Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23
GR|FF SURE TO
HAvE.GQN!ENDER
Much Speculation as. to
Where the Nationals Are
Likely to Finish.
TEAM AS A WHOLE
TEAM AS A WHOLE
LOOKS LOT STRONGER
Should Be Better Hitting Com
bination and Substitutes
Will Be More Capable.
BY j. ED GRILLo.

There has been much speculation among
the followers of the game as to what po-
sltion the Nationals will occupy at the
end OF the coming season. The fact that
the team Unexpectedly finished second
last season has been taken to mean by
some that it is to gallop home with the
pennant this year. 1t is pointed out
that last season it had none too good a
start and then finished bang up to the
winners. The poor start was, of course,
the result of lack of strength which,
when supplied, changed the team from
loser into a winner. This year 1iae
team will be the same as finished last
season. SO far as the regular lineup is
concerned, but is conceded to be stronger
In its substitute material and in the
pitching department. Just how much bet
ter it will be than last season, however
remains to be shown. That Griffith will
have a contender is assured unless a
whole lot of the players are incapacitated
at the same time, but it is almost expect
ing too much to pick flag for him. If it
finishes as well as last season it will
really have accomplished wonders, but no
assurance can be given that it win du-
plicate that performance.
Of course. IL the team plays the same
Kind of ball this year from the outset
that it did after it struck it's stride in the
last campaign 1t stands an excellent
chance of landing at the top, but there is
no assurance that it will. That long win
ming streak last season put the team in
the race, and OF course there il no GER
tainty that it will repest that performance.
But pennant or no pennaEt. Griffith has
a good ball team, one which will prove
a contender in the race, and more cap
hardly be asked for.
There will not be another major league
team facing the barrier this spring with
. the same lineup as that with which it
J finished in 1872, but the chances are that
this distinction will go to the Nationals.
, BARRING accident, Griffith will have ex-
kctly the same players in his lineup on
opening day that won for him last year.
and In this respect he will differ from
all his rivals. They have all made changes
more or less, because they were not salts
fed, barring perhaps Boston, and even
the champions may switch an outfielder,
and there is no assurance that Jake Stahl
will play regularly.
Grifith's action, of course, is largely
compulsory, for he has not found any
players fit to supplant those he retained,
but there are few instances of this kind
in base ball, unless it was in instances
where teams have won pennants.
The chances are that Griffith is going
to have a much better hitting team this
year than he had last. Early spring in
dicationS are that several of the regu
lars are going to hit some points better
than they did last year. Milan, for In
stance, is hitting like fiend, while last
year IL took him weeks after the season
was on to get going. Eddie Foster, too,
is doing much better than he usually
does at this season of the year, and
Howard Shanks is apt to be a surprise
in the way he is stepping into the ball.
What is more, Williams. who led the team
in hitting. is going to be in the lineup
much more often. which should make
some difference, to say the least, while
GandiI and Lapofte expect good years, and
Moeller is sure to a2proye. Improved
hitting, with the PROSPECTS, of a much
stronger pitching staff, wOtf21. make a
splendid combination and would give the
team a great chance in the race.
There is not farther need for denying
that John Henry must be considered an
uncertain proposition, SO far as the catch
ing staff is concerned. His misfaap the
other day, when his knee gave way under
him, happened while he was In the act
of throwing 1t may happen at any time,
even II the present trouble mends, and
for this reason he cannot be relied Upon.
Of course, Ainsmith and Williams can
do all the catching. providing they do not
meet with Injury, but the club needs three
catchers, and last season even this force
proved insufficient Griffith of course has
youngsters, but they both need a lot OF
experience before they can catch in fast
company.
Ainsmith will again be paired off with
Walter Johnson. and If nothing happens
him none of the other catchers are apt
10 have the chance to support the Ma
tionals' star. IL Henry is all right Groom
VIII be assigned to him regularly, and
the other pitchers will alternate with all
three catchers thought there is a likeli-
hood of Cashion being assigned to Henry
regularly.
There was some surprise created last
spring, when Griffith announced that
johnson would pitch to Ainsmith. 1t
seemed strange that the Youngest menu
Der of the catching staff should be asked
To take a position which the unsophisti-
Gated thought no one but Charley Street
could fiN. but the move proved 4 cor
rect one. for Ainsmith catches JOHNSON
better than any one else, because of his
ability TO move around quickly behind
the bat. There are days when johnson
Is trifle wild, and on such days Aim
smith looks at his best behind him. and
undoubtedly has saved him many dis
couraSing innings.
1t is only question Of time when Joe
6edeon Will have to be considered for a
regular position on the team. Griffith is
grooming him for second base and while
there Is not much chance OF his displac-
Ahs tititI OF LapOrte this season.
the time is sure to come when he will be
considered the logical man for the posi-
ton.
Gedeon. of course, Is a mere boy but
he Is some ball PLAYER for all that. He is
tail ard rangy, and a cracking. good hit
ter. Though second base is virtually new,
10 him, he is playing the position well
and showing a lot of nerve In the way
he rides base runners when they slide
into the bag. Gedeon has made a splen-
did impression with Griffith and he is
giving him lot of attention in an eff
fort to develop him as rapidly as possi-
BILE
Ball players who lack speed and spirit
might as we'll stay home as attempt to
make an impression with Grif1tl regard
less &C what their ability may be- Grin
can pick out that kind of a fellow at the
first glance. and no matter what his
other virtues may be he is through SO far
as Grif is concerned. Players who have
10 be pushed to their work and do not dis
play interest are not wanted by the
Washington manager. He says that he
would rather have a lot of players who
give him their best efforts than a lot OF
stars who loaf. Those OF the youngsters
who are wise to this managerial notion
are doing lot OF hustling as result.
Ayres, the former for leaving the train
ing camp without permission ard the
latter for failure to report, is the only
protection. IL Ayres wants to go to
hs cb frtrff he oaaA mt