Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-27
WILLIAMS EXPECTS
TO SIGN TODAY
Big Catcher Has Satisfactory
Conference With Man.
ager Griffith.
ED DENT MAKES GOOD
IMPRESSION IN WORK
Connie Mack Predicts That
Maps and New York Will
Cut Figure in Race.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Manager Griffith announced this morn
ing that he expected to have Alva Will
liams' name to contract before the day
was over. The big catcher and Griffith
had long conference yesterday after
noon anent the salary question which
seems to have been satisfactory to
both. and some time today Williams is
expected to affix his signature to a con-
tract.
Williams has good grounds for demand
ing more pay. His excellent showing
last season warrants the prediction that
he will be used much more often during
the coming season. Last year he was
really intended to be the third catcher,
to be used only in the event of mis-
hap to either Henry or Ainsmith. 1t was
not until the two young catchers were
incapacitated that Williams got a chance
to show what he could do. and his work
demonstrated that he was not the catcher
to spend much time on the bench.
If for no other reason than that he is
one of the best hitters on the team. Will
iams should be caught regularly. He
was of great help to the team last sea-
son because of his hitting ability. 1t is
undoubtedly Griffiths intention to have
Williams in the game a good deal next
season. and. according to Williams way
of thinking. he is entitled to an increase,
which no doubt he will receive.
Elliot Dent. secured from Newark, is
making a very good impression in his
daily workouts at the Y. NJ c. A. gym.
Dent may be a pitcher who will help the
Nationals. His actions are impressive
and. while of course one cannot tell just
how much he has because he has not cut
loose indoors, there can be no doubt
about this. inasmuch as he won eleven Of
the last twelve games he pitched last
season.
The signing of Cy Seymour by the Bos-
ton Nationals comes a surprise to
most base ball men. Seymour was with
Newark last season, and 1t was believed
that he had been assigned to the minors
for the remainder of his career. He hit
over 300 for Newark, but he was not in
good condition, carrying many pounds
overweight. A year in the minors. how
ever convinced Seymour that it was not
to his liking. and on the promise that he
would get himself in good condition Bos-
ton agreed to give him chance. Sey-
mour has been in base ball for many
years. He was great pitcher in his day,
but because of his ability as hitter he
was shifted to the outfield He may make
good for Boston notwithstanding his long
experience.
According to Connie Mack there are two
teams in this years American League
race that cut little figure last year which
will bear watching in the coming cam
paign. He names New York and Cleve-
land and adds that the Improvement
which these teams will show Will make
the coming race one of the hardest fought
and closest in the history of the league.
Mack says:
almost every one seems to be over
looking the Cleveland club, but why this
should be the case is hard to explain
To my way of thinking, Cleveland is a
mighty good looking ball club, and will
be right up in the fight. The team de-
serves far more credit than 1t has been
given. but l guess the fact that it has
always failed when counted upon to be
up in the running is the reason that Bir-
minghams outfit has SO few admirers
this season.
Frank Chance will bring about Won
derful change in New York. He is just
the man for the place. If Chance can
get that pitching staff going at top
speed look for the Highlanders to make
a far better showing than they did last
year. Chance has number of twirlers
who would be stars on any team. and
the Highlanders also have hard-hitting
set of Outfielders and great man for
backstop duty. There is some talk OF
Chance playing first base again. When
/ attended the recent meeting OF the
American League at New York l met
and talked with Chance, and he appeared
to be in the best of condition. II he
can get in and play up to his usual form
and place Hal Chase at second then the
Highlanders will bear watching.
1T will seem rather strange to see a
left handler working at second base, but ii
won't surprise me in the least to see
Chase make good. If Hal told me that he
could play second base l would not hest
tate for a moment in placing him at the
middle station, for the reason that if he
said he could play there l would believe
him. To my way of thinking Hal Chase
can play almost any position on ball
club and be a real star. Speaking of left
handed second sackers. / will say that
they are rather scarce, but l do remem-
Der one man who, / think, was one Of the
cleverest second sackers ever in the game
Perhaps none of you boys can go back as
far as the eighties, but in those days
there was a player named AL Greenwood