Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-26
WASHINGTON SHOULD
BE CONTENDER FROM
START OF FLAG RACE

Evidently the Washington baseball
teams climb last year from seventh
place to second increased the box
Office receipts good deal, for Mana
ser Clark Griffith is doing more TO for
tify the club for the present season
than was ever done before. In years
past the club generally went into
spring training with twenty or twenty
five men, as there was very little
money in the treasury, but this yeal
the number was boosted to thirty-six
The teams fine work under the able
teneraliship OF Griffith proved thai
Washington fans were willing to spend
their money for good sport. and the
Indications are that nothing short OF a
whole lot of bad luck viii keep the
Nationals out OF the wind-up struggle
for the American League pennant thi:
year, for they have. in addition t.
their old string of regulars, promis
ing collection of recruits The mer
are sized up by Harry H Fry, the
Washington Stars baseball writer, In
special article In the Chicago Even
ing Post:
Stronger Team.
There Is. no denying the fact thai
the washington club win be at least
10 per cent better In 1913 than last
year, this advance being based on the
certain improvement to be expected
from Pitcher Cashion and outfeldel
Shanks Cashion continued to inn
prove throughout the season. and al
its close looked exceptionally good
He Is as big and strong as Walter
Johnson, and has almost the speed oil
The Coffeyville wonder. Cash couldn't
get them over the better part OF last
season. but he kept eve-.astingly at il
and his control was fairly good in the
final games. With Johnson. Groom
andx Tom Hughes doing their usual
work and Cashion showing improve
slent over last year, 1t can easily be
seen that the pitching department
looks very good In addition Grif hss
twelve other young pitchers on his
list, the best of whom is Engle, who
worked with the team last year. Man
ager Griffth's hobby, as is we'll known,
ia his pitching force. and the remark
able way he bettered Bob Groom last
year speaks volumes for his ability In
improving the Youngsters he has .un.
der contract.
There is nothing too good to saw
about Washington's catching stan,
every one az the trio-Henry, Ain.
smith, and Williams -being star last
year. Williams was thought to be
the weak sister" by many OF the wise
BOYS until John Henry was injured,
and then the ex-Red Sox receiver
came to the front with flying colors;
IN fact. he was so strong with the
stick that he was frequently sent In
as pinch hitter, somelhing very IN
usual in the big leagues HanrE came
out 81 the hospital recently with HIS
had knee reported as good as ever, SO
that the three receivers can be de-
pended upon to deliver the goods from
start to finish.
Second Base Problem.
Second base Is the one position that
has been worrying Grif ever since last
July, when Morgan ablew," up to the
present llIuG. FEOLl l06 ODGuluk vi
the season until July. Ray Morgan hit
over the 300 mark and then faded
away to almost nothing. Laporte was
secured. and filed in nicely with HIS
big bIudgecn but he is tust 4leetIer
bit too slow In fielding for team with
pennant chances. Crit IS figuring on
starting Morgan again at second, and
should the little fellow hold on with
the bat the washington club will be a
very dangerous contender for the flag.
GandiI at first is touted to show i'm
rrovement this year, but IL he shows
as well as last year nothing more
could be asked. Grif figures that Gan
diPs experience last year will help
him a gerat deal. but he loses sight
of the fact that the American League
twirlers have also sized up the big
first baseman. and he will have to be
very clever to again hit over the 300
mark. Foster, the other kid" secured
last vear may imnrove hut everybody