into safe territory at least occasionally,
begin to find the ball 1t is not going to
be difficult matter to win games for
the pitchers give every evidence Of being
In midseason form. But not until the
team shows marked improvement in it's
stick work Is there any hope for victory.
There is another deal on to rid Griffith
of Kid Elberfeld. The Milwaukee club
American hoc
Gi1mth to put price on the player.
which he wired at once. Just what the
outcome Of the Griff1th-Elberfeld feud
will be remains to be seen. Each has
taken stand from which he will not
retreat, and 1t would not be at all sur
prising to see the entire matter aired
before the national commission.
Griffith contends that inasmuch as FL
berfe:d is an asset of the Washington
club he proposes to get somethingsin re-
turn for his release, while Eiberfeld
may want to send him without getting a
part Of the purchase money. Neither
does the veteran take kindly to the cut
in salary he would naturally have to
! that is why he has effectually blocked
every deal involving him which Griffith
has tried to make. Whether Elberfeld
vii agree to report to Milwaukee, is
cident will be closed so far as Griffith
and the Washington club are concerned.
Though they have lost the two games
they have played this season the Nation
ais are sure to prove themselves much
better team this year than they have
been in any recent campaigns Barring
the fact that the team has not been hit
ting anywhere near its gait. 1t has played
brilliant ball against the Athletics. A
base hit at the right time in either Of the
games would have meant victory, for In
every other respect the work Of the Ma
tionals was by no means overshadowed
by that Of the champions.
Not only is the team fielding splendidly.
but II 10 giving evidence of intelligent
base ball. something that has been lack
ing on most occasions in the teams his
tory.
That 1t cannot win at the rate it has
sure not TO continue in this rut much
longer. The whole trouble seems to be
with the head of the batting order Mi
Ian, Schaefer and Moeller are not getting
on the bags as they should. and this nat
uraily upsets everything the other end
Of the list might plan to do Milan is
the biggest kind Of disappointment, He
hits hike a novice and is badly or his
stride. He Is not taking his poor show
ing to heart. however, ascribing IT to
one Of the freaks that one encounters in
the game. He vows that he will get to
going going properly ere long, when he win
That Griffith has q strong infleld Is be-
coming more evident with every game
knight is not yet what he will be when
he II in good shape, but Flynn Nc
Bride and Foster make a great trio
There ID so much difference In their work
now compared with what 1t was in the
exhibition series that 1t is really hard to
recognize the players. Foster seems to
have come overnight. and his playing in
the two Philadelphia games was n6th-
ing short OF marvellous. All the Quaker
town critics are praising his work and
predicting that IL he can keep up the clip
ne will prove himself by far the best
nelding third baseman in the league
For an hour every morning Griffith has
his players attend q meeting at which
matters pertaining to the teams system
OF play are discussed and errors OF the
previous games pointed out. This IL an
innovation on the Washington team. but
1t Is nevertheless very popular with the
players, who realize that these discus
eions are Of great value to them The
teams playing also shows that 1t is being
much more smoothly than 1t ever has be-
fore and there is pleasing absence of
what are vulgariy called "bonehead''
plays. Grinith proposes to continue these
daily gatherings right to the finish of the
campaign. for he contends that these
meetings when properly conducted are
the making Of a ball player.
OF the first six games which the
Nationals are carded to play 1t is very
likely that Waiter johnson will pitch
sn ns win He n oHen eSooaS a Wae
FIRST game in New York Mounay. II
. game il played on that day he will
pitch II. and 1t 10 also the intention to
have him work the opening game in
Washington. Should It rain in New York
Monday. however. johnson will not be
saved for the opening game In WASH
jngton. but win be worked In the frst
johnson. by what he showed against the
Athletics Thursday, appears to be in
good form. and the fact that he was none
the worse for HIS experience the next
day absolutely proved this. II was the
first time this spring that he has gone the
entire route. and ne naturally expected to
be stiffened by reason OF the exertion.
CONTINUED on second Page.l