Evening star., 1913-02-23
INkY DAVIS SIGNS WITH
THE CINCINNATI REDS
Continued from First PageD

and on form this looks like good logic.
But the fact should not be overlooked
that the Athletics failed in their efforts
to finish in front of the Nationals last
year. and they have no assurance of do
ing it this year The failure of Mack s
team was attributed last season to the
fact that the pitching staff did not hold
up to its former standard, and there is
no assurance that 1t will do much better
this year. Pitchers cannot last forever,
and Plank, Bender and Coombs have
done their share of the work in the past
five or six years. The break in this
magnificent trio is sure to come sooner
or later, and their slump last year may
have been but the beginning OF the END
of a great pitching staff.
There is, of course. no way to deny
the prowess of that Boston team. In fact.
it would not be surprising if the Reds
SoX showed more strength than last
year, because Bedent is sure to prove a
Wood, and two pitchers of their apparent
ability together with a strong hitting
team is always sure to be hard to beat
But the fact should not be overlooked
to be much stronger. To begin with, Grif-
fifth will start the season with a. much
stronger team than he had at the outset
last season. What is more, it is but rea-
sonable to figure that the team as a
whole will have been benefited by its
majority of it's members We're seeing
their first year in fast company in the
last campaign. And incidentally who
knows that Griff won't be fortunate
enough to pick up a player or two
who will round out his team So that
it will compare we'll with its nearest
rivals. who are picked to finish in front
of it.
Advices from Detroit seem to indicate
l,o n1f ,I ,te.f fnr, hold
farther apart now than they have been
at any time since the salary question
was broached. 1t was thought for time
that some sort of peace overtures would be
made to T'y Cobb. but that. too, now seems
out of the question. it is understood
Cobb will insist on three-year contract
for $4,000 or he won't play. Navin alb
solutely refuses to make any further con-
cessions to him or the other three play
ers. There is still some hope for Cobb
to be brought into the fold, but so far as
Stanage. Crawford and Dubuc are con-
cerned they have made their own beds
and must lie in them.
Navin has it figured out that to accede
to these players demands would ruin him
unless he had the assurance of winning
the pennant, and as his team finished
sixth with every one of the four players
mentioned on it last year, he has no rea-
son for hoping for material Improvement
in the showing. Hence he will stand pat
he is busy trying to gather in some out
field material to take the places of Cobb
and Crawford. He says that even if his
team does not improve its position he
proposes to run his business himself, re-
gardless of what the result may be-
By the latter part of this week most of
the members of the Washington team will
have reported here to Manager Griffith.
Several of the players, including Acosta
and Calvo. the two CLbans: Gallia,
Cashion and Eddie Ainsmith, will report
direct to Charlottesville but the ma iority
Of the players will gather here to witness
the inauguration as the guest of their
manager.
Griffith will leave here next Sunday with
the squad of youngsters. will return Mon
day, and then take the regulars down late
Tuesday afternoon.
Providing the weather is favorable the
players will take their first workout
Wednesday morning.