Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-05
BY J. ED GRILLO.

There is no way for the Nationals to
lose second place, though they may have
to share the honor with the Athletics. A
victory today, however, would assure
Griffith's men of the runner-up position in
the race which is about to close, while a
defeat for them and a victory for the
Athletics would leave it tie between the
two.
Should either game be prevented. it
! would give the position to the Nation
tals, which would also be true in the event
that either team figured in a tie game.
1t is not unlikely that Griffith will send
Walter Johnson into today's game in an
effort to clinch his hold on second place.
If the does not use johnson from the out
set Carl Cashion will have to shoulder
the burden though it is certain that john
son will be kept in readiness to stem the
| tide should Cashion go wrong at any
time.
| Grifiith's players are putting up a game
| fight. They have played their best ball
| in the two days they have been in New
York. and it is needless to say that they
will make special effort to take the
| final game from the aHkeeS thls ditei-
noon.
This wears team has made the best
showing of any Washington team since
this city has been represented in organ
lied base ball. which covers PERIOD OF
/ over forty years.
Next to Walter Johnson, Bob Groom has
| been Griffith's most successful pitcher
! and it would seem that he Will start in
| the next campaign with two pitchers who
can be relied upon to win large ma
jority of their games. This has been the
| first year in five that Groom has shown
| the sort of form that was expected OF
| him when his natural ability was taken
| into consideration. Barring accident he
should be just as good II not better next
season.
A pitching staff which has for necleus
| a pair of pitchers who nave won over
! most formidable. Griffith apparently has
| the material to bolster up that staff.
making it one Of the best in the league.
j Cashion is the most promising of the
] youngsters. but there are others who by
! next season ought to show something.
| while the fact must not be overlooked
| that old Tom Hughes when worked prop
ery is of much help to the team Hughes
| filled the hole this summer while John
| son was indisposed and he did Splendidly,
! hut Griffith made the serious mistake of
! trying to work him three times in five
| days and that proved too much for the
| veteran and gave him a serious setback.
| Next season Hughes Will De used only
!
that he win win most OF his games.
| There is bound to be change in the
i speculative sentiment 80 far as the Red
| Sox and Giants are concerned. The work
of the Boston team during the past few
weeks has not been of a caliber that
would create confidence among its follow
ers. The team has played erratic ball,
! and while it is true that the absence of
Larry Gardner makes some difference.
| his presence cannot possibly make the
change which will be necessary if Boston
expects to win the series from the Giants
| One thing is certain, If the Giants play
as good ball this fall as they did against
the Athletics last year they will come
| pretty near to winning. 1t is plain that
| the Red SoX are not near the team that
were the Athletics. and Mack's team got
all the breaks when they downed the
Giants.
| Joe Kelley manager Of the Toronto
! team, pennant winners in the Interna-