Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-17
TRIES TO IMPROVE
H|SP|TCH|NG STAFF
Manager Griffith Secures
George MuIIin From the
Detroit Tigers.
NEW NATIONAL PROMISES
TO MEET REQUIREMENTS
Tom Drohan Slated for Return
to the Minors-0ther Base
Ball News and Gossip.
BY j. ED GRILLO.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
DETROIT. Mich. May lin buying
George Mullin Manager Griffith has mere
would do should his team be short of
pitchers Mullin may fill the gap.
With the present staff there is hardly
a chance to have the Nationals remain
eontenders in the race. Mullin proved
to be the only pitcher with chance to
make good who is available. His great
est asset Is his experience. Mulln until
last season was really great pitcher.
He did not attend to business last sea-
son, was out Of condition and yet made
a fair showing, among other things
pitching a no-hit game.
Mullin is in perfect condition now. He
has taken off twenty-five pounds and
AYERS that he is capable of pitching just
as good ball as ever before, but he is
through in Detroit. Folks here have
soured on Mullin after watching him
pitch for the Tigers for twelve consecu-
tive years There is nothing he can do
that pleases, hence the club owes 1t to
him to let him go elsewhere. Mullln
joined the Nationals this morning. This
afternoon he will appear at Navin field
in a Washington uniform. During the
stay at Cleveland he will pitch his first
believed he will win it.
1T is the only chance we have had to
strengthen our pitching staff. and l was
willing to pay the money" said Griffith In
speaking of the securing of Mullin. L
believe that George has lot Of base ball
left in him. He Is absolutely in better
fettle right now than he has been In sew
eral years. of that l am satisfied. His
too fine. but with little rest he will
come back. OF that feel certain. If he
comes through we will be well fortified
and stand grand chance to win the
flag"
Mullin was in a happy mood when he
was informed that he was a member of
the Nationals.
sIt's great: 1 can hardly believe 1t is
true" he chuckled. Il had to get away
from Detroit I have been here too long
and the people tired of me. When my
name was announced as the pitcher they
would boot and jeer, and that certainly Is
not the proper way to encourage Fellow.
have been here twelve years and have
helped to win several pennants. 1 am far
from through, and / will prove 1t. II l
can't make good for Griffith I am willing
to quit the game
Mullin will be thirty years old in the
fall. He has been a consistent success in
the American League. barring last year.
He is also a dangerous hitter and at
times was used as a pinch hitter by the
Detroit team.
When it comes to hitting in hard luck
Howard Shanks leads the league. On two
occasions yesterday he was robbed or
three-base hits. each time with men on
bases. In the first inning, with the bases
filed and. two out, he hit terrific line
drive, which Cobb pulled down. and In the
third inning. with two on. he pulled an
other liner into left, of which Veach
made a good catch. If this youngster
could get an even break in his batting
luck he would not be half bad hitter
1t was the same old story again yester
day of getting men on the bases and be-
ing unable to score them. twelve OF the
Nationals being left during the after
noon. Eight hits. seven passes and an
error netted only two runs. There was
not single inning that one or more OF
Grifith's men did not reach the bases.
and yet runs were decidedly scarce. SIM
ply because the hits which make them
were conspicuous by their absence
On two different occasions the bases
were filled, yet but single run was Sc
cured.
In the opening round the Nationals
made the brilliant record of three hits
and two walks. yet got only one run
Dubuc did not pitch we'll enough to win.
Hughes should have beaten him. for his
side had by far the most opportunities
to score. but just when hit would have
meant victory 1t was not to be had.
Ray Morgan Is keeping up his remark
able record of reaching first base more
often than any other member OF the
team Yesterday he walked three times
and hit once. Since the team has started
playing in the west he has reached the
bases twenty three times, a most remark
able record. When Morgan is not hit
ting he Is walking or being hit and he
has proved himself one of the most val
liable players on the team in an offensive
way But what is gained by reaching the
bases when the necessary hits are always
missing to produce runs?
The thing which yesterdays game de-
veloped is the fact that Tom Drohan was