Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-24
BY j. ED GRILLo.


Yesterday, for the fourth time the debu,
of the Athletics in Washington this spring
had to be postponed on accoun. of the
weather. On the previous visit here o;
the Mackmen they spent three days in
their hotel because of the incessant rain
and while they reached the grounds yes
terday and INDUCED in little practice
they were driven of the field about the
time the game should have been called
In addition to the two double-header>
which will have to be played in Phladel-
phia during the present series. there are
now four double headers carded with the
same team for this city. These games,
providing both teams continue to be con-
tenders. are of the greatest Importance 20
both. for if it should happen that either
gets the bulge on the other it would give
the winner grea, advantage.
Beginning today the Nationals have SIX
games TO play in Philadelphia There
will be but single performance today.
will be staged. and the series will be con-
cluded Wednesday. Griffith will have
reason TO be satisfied ii he wins half of
the six games, FOR once they are out of
The way the Nationals will be home for a
long stay where they can have the bene-
fit of "morning practice and improve their
batting eyes
just which one OF his pitchers he will
use today against the Athletics will not
he decided until few minutes before the
game is called. 1t may be Engel or
Hughes, and then. again.. Mullin may be
given chance to show if he has i'm
provedspver his first game against Cleve-
land. Ii Mullin is not used today he
is sure to work in one or more of the
Sames to be played in Philadelphia, and
that is also true of Johnson. who is sure
to work in one of the games Monday.
OF course, all the pitchers are pretty sure
10 be drawn into service because with
six games to play in four days there will
not be time TO rest up many of them.
Eddie Foster IS apt to be back in the
game in about three weeks. The little
third baseman, who was down with
typhoid, is up and about. and regain.ng
his health rapidly. He sat in the grand
stand yesterday while the two teams
were engaged in batting practice. and.
while a little lighter than he was. ap-
pears to be enjoying good health again.
Manager Griffith, in his anxiety 20 hurry
Fosters complete recovery along. has
decided to send him soon to Atlantic City
TO recuperdate, and he is to stay
there about ten days or two weeks. 1t is
figured that the sea air will be of great
help To him. and that he may be able to
take up his pos.t,on at third Ease within
a few weeks.
Harry Davis. Connie Mack's chief lieu
tenant and one of the Oldest players In
the American League in point of service.
shares the opinion expressed In these
columns anent the umpiring in the
west.
I'm all my experience ! never saw so
many bung ing mistakes by umpires as
We encountered on our recent western
trip remarked Davis yesterday after
noon. ''Umpires reversed themselves
three or four times in a single game and
some of their decisions were SO raw that
the wonder IL the PLAYERS held their
temper. / can't understand why this
state of affairs exists. bu; 1t is the worst
! have ever seen.
Ii may be a far-fetched theory. but
there Is a chance that the injury which
put Carl CaShion's arm out OF commits
sion will make him a successful pitcher
C1riffith believes that there has always
bsen some sort of a hitch i'm the tendons
OF his arm which made it impossible for
him TO control the ball. The injury has
torn these tendons apart. according to
the surgeon. who examined Cashion In
Cleveland. and il is argued that as soon
as his arm has healed enough to allow
him to work he viii display marvellous
control.
There sesms to be much speculation
among local enthusiasts as 10 how the
deal which gave the Nationals Mullin will
pan out. The fact that Mul1in was not ef
fective in his first game in Cleveland, OF
course. does not give a line on his abil-
ity. He might have an eff day. as do
other pitchers of even greater ability. and
yet be valuable man. !! will be best
to wait and see just what Mullin can do.
so far as Griffith is concerned. he would
have been rather short-sighted had he ale
lowed the chance of getting Muliin to
slip through his fingers With a batch of
double-headers coming on. and the young
or members of the pitching staff not to
be relied upon as vet. IL looked like
pretty good move to lay out $500 for a
seasoned pitcher. OF course. there was
no guarantee went with the deal. Griffith
took his own chances. Had he gone out,
II ~ had been possible ~ do SO at this
would most likely have picked up green
hand who needs DEVELOPMENT. and he is
already overburdened with pitchers who
are in need Of experience
Fate has been rather Unkind in the
matter OF bringing injuries to Griffiths
men this spring. Foster has been sick
ever since the season opened Gandil is
still limping about with bad toe. while
George Mcbride has been playing for the
last few days with a badly bruised finger
Milan has a swollen eye. and Laporte has
a sprained muscle in his leg There are
other minor ailments among the players
The defeat OF Walter Johnson at Cleve-
land Thursday seems to have created a
demand for an explanation among pa
irons of the game. They don't seem to he
able to understand how such a calamity
could happen. They are in search of rea
sons for the failure OF the greatest pitcher
on earth. hut none is to he found IL is
these uncertain occurrences which make
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