Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-18
OUGHT TO WIN
SERIES EASILY
Nationals Should Considerably
Improve Percentage in
Games in New York.
HENRY CATCHES WELL
FOR THREE INNINGS
Great Backstop Proves Him
self in Fine Condition-Team
Shows Intelligence.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Special Dspat ch to The Star
| NEW YORK, April 1S.-While it is, of
! course, not a safe proposition to count
| your chickens before they are Matched
| the chances are that the Nationals will
considerably strengthen their percentage
| during their stay here. A majority of
the four games scheduled here should go
! to Griffith's team, for it is becoming evil
| dent that Chances team has no right to
! do more than give the Nationals a hard
| fight.
| With Mcconnell out of the way Chance
! has really only Caldwell left to be fear
| ed. Ford is far from being right and
| the other tWirlers are untried youngsters.
| Then too, there is a great difference in
| the strength of the two teams The Ma
| tionals easily outclass their rivals here.
and, while this does not entitle them to
win every game, they surely should have
| a big advantage in the series.
Yesterdays performance of the Ma
| tionais proved that Griffith not only has
! fast team, but that he has an intelli-
gent one: a team which will not win any
medals as a smuggling aggregation, but
one which is constantly doing the I'M
expected and is fast on the bases Incl
dentaily, yesterdays game seems to prove
that Griffith is well fortified behind the
bat. The work of Henry and Ainsmith
was of the highest order, and the few
scores of the locals must, to large ex-
tent. be attributed to their excellent
throwing to the bases. Henry stayed
only long enough to demonstrate that
he is in form again, and Ainsmith, who
succeeded him, caught one of the best
games he has ever shown since he DON
ned Washington uniform.
Chances team seems intent on showing
Just what kind of thrOwers Henry and
Alnsmith are. and they learned to their
sorrow that there is nothing wrong with
two men on second with wonderful
throws. while Ainsmith not only threw
out man at second, but also one who
tried to steal third. Nor were these
plays made with the aid of pitched-out
balls On the whole the Nationals
demonstrated SO much more strength
than they could boast of year ago at
this time that there is a good chance for
the team to get a flying start in the race.
There was some surprise expressed
when Manager Griffith announced that
Henry would catch Groom in yesterdays
game. 1t was supposed that Henry was
slated for several more weeks of rest
before he would be asked to take his turn
behind the bat because of his weak knee.
Whatever doubt that may have existed
as to Henrys present condition was dis
PEELED, Tor Henry caught three innings of
him this year he is sure to have a re-
markable season. Henry was taken out
at the end Of the third inning because an
elastic bandage which he wore around
his knee was found to be too tight for
comfort and there was not time to change
1t between innings. This brought n
smith into the game and ii the spectators
hac reason to admire Henry they ap-
plauded Ainsmith for his good work
It was not one of Bob Groom's best
days by any means, notwithstanding the
fact that he won his game, and is
charged with but four hits. Groom
game was not as easy as it might ap-
pear, especially not during the early in
nings, when Mcconnell was holding his
own. Bob's failing seemed to be his
control. 1t has been weeks since he pitch
ed in a ball game and the ball refused
to do his bidding. AS a result he was
almost constantly in the hole on every
batter that faced him. But when he did
get 1t over he was not easily hit and
this fact together with the brilliant
support given him, held the locals down
to low scores.
Let Grifhth's pitchers hold up their end
this season. and Washington will be in
the pennant fight to the last. 1t is ques-
tionable If any team i'm the race will pay
more intelligent ball than the Nationals
Griffith has his men well drilled They
keep an opposition team on the guess
because there is never any telling what
they may do and that kind of a team. if
1t has it's share of strength, is always
sure to he more Or less successful There
was lots of evidence In the game yester-
day which showed that the players know
what they are about, and in this respect
they easily outclassed their rivals
1t will not be at all surprising IL Wal
ter Johnson does not make his appear
ance here in any of the games. though
this will depend largely on what sort of
showing the other pitchers make.
Hughes will likely go today, and if he can
win, Engel and Gallia may both get a
chance. Griffith wants to demonstrate
that he can win from some of these
teams with other pitchers than john
son. and he is undoubtedly planning to
give both Boston and the Athletics a
dose of the Idaho demon when he goes
against them next week
In the meantime Johnson is apt to be
kept in good condition. but will not be
worked more than he needs to keep in
shape. Yesterday. for instance, Walter
was kept warmed up until it was plain
that the game had been won, and a long
workout is just about as hard on a
pitcher as game. Johnson. in fact, says
that he would rather pitch two games
than warm UP while four or five innings
are being played.
what some of Griffith's young pitchers
can do in a regular game. He wants to
satisfy himself on that point before he