Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-28
GRIFFITH TRYING
TO GET Joe LAKE
Nationals Chief Thinks Vet
eran Would Be of Much
Value to Finish Games.
EDDIE FOSTER BEING
MISSED FROM LINE up
Careful Play of Third Baseman
Is Always One of the Decisive
Factors in Locals Work.
BY J. ED GRILLol
Special Dispatch to The Star. l

Special Dispatch to The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, April 2S.-Manager
Grifnth is making another effort TO Sc
cure the services of Joe Lake. the veter
an pitcher OF the Detroit clubs. Waivers
have again been asked on Lake and Grit
nth has refused to grant them in the
hope that he can add Lake to his own
pitching staff. Grihith figures that for a
while. at least. all his young pitchers are
apt to need help in any game they start
and he figured that Lake would be just
the man to have around to go on the slab
in case of emergency, because he has
spit ball and is always bothersome for
few innings.
II is, OF course. a bit strange that De-
troit, which needs pitchers badly, should
want to let Lake go if he can be of any
service to the Nationals, but as Griffith
only wants to use him to finish games he
would be intended for an entirely differ
ent purpose In Washington than he is
serving in Detroit. where he is a regular
member Of the pitching staff and expect
ed to take his turn on the rubber.
Whether Lake will be turned over to
Washington depends entirely on whether
the Detroit club is willing to accept the
waiver price for him.
Walter johnson will most likely be OPP
posed by big Chief Bender this after
noon unless Mack takes it for granted
that johnson will win his game and
sends one OF his numerous youngsters to
the slaughter. Just who Griffith will pitch
Tuesday Is not determined. 1t may be
that Cashion will be given his first
chance to show since the season opened,
for the big fellow is believed to have
rounded into form. but il it isn't Cashion.
Bob Groom will try to redeem himself
for his poor showing In the Boston series.
Tom Hughes should have won his game
Saturday. He pitched we'll enough to
have come out on top even though his
team did not do any timely hitting. The
was made by McInnis, who reached up
far over his head where Hughes had
purposely wasted q ball, and hitting with
a perpendicular swing he drove the ball
to the extreme left field wall. When a
player goes after a ball which is almost
out OF reach he hardly deserves to get
hit. yet that is what McInnis did, and it
won the game for his team.
To be defeated by the Athletics is the
bitterest pill the Nationals, from Man
ager Grifiith down, have to swallow. The
best of feeling does not prevail among
the players of the two teams. and every
time they are battling on the field the
8IrOKKlG Is IOT UlO0Q. IL Is d lOOlu
nail contest in which neither side wants
to give an inch. Therefore, never any
cordial greetings, and, as matter OF
fact, only few of Griffith's men are on
speaking terms with any Of the
Athletics This condition adds much in
terest to the games between these two
teams, for they are always hard fought
and for blood.
stuffy McInnis has not liquidated his
\ - - Unf Griffifh
McInnis the amount named last season
that the Nationals would beat out the
Athletics, but there has never been any
settlement. Grihith tried to engage Nc
day when Ainsmith blocked him. but Nc
Innis turned on his heels and left Crit
fifth standing alone.
II the Nationals can keep up their
present pace on the bases there is no
doubt that they will prove themselves one
Of the leading base running teams Of the
country this season. They have been
running much as they please against
New York. Boston and even the Athletics.
and none OF the catchers they have faced
has been able to stop them. When a
team runs as we'll as do the Nationals 1t
requires but a little timely hitting to
produce a lot of runs.
Eddie Foster never creates much fuss
when he is in the lineup. because he
usually does his work without ostenta-
ton, but he is missed nightly when he is
absent. II Foster had been on the job
for the past three days none of the games
would have been lost, for the reason that
he Is experienced in the third base play
and there Is no better man on the team
TO have at the bat in a pinch, because he
can take advantage Of every opening that
the opposition presents. Laporte. OF
course, is a great hitter. but he Is a
straightaway batter, while Foster has
much more science and can produce re-
suits even when he Is not pummelng the
ball Grinith is particularly anxious to
have Foster get back in the lineup, but
from all accounts 1t will be some few
days before he RECEIVERS his strength.
According to Jack Ryan, who has been
handling and coaching Jim Shaw. the
young Pittsburgh twirler. who is MEM
Der of the Nationals, Shaw is going to
make a great pitcher. He is not unlike
Walter Johnson in many respects, accord
ing to Ryan. and all he needs is expert
ence to make him Of major league cali
Der. Just when Shaw will get chance
to show what ne can do depends largely
on conditions, but it is not likely. that he
will break into a game until the team re-
turns from its present trip and then only
II the other pitchers are not showing
much.