Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-20
BY J. ED GRILLo.
Special Dispatch 10 The Star.

Special Dispatch 10 The Star.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, July 19.-But for the
fact that the Nationals We're not intact
during the first two months of the season
the teams chances for the pennant in the
present campaign would be decidedly
bright. The brilliant squirt which it has
made of late shows plainly that it would
now be in front had it been able to hold
its own and play up to it's standard dur
ing the early part of the race. But the
Nationals are by no means out of the
running The chances are that the team
Will finish stronger than any of it's rivals,
and should the Athletics have a siege of
Ill luck it would not be at all surprising
to see Washington leading the race when
1t comes to a close.
The present showing of the team is
merely proving that its surprising work
last season was not a fluke. This charge
was made in many quarters after the
team had finished second to Boston last
gear. but the fact that it has come back
this year and is showing high-class form
surely shows that it is holding a high po-
sition on its merits. Griffith has better
team this year than ne had last There
Is material Improvement in the work OF
several of the players. while that pitching
/
compared with the best in the circuit
The most Sing feature of the team
lies IN the fact that il would require but
a change or two TO make it one of the
strongest in either major league circuit.
1t is this fact which makes it's future look
bright Griffith is better fortified now
than he has ever been. He has some very
likely looking material out in the minors
which he can recall in the fall. The ad-
dition of player or two Of the right
col ihx.r nx-S =
Credit Belongs to Griffith.
Credit for the remarkable change which
has taken place in base ball conditions in
Washington belongs to Griffith. 1t may
be true that he was lucky to have such
good bali players as Foster, Moeller and
shanks turned over to him, not to speak
of the original nucleus which has existed
on the team for several years, but there is
no getting away from the fact that Grit
nth mas developed these players and Sc
cured from them their very best efforts
Under Griffith the Nationals have become
an ideal ball team in more ways than one
10 begin with. 1t would be hard to gather
together a better behaved lot of players
Ihere is not man on the list who is not
constantly giving the team his best serv-
ices No one can make success of a
ball team unless he has the material but
tnere are InnumeraDle instances where in
competent handling of a team has re-
suited in its undoing. 1t was indeed a
fortunate stroke of fate when Griffith took
charge of the Washington team. 1t put
the National Capital on the base all
map Griffith has done wonders since
taking charge and the time may not be
far off when he will realize his greatest
ambition and win another pennant
Grin1th's system of handling his players
Is ideal. There is no favoritism shown to
any one. The youngster who warns the
bench is given just as much consideration
as the star player. Dissension and cliques
are unknown and the players all pull to-
gether for one purpose-victory.
The system of having the players meet
with him every morning has been of
great benefit to the team. The players
nave gained better understanding of
the game are kept interested, and by
reason of these daily discussions are
playing much more intelligent game
of ball than are many of their rivals
Then. too, all hands are satisfied Grit
fifth has a way of doing things to keep
his players so. Misplays and plumbers,
Tor instance, are never criticised on the
ball field No matter what sort Of mis-
take player may make in a game no