The Washington times., 1913-03-02
0utfieIders Must Hit Harder
to Bring This Possibility
Into Reality.
By SENATOR"

With the Climbers getting under way
today to prepare for the campaign Of
1913. Capital City fans are intensely in
terested in their chances of success. 1t
is distinctly unfair to Manager Griffith
and to the team as a whole to expect
them to land that pennant. Looking
at the aggregation from every angle, it
is difficult to see pennant possibilities
in the outfit. Nothing but the best
Of luck all down the line can give
the Climbers the fiag.
Look at the work Of the team in
1872. Right or the reel they go out and
establish a record by cleaning up all
games In the West. making a straight
string of seventeen victories. Walter
johnson won sixteen straight games and
Bobby Groom chased himself through
nine victories hand-running. Such runs
can hardly be expected this season.
OF course. it may be argued that the
Climbers will start this season with the
same lineup that made these records in
1912 Very true, but these records would
hardly have created as much enthusi-
asm had they been ordinary feats
They were out of the ordinary, hence
they excited great enthusiasm among
local fans. and, indeed. the fans all
over the circuit.
Manager Griffith has corralled a big
squad of players to develop this year.
He Is not handicapped by the club own
ers. They are all fans. They all want
victory, and Griff will do his best to
bring IL, but the chances are against
him.
Chance For. Flag.
There is a chance for the Climbers
to win the pennant. By sticking up in
the van till September Is and arriving
there with the leaders well-bunched.
luck. just plain baseball luck, will de-
termine the final winner. Washington
is well-equipped, too, for such a test.
Walter johnson and Carl Cashion could
pitch every other game with Bob
Groom and Tom Hughes hanging around
waiting for a chance to break into a
game. In that case, the Climbers might
slip into the championship. But the
the race at this critical time is remote.
1t might happen, but it's long shot
at best
There are weak pGnces In the Climb
ers' lineup. Manager Griffith knows
this and all level-headed fans know It.
too. The outfielders must hit harder
and more consistently. The inielders
are good. but second base last Year was
the bad spot A combination of Morgan
and Laporte would be ideal for this
position, but fortunately it is impossible
to make them one person. At least
found to aid johnson, Groom. Cashion.
and Hughes. Griff knows this too, as
well, II not better than the next.
However, one need not be glum in
facing the coming season. Tho Climb
ers are strong enough TO finish in the
HrSf n
dope them any lower than third place.
While the writer really believes the
Athletics the strongest
team In the league. he does not think
the worlds champion Red sox bit
stronger than the Grinmen. Indeed,
with any kind of breaks in the luck. the
Climbers should win majority OF
games from the Red Sox and finish
higher. Without the luck they may
chase the Sox over the line.
Has Big Squad.
Manager Griffith will have in camp at
this week the biggest
squad ever seen in a Washington uni |
form. Thirty-eight players will be gam |
boiling on Lambeth Field. only two of |
whom will not be In the running. Alt |
rock and Schaefer while with the team, |
will hardly train for any certain task. |
The other thirty-six viii be fighting a !
mans nght, thOusn, LOT chdnce 10 |
stay with the team. |
johnson, Groom, Cashion and Hughes |
have practically cinched their jobs with |
the Climbers. Nine other twirlers VIII |
strive for possibly four berths and at |
this early time there Is no guessing |
which of them will land. Dent, from |
Newark. and Drohan, from Kewanee, !
ook the most promising on their minor |
eague records. Gallia and EnGct. both |
with the team last year, viii stand |
ot Of work and should crafty Manager |
Griffith by their efforts. Engcl may