Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-24
BY j. ED GRILLO.


his players unde: contract before they go
! into winter quarters. He already has
several Of the youngsters signatures
! and yesterday signed Chick Gandil to
a three-year contract, which calls for a
substantial increase of salary. Gandil and
Griffith did not have the slightest trouble
getting together on the salary question
! Griffith appreciates Gandils value to the
team. and was perfectly willing to accede
to Gandils demand for an increase
| According to Griffith he has not yet
discussed the question of a new contract
| with Walter Johnson. Johnson's contract
] expires this fall and while, as said, Crit
| fifth has not discussed the matter with his
great pitcher, it is likely that he will do
so before the season closes.
| 1t goes without saying that Johnson will
| demand much larger salary than he re-
/ ceived during the past three years, when
1 he drew SCI, 0G0 from the local club Being
conceded to be the most valuable PLAYER
| in base ball, Johnson naturally expects
Ito be paid accordingly. 1t is known that
| johnson purposes TO get as much money
! next year as has been paid ball player,
! and Cobb is said to have the distinc-
ton Of drawing the highest salary, $1,000
johnson is very apt to make this demand.
! 1t seems to be the general opinion that
4
club and Johnson over the salary ques-
! ton. The club realizes that Johnson
will have to have large increase, and
! it is probably prepared to accede to his
demands without question.
Griffith and Johnson will undoubtedly
have a talk on the contract question
almost any day now, and in the meantime
Griffith Will get most OF his other play
ers in line. He prefers to settle these
matters now. believing that a more sat
isfactory understanding can be reached
by personal confabs with the players
than by the mail route during the winter.
John Henry had strenuous day be-
| hind the bat. He was hit several times
by wild pitches and foul tips and also
was spiked by Shotten when the latter
stole home in the eighth. Groom's spit
ball got bad habit Of breaking low
and striking the ground in front of the
plate. and it was this delivery which
made all the trouble for Henry.
| At the rate that Zeb Milan is hitting
now he is pretty sure to finish we'll over
the 800 mark this season. But 1t Is
only of late that Milan has shown his
real form at the bat. Early in the sea-
son he was not hitting anywhere near
his mark. and this undoubtedly accounts
for his inability to reach last years
stolen base mark. He is something like
twenty stolen bases short this season
compared with last, but is leading the
base-runners of this league nevertheless.
Cleveland will. have off days today and
tomorrow and then has five-game series
with Detroit at the latter city. The Ma
tionals' chances for finishing second will
depend largely on what sort of a showing
the Tigers will make against the Maps
three setbacks out of five the Nationals
will have chance to move to the front
| for 1t is to be hoped that the locals will
| play in their best form in New York, and
1t also depends on what sort OF showing
i they make against the Athletics and
Boston in the games here next week.
Bert Shotten has developed into one
of the best outffelders in the American
League. Shotten came to the Browns
during the regime Of Jim McAleer in
st. Louis and he has steadily improved
| until he is now one Of the stars Of the
game.
What a wonderful man Shotten would
make in the Nationals outield. He
MILAN and Moeller would be a speed
trio. for Shotten is conceded to be the
fastest runner to first base in the league.
The local club could afford to pay
big price for Shotten. though there is
hardly chance to get him away from
the Browns.
Griffith admits that he is in the market
for an outfielder of the Shotten type and
he may be able to swing some sort of
deal during the winter whereby he
will secure .high-class gardener.
There have been times this season
when for short period the Nationals
have played miserable ball, and on
other occasions their work has been
In a slump. playing far below its
standard, and allowing itself to be
beaten by inferior teams. Fortunately,
| the Cleveland team has played just
about the same kind of ball. and, as
result, the Nationals are right on the
| heels of the Maps for second place.
The chances are that the locals will
take brace from this out. in which
event they may pass the Maps in the
race. though 1t must be conceded that
unless there is a brace the team will
have to hustle to stay In the third
berth.
| Bob Groom wild-pitched his game
away yesterday. On two different oc-
casions the Browns scored runs on
balls which Henry could not reach.
and even Shotten would not have sue
ceeded in reaching the plate but for
the fact that Grooms pitch was so
far outside that Henry. after reaching
the ball. could not get back In time
to touch Shotten. In spots Groom was
brilliant. but on the whole he was un-
steady. and his inability to control the
ball proved disastrous.
! About the easiest chance offered dur
| ing the game came to Morgan In the
| ninth, with two men out. when Wares
| popped up a little fly. which Morgan
had no trouble getting under. but
which he muffed. an error which re-
suited in the defeat Of the Nationals.
| for it Melted the Browns the two runs
by which margin they won. 1t was the
easiest kind of play. but the ball
bounded out of Morgan's hand. Agnew
| followed with a single on which both
runs came home.
The Nationals leave for New York
this afternoon and will play the first
game Of a three-game series Thurs
| day 1t is more than likely that .iohn-
! son will work in the opening game
and then be rested until Monday, when
he will face the Athletics on the local
grounds This will be Mcbride day,
and one of the largest crowds Of the
| season is expected. In addition to
Johnson Griffith will take Groom, Love,
Shaw, Engel. Gallia and Boehiing along