The Washington times., 1913-07-06
George Davis Remarks That
big Scythe' Works Like
Piece of Machinery.
By SENATOR

NEW YORK. July CT never saw
a smoother piece of machinery in my
life than Walter johnson in the box"
says George Davis. the old-tima star
inhelder of the Chicago AMI New York
clubs. He was chatting with the
writer at the Polo Grounds yesterday
and expressed himself forcibly about the
Big Scythe.
I've seen a lot CT ball players in
my time, and / WAS in there a good
many years myself. I've seen some of
the greatest pitchers ot the last twenty
years. hut I've never seen a better
working pitcher than johnson. He is
sracc itself out there. Never Is there
false motion. He delivers the bail
with all his great speed without jerk
ing himself. or straining himself in any
! could find his equal somewhere and
send him to Grin.
"A a matter Of fact, Grifr has a good
ball club. l stayed three days in WASH
ington and saw those games with the
Athletics. Well. the GriTmen didn't
win them all. but they showed that
they knew how to play ball. all right,
and It's only a matter Of time when
Clark will have his team up there fight
ing for the pennant.
THAT boy Foster at third base even
now after his illness, is ole of the
best little third basemen I've ever seen.
In some ways he reminds me strongly
of Norman Elberfeld. When Elberfeld
was in his prime. he was one of the
greatest in the bushes and many Of
his movements are now being shown ny
rostcr, particularly in tagging the run
ner at third At this trick Kid Elber-
field was a past master, but Foster is
just as good.
Morgan is another good looking
vounCster at second base. ! played
that bag myself a number Of years, too.
YOU know, and the way he travels to
the rag for throws or ground balls Is
beautiful. Morgan ought to be one OF
the best second basemen in the game
before he slows up. He seems TO
know something about playing ball.
Davis Is making his home here IN
New York and has just won popu-
larity contest held by one of the even
ing newspapers. polling more than
two million vCIcs more than the sec
ond man and drawing down cool
$4,000 check for his reputation. He
says that he hopes young Harper
makes good for Griffs sake. as the
boy is the best-Iooking young left
handler he has ever seen.
Il tell you" says Davis. finding
ball players Is no easy thing. The
scout today who grabs every minor
leaguer he sees Is foolish. I've been
looking at bushcrs a long while and
never before have they looked SO bad.
good scout nowadays is one who
turns down 90 per cent of the tipped
players. Mike kahOe Is a successful
scout just for that reason. He doesn't
dig up many players in a year. but he
saves his club many thousands OF dol
lars every season by failing to rec
omm.nd a whole lot OF dubs who
never would make stars in the biz
show. The Giants and the Yankees
are losing F lot Of money every year
through grabbing at bushers who
never mack good. or course. YOU
don't hear much about the failures.
Folks always point to Marquard and
Tesreau. but you never hear Of the
lemons. The Yankees paid $1,000 for
Paddy Green last year and he was
the worst lemcn in years. He went
to Pittsburgh and lasted just long
enough to get cup Of coffee before