Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-16
PLAY ONLY ONE
GAME OUT Of SIX
Last Contest Scheduled With
Athletics Is Also
Postponed.
TEAM ALREADY CERTAIN
OF FIVE DOUBLE-HEAOERS
Griffith Will Need All the Pitch.
ers He Can Carry--Lat-
est Base Ball Gossip.
BY j. ED GRILLO.

But one game has been PLAYED out of
the six which We're scheduled 10 be play
ed here since the season opened Five
games have been postponed, which means
that five double-headers are already SEIZED
uled for the Nationals. At midnight the
team leaves for New York, where the
season will be opened tomorrow. provid-
ed, of course. that the weather permits.
Today's game had to be called off be-
cause of the condition of the grounds
which is as soft as mush. as a result of
the long siege of rainfall While no
game has been played for a week Griffith
has managed to keep his players in
shape. They have been able to take some
sort of practice every day. Yesterday
they put in several hours at practice
on the soggy field. There was batting
practice and the pitchers all took work
out, while the fielders also put in half an
hour at infield work.
1t is hard luck that five games were
postponed. The chances are that the
Nationals would have won a majority of
these games while Boston and Philadel-
would have given the locals chance to
gain somewhat of lead
Even under favorable conditions the Ma
tionals will now have but five games at
nome DeIOfe tnet start OH a HlOntn D Trip
around the circuit. One game has been
played here and there will be four more.
beginning next Tuesday with Boston.
Then comes a trip to both Boston and
Philadelphia and through the entire
west. This is quite a hardship. but il the
team can hold its own during this period
it will be far from being out Of the run
ming.
1t is not likely that Griffith will reduce
his pitching staff for some time, if at all.
Every pitcher he is now carrying is
regular championship game before he is
dropped. No team is in more need OF
pitching strength than the locals
The enormous amount of double-head-
ers that are sure to pile up for the team
will make it necessary to carry a large
these double matinees.
The veterans will not be able to do all
this work, and Griffith will have to take
a chance with his youngsters at such
times. If these young fellows happen to
get away with their games the team will
be apt to suffer no handicap by reason OF
the punching of these postponed games.
1t is more than likely that Walter
Johnson will pitch against New York in
the game tomorrow. Johnson has had
week S rest, and. while all the other sea-
soned pitchers are in shape, it is figured
that with Walter on the slab. the Ma
tionals would be a better attraction at
the Polo Grounds tomorrow than with
one of the other twirlers working. Fur
thermore, it is figured that the Nationals
will stand a better chance Of beating
Mcconnell, who is sure to pitch for
team.
Connie Mack was not disappointed that
his team could not play a game here
His club is none too well fitted right
now and he figures that he will have a
better chance against Griffith later in the
season.
The Athletics left for home this after
noon, where they are scheduled to open
the season with Boston tomorrow. While
the two strongest teams in the race are
battling, the Nationals will be hooked
up with New York. and, while Chance S
team is not going to prove easy. it gives
the Nationals a chance to get lead on
both of their nearest rivals.
The illness of Jack Coombs may prove
a serious blow to the Athletics chances.
Mack figured on getting q lot of work
out of CoOmbs during the early part of
the season and ii is certain now that
il will be several weeks before he will
recover from his present sick spell. II
NAV be, of course. that Mack's young
pitchers will help him out, but it is GER
tain to take much confidence away from
the team when 1T realizes that it must
depend on lot of youngsters to do the
Uitchiug