Evening star., 1912-09-03
BY ]. ED GRILLo.


Griffith's team has gone stale. There is
as much difference in the team now, COM
pared to what it was six weeks or so ago,
as there is between night and day.
That stay at home during the month OF
August caused the setback Inc op-
pressive heat and humidity seems to nave
taken all the vitality out of the players.
Barring one or two. there is not man
in the lineup playing anywhere near ms
standard Visiting players who stay LOT
three or four days complain OF the eHect
the heat has on them during their so1ourn
here, and the Nationals have been here
for a month or so straight away
One has but to watch the team at work
to realize what ails 1t. Every one ol tue
players seems to be forcing hlmseif. ana
even then they present the appearance OF
being weak and stale
Milan, Moeller, Gandil and even John-
son. who until yesterday seemed TO nave
retained his good condition. are all af-
fected. The three first named were the
strength of the team earlier in the sea
son, yet for the past month nave Deen
able to do little or nothing. Ihelr lilttlns
has been lamentably weak. and natur-
aIlv their general playing has suffered.
There is no doubt that the advantage
which Boston has had in the matter or
climate has had much to do win the
failure of a slump to appear sea DreeAes
are invigorating to athletes, Wnie the
humidity and oppressive heat of this sec
ton makes it hard for ball players to re-
tain their form.
Griffith believes that his team will
show much better form when 1t gets
away from here. 1t has done us pes.
work on the road during this entire
campaign, and Griffith says that 1t will
continue to do so.
Walter Johnson was hit harder yes
terday than he has been at any time
this year The big fellow was far
from being right. He had neither con-
troll nor that terrific speed, and the
Athletics had no trouble fattenlns
their batting averages at his expense.
Walter. like several other OF the pay
ers. does not look we'll, yet Is not ac-
tually sick and, like some OF his team
mates, he is far from being in form
The Nationals hold on second place
is in Jeopardy. Should the Athletics
make it three straight today they Will
pass the Nationals, and it is then ques-
tionable whether the locals Will ever
be able to regain that position.
Beginning tomorrow the the ,a,ts Athleufs Uth
the Yankees, while the Nationals VIII
have four games with Boston, which
condition undoubtedly gives the Ath-
letics a shade the best of it..
At that. New York is not piay1ng poor
hail The closeness of the scores in the
games with Boston yesterday would indl-
cate that tho Yankees were troublesome,
and it may be that they will not prove
the means of helping out Connie Mack
outfit.
From this out Manager Griffith Will
have to depend more than he has on MS
Young pitchers. 1t is very evldent that
most of the veterans have gone stale. ana
the youngsters, who nave Worhed VI.
little this season. should be fresh ana
ready to go the route. The work of MUS
ser and Engel yesterday was most salts
factory. OF course. Musser was not as
steady as a pitcher should be. but IL was
the first time in over two months tnat ne
has been given opportunity to pitch in
game. and he could hardly be expected TO
have control Engel finished the nrst
game. and gave splendid exhiDition.
From this out Griffith should work
these youngsters regularly TOT oo'h seem
certain to deliver
Murphy, the right fielder of the worlds
champions, recently secured from baitl-
more. has all the earmarks OF belng
valuable man for the team. There does
not seem to be any doubt as to Murphy's
ability to hit. He hit every one OF the
pitchers whom Griffith sent against MIN
Yesterday, barring Joe Engel. VINO only
performed in a little over one round. IN
the first game Murphy got three hits ana
in the second he duplicated this per-
formance at the expense of Johnson, his
drives including a double. incidentally
he appears fast on his feet and handled
himself we'll in the Geld. Walsh. another
outfielder secured from the same team,
played in the morning game. but was re-
placed by Maggart in the afternoon lie
does not look formidable at the bat.
Somehow or other things never break
right for the Nationals when they are
hooked up with the Athletics. Any sort
of a misplay is always damaging, and it
so happens that the Athletics hits are, as
a rule. productive. Yesterday they We're
fortunate to have the first game handed
to them on misplays, and then caught
Walter johnson on day when ne ola
not look any better than some ordinary
pitcher.
Eddie Foster is still about the most con-
sistent player on Griffith's team. The lit
tie fellow has not slumped any time dur
ing the season. keeps up his usual gait
with the stick and plays his position in
the same old way. Foster would be even
more valuable If either Milan or Moeller
who have alternated at leading off. were
going in their usual form and getting on