The Washington herald., 1913-08-17

Detroit, Mich. Aug. 10.
| Manager Griffith is rather inclined to
the same belief expressed by Hughey
Jennings. the Detroit Tiger pilot. here
yesterday. when Jennings gave as his
opinion that Southpaw Eddie Plank. of
the Philadelphia Athletics, was about
| through as a pitcher this season.
PLANK has been used regularly all
spring and summer. declared Griff.
| The pace is telling on him now. He
| hasn't mis- former stamina, and l doubt
! if he can be worked as often with sue
| cess. Mack may be able TO pitch Plank
| once a week and get away with a game.
| 1t was Plank and Bender who kept the
Athletics in the running and helped them
assemble such a commanding lead.
Without this pair taking regular turns
in the box and finishing up games, where
would the White Elephants be today?
Mack's young pitchers seem TO be going
good now. and he should worry.
Danny MoeIIer is superstitious; most
ball players are. The Rochester Rambler
has not been getting his hits as often
as he would lke-in fact, he is nesting
beside a slump that threatens to stick
closer tran a brother, and is looking for
the jinX.
Shortly after the Nationals arrived at
their hotel in Detroit. and the players
ere lounging around the lobby. Moeller
spied across the street little bare
legged colored boy selling newspapers.
Here's where 1 change my luck boys,
cried Moeller, as he sprinted in front
Of an electric car and lodged several
automobiles in order to grab the urchin
before the boy was swallowed up in the
crowd.
leading the newsie back to the hotel
where his teammates were gathered.
The kid was a bit frightened and at
tempted TO get away, but Moeller's grip
on his arm was like that of wise, and
he said TO the boy in friendly tones:
How much do you want for all the
newspapers you have under your arm
Fifteen cents. mister" was the reply.
"All right, here's your Is cents; now
do me favor?
What is it, boss?''
Take of your hat"
The ragged lid was removed, and the
ball player carefully rubbed the boys
kinky poll
That's all. sonny; you can go now,"
and turning TO his companions Moeller
said: Il think my luck will change now;
watch me get two hits tomorrow"
And Danny came through the next
day.
Griff has a good word to say about
Jack Bentley. the young southpaw
pitcher obtained in Washington recently.
and expressed his opinion that next year
Bentley would be heard from.
This kid has a perfect delivery for
left-hander. a good curve ball, speed,
and control He is, of course, awfully
green, but SENS to be willing and anxious
to learn. l expect results from him next
year"
There is a chance for some shifts in
percentage during the present invasion
of the Eastern clubs to Western terri
tory. though no probability of changes
in positions as far as the leaders are
concerned. This might be different If
Cleveland would hold its feet in pinch.
The Athletics had a very bad home
stand. but the Maps. while leading all
clubs during the Easterp invasion by
wide margin, made a poorer showing
than any other Western team against
the one club, the Athletics. that 1t was
up TO Birmingham's boys to beat Chi
cago took three in four. St Louis two
in four, Detroit one in three, and another
on the way when the rain butted in, and
Cleveland one in four.
standing, eight games behind the leaders. |
The Athletics may have bad Western
trip. They he not done much in this |
section of the country this season, but
they have commanding leaa now and
have no immediate cause for worry. The |
West beat the East 81 to g in the recent |
invasion, and Detroit experts claim that
the Western clubs will do even better |
while the East Ks making its anal round.
But this will not help II the Maps do not
trim the leaders, and whether they do
or not the only race the writer can see
from now on is between Cleveland and
for second place.
Believe US, boys, this is going to de-
velop into some struggle before the
final bell rings.
During the course of flaming bee
n the lobby of the Cadillac Hotel here
Grifith came out with the
statement that Washington, Philadel-
,hia. and Detroit look like the active
for the 1914 penflant.
Griff absolutely refuses to see the
Cleveland Maps, either this season or
lext He declares emphatically that
club will be lucky this
all TO finish in the first division.
Eddie Kerwin. football and baseball