Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-15
GRIFFITH ANXIOUS
ABOUT MACK NOW
Believes His Pitchers Are in
: Better Form Than Those
of Rival.
BOB GROOM SLATED TO
FACE VISITORS TODAY
Athletics Have One of Greatest
InfieIds in History
of Game.
BY J. ED GRLLO.

1t has been many a day since the
Nationals have been kept from playing
on their own field for al long a stretch
as they have been idle this spring. 1t
is just possible that the Athletics will
make their initial appearance today,
though it is doubtful unless the sun
peeps out from behind the clouds for
an hour or SO. The infield is in fairly
good shape, but the outfield is decid-
eGly soggy, and needs drying out be-
fore it can be played on Unless 1t
clears 1T is possible that the team will
| have the peculiar record of getting in
but one game during the first week of
| the schedule, which would mean the
postponement of five games. which will
| later have to be played in double
headers
Both Managers Griffith and Mack are
| anxious to play, and If there is the
! slightest chance tOday'S game will not
] be called off, though, of course, neither
| manager wants to take any chances
of injuring his players on heavy
| field.
| While the Nationals are hooked up with
the New Yorks on the latter's field Mack
will have the Red SoX for visitors over in
| his town, and If the locals can make
good showing against Chances team
| there is a good opportunity for them to
gain a lead over one or the other of its
rivals, if not over both.
| Griffith seems to think that he would
have an advantage in playing the Ath1et
| les now. Mack's pitchers, barring Plank
| have not shown much in the two games
they have played, while Griffith believes
! his twirlers are all in good shape 1t is
naturally supposed that as the season
progresses Mack's veteran pitchers will
round into form and be that much harder
| to beat.
Notwithstanding the fact that but one
game has been played here Griffith has
made no changes in his plans regarding
his pitchers. If the game Is played today
Bob Groom will be sent to the firing line
and Tom Hughes will be kept for tomor-
row. OF course, Johnson will be held in
reserve in the event of a rally making its
appearance at any stage Of the game.
Base ball can recall some great in
fields-players whose names are still men
toned in connection with the game-but
it is doubtful If any of them are to be
compared with the quartet which holds
down these positions for Connie Mack
team.
Baker. Barry. Collins and McInnis are
a wonderful combination, and 1t Is doubt
full If any team ever had four such ex-
1 cellent hitters playing its infield.
AS general rule winning teams have
carried their greatest offensive strength
in the Outfield but this condition does not
maintain on Mack's team. It is his in
field which delivers against opposing
pitchers Even Barry, who is outclassed
| by the three others in the matter Of hit
ting, is good batter, while 1t is hard
| to find three players with as much PROV
| ess with the stick as Collins, Baker and
| McInnis possess. But hitting is not all
| that recommends them, for there is no
| better fielding inf1eld
Connie Mack is given credit for being
able to sign his ball players at lower
figure than any Of his rivals. OF course
winning pennants and worlds series had
undoubtedly greatly increased the salary
list over which Mack preSides, and his
players all seem satisfied. There are no
GROWERS on Macks team. Anything that
| he proposes is accepted without muir
muir. For instance the average team
| would let out howl that could be heard
for miles If when reaching city it was
proposed that they take the trolley cars
to their hotel and yet Mack brought his
team from the depot to the Ebbitt yester-
day on about dollars worth of street
car tickets and there were no objections.
| Other teams want taxi cabs and kick If
these are not of the best pattern.
One effect that the inability to play
ball for the past four days has had
on the Nationals is that every one of
Griffiths pitchers is ready for work. But
one game has been played and this one
was pitched by Johnson who has had
four days rest since then.
That makes him eligible to pitch when
ever called upon. Nor is 1t believed that
the layOn has proven detrimental to any
of the twirlers. for Griffith has insisted
ton their taking daily workouts in order
to keep them in trim.
| Maybe it was because the Athletics
were always successful while Harry
Davis was a part Of the team or that
Connie Mack did not want to see his old
his failure at Cleveland, that he is
carrying him with his team this sea-
lson. Under Mack Davis has always dis
played the ability of real leader, and
had conditions been right he would prob
ably have been a success at Cleveland.
But Davis never got in right with the
Maps. and under the circumstances, it
was next to impossible for him to make
! a success Of his stay there.
It is not unlikely that Walter john
son will be pitched in the opening game
at New York Thursday, il it is not found
: necessary to pitch him against the Ath-
letics today or tomorrow. The Nationals
, first trip to New York is for four games,
the last of which will be played Monday,
when the team returns to hook up with
e the Boston Red Sox for four games, aft
Z Boston for four games, respectively, fol-
lowing which the first western trip will
be on, opening in Chicago May z
The ST. Louis Browns have released
4 Schwenck, southpaw twirler. to the
j Saginaw club of the South Michigan