Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-24
Johnson SURE TO
MAKE FINE RECORD
Griffith's Star Appears to Be
in Better Form Than
Ever Before.
GROOM TO OPPOSE
BUCK O'BRIEN TODAY
Worlds Champions Have Been
0utpIayed in Both Games
Here--CoIIinS Hard Hit.
BY J. ED GRILLO.


Walter Johnson is apt to break all
pitching records this season If nothing
happens to him to interfere with his pres
ent form. games in which he will be de-
feated are sure to he few and far between
Counting the ten innings which Johnson
pitched against the Phillies and Giants
before the Scion opened. he has pitched
thirty-sevcn innings and has been scored
on but once. the one run coming in the
first inning of the opening game with
New York and beng the result of a mis-
play.
No pitcher in the' country has been more
effective that he to date. and, barring
accidents. he should continue throughout
the season at a pace which has never
been euualed in the history of the game
Johnson appears to be better pitcher
this year than ever before In addition
TO his wonderful natural ability Walter.
by his experience. has greatly improved
himself. Any time he is right there is
hardly a chance for an opposing team
TO hit him successfully. Nor does he
work at top speed all through a game.
Only when the opposition threatens does
he cut loose at top speed. Pitching ap-
parently puts no strain on him. His
motion is all easy one which does not ap-
pear to require much force. He pitches
as If he were sitting in rocking chair.
and there cannot be the great strain on
his arm that other pitchers labor under.
In yesterdays game Johnson pitched
ninety-one balls. He wastes few balls
during game. Most of the time he is
cutting the plate. all of which makes his,
work much more easy than it is for the
average pitcher. This spring Johnson is
particularly brilliant. In former years
nc has not been near consistent early
in the season. so that the chances are he
tn hny h1a hA-$
career. and in all likelihood will estab-
fish record which has never been
equaled In the history of the game.
The worlds champions were absolutely
helpless before Johnson yesterday The
two hits secured off of his delivery were
more or less of the scratch variety and
there was never an instant when he was
in danger of being scored on. The very
fact that johnson was pitching seemed
to take all the confidence out of Stahl's
team. It's members went to the plate
thoroughly convinced that their chances
were but slim This is now usually the
case when Johnson walks to the slab
Opposing teams realize his wonderful
ability and they do not go into a game
that he is pitching with much confidence.
Ray Morgan gave a splendid exhibition
al second base yesterday. He had seven
assists to handle and every one Of them
was a difficult chance. Nothing that re-
sembled a wobble could be charged to the
little second baseman. while he contrib
uted his share of the stickwork with a
single and a triple. Morgan played by
far the best game he has shown this
spring.
Frank I.aporte proved Yesterday that he
will be a valuable utility man. In the
absence of Eddie Foster he played third
base. He did not have much to do in
the position. but took care of everything
that came his way. while he led his team
at the bat with two singles and a triple
IT is a great thing for a team to have q
hitter of the I.aporte type sitting on the
bench for emergencies. He may not be
able TO star in the field. but any time he
faces pitcher there is apt to be some
thing doing.
With anything like good pitching the
Nationals stand a chance of taking the
next two games from the Red Sox Crit
hth's team has outplayed the champions
IN both games here, notwithstanding the
tact that II was beaten in the opener.
Either the Red Sox have gone back or
have not reached the true standard of
their playing, for there is no getting
away from the fact that the team does
not look formidable. 1t is. of course a
good ball team, and any time an oppos-
ing pitcher cannot hold ii in check it is
very apt to win. but with the pitching
even the Nationals will have good
chance TO beat it. judged on their per-
Torrance in the two games here.
II is likely that Bob Groom will be
sent in against the Sox for the second
time today. Groom's work in the first
game was badly off for some rea son or
other, and he is expected to show his
real form today. Stahl will probably
II has been many a day since Raw