The Washington herald., 1913-04-21
iRIFF'S NFIELD
Will Stand TEST
Gandl, Morgan, Mcbride, and
Foster a Quartet
Of Stars.
Jews OF THE CLIMBERS
Na,isnals a Great Defensive Club;
Coming, Not Going Like
the Athletics.
By WILLIAM FEET.

ew York, April 2o.-It is remarkable
at q difference in a ball club one year
make. Manager Griffith finished the
- season with an inield composed of
Gandil, Morgan. Mcbride, and Foster.
strangers to each other. and produced a
winning combination.
This infield is today intact and playing
a 10 per cent stronger defensive game
than last year. The men individually
are acquainted with each others style,
brought about by conscientious practice.
Mcbride has made a wonderful second
baseman out of Ray Morgan. Eddie Fos-
ter has learned the fine points about
holding down third, and Chick Gandil
can handle all kinds of throws with
ease.
For a defensive infield right now there
is but one better in the Ban johnson
circuit, viz: the Athletics, and by the
time the White Elephants inner pickets
are beginning to slow up, Washington s
will about be in its prime.
The outheld. with Shanks, Milan, and
Moeller also compare favorably with
any of the other American League outer
men. In fielding, this trio cannot be
beaten: III speed, they are as good as
the best. but in hitting are slightly be-
low the wonderful Red SoX trinity.
The point of the foregoing paragraphs
is this: Grit has by unfagsing zeal
nodded together a regular stonewall de-
fensive ball club, one capable of support
ing a pitcher as pitcher should be
supported. and opposing teams this sea-
son will have to make lot of safe hits
to score many runs.
The Improvement in the Nationals in
field was not apparent until the team
nit New York. Then ii began to show.
During the first three games here play
after play. many of them extremely
hard and complicated, were pulled off
with ridiculous ease, and New York fans,
who probably understand baseball as
we'll as the rooters in Washington. were
quick to appreciate the clever stun and
to applaud the players.
The Nationals are not in the same
class with %the Athletics and Boston as
a hitting team. but with such a strong
defense and alright pitching many a
ball game is sure to be won, and experts
everywhere have Endorsed the writer's
contentious that Philadelphia, Boston,
and Washington will be right up at the
top all season. with the first two named
a triie better fortified than the Griffmen
to win the pennant.
"Eppa Rixey reports to the contrary
notwithstanding. is drawing a big, fat
salary from the Philadelphia Nationals"
said Charles c'Red'D Doom, the Quaker
City manager, to the writer last Friday
night.
According TO DOOM who is stopping in
New York with his club. said club at
present engaged in battling against the
Brooklyn Dodgers, Mr.. RiXey has not
only been badly advised by friends. but
reports circulated about his holdout tao
tics have peen grossly exaggerated.
You can say for me-" declares DOOM.
that RiXey never has been regarded by
the club as hold-out. He has signed
his contract now and is in shape TO
pitch. ] regard him as one of the most
promising young southpaws who ever
broke into baseball. / have asked him
to accept no advice in the future from
outside friends, but whenever he has
a fancied grievance TO come straight to
me, and the difficulty will be quickly
adjusted"
Rixey is with the Phillies now, and
certainly looks to be in great shape
physically.
There is a persistent rumor going the
rounds that Ty Cobb may wear a New
York uniform. One of the weak phases
of the gossip is that there is a deal
under way where Hal Chase will figure
in a trade with Detroit The scandal
mongers have il that Chase and Chance
cannot get along, and that all parties
concerned are agreeable to CobbChase
swap between Detroit and New York.
1t sounds like a plain case of the cows
husband. Funnier things than that have
happened in baseball, however.
There is one baseball writer in New
York who seems disposed to give the
Nationals little credit for being a good
ball club. and who does not fill his
pages full Of alibis when the Highlanders
lose.
Mark Roth. the Evening Globe ba sebaIl
writer i'm discussing Fridays game said:
Washington is playing great ball here
these days. and that is the reason why
they are at the head of the per centage
column-it looks as il the Yanks were
trying to beat a club which simply out
classes them"
Mr.. Roth's words ring true: would that
others in this overgrown village could
see the light.
II the odds offered by New York book
makers prevail the managers Of organized
baseball will not have to take official
steps to stop betting. For instance, last
Friday a Broadway ''bookie' offered only
two to one against the Athletics and held
Cleveland and Washington at the same
prices to l. No need to get excited
about gambling on baseball
Beating the races and Broadway rou-
lette wheel were simple and easy roads
to wealth compared with gambling on ball
games. IL there were any chance to
make money at it the managers would
be doing il themselves, even as the own
ers OF race tracks did
WILLIAM PEET.