The Washington times., 1913-05-23
CR|PPLEDPLkYERS
FACE BIG SERIES
GandiI, Morgan, Laporte, and
Mcbride Form Poor Look
ing InfieId.
By SENATOR"

On the eve Of their most important
series of the spring campaign, Clark
Grfnith's Climbers are in poor condi-
ton. The infield Is torn all to pieces
through injury. Gandil hobbies on q
wounded toe. Morgan has both ankles
brsced, Mcbride has a bad finger on
his throwing hand. and Laporte drags
his leg with pulled tendon. No team
In the race ever was in worse plight
than the Climbers right now.
Nevertheless, in spite of their chapter
Of accidents. the team has managed 10
stay ahead Of their adversaries on this
long jaunt around the circuit The
Mackmen alone have done better than
the Climbers in the West. Beginning
with the two games in Philadelphia
Climbers have won eleven and dropped
ten. In the West alone they have won
seven and dropped eight
Taking into consideration the games
Athletics have won the most games OF
all the Eastern teams, grabbing seven
and lost six. The other three Eastern
teams. the Climbers. Yankees and REQ
6ox. have copped seven and lost eight.
Washington fans should not worry
overmuch about the chances Of their
pets. The Griffmen are still very much
In the race. They must be considered
in any calculation for the pennant win
ners. It win not be long before their
IN good condition, and then they VIII
be ready for all opponents.
West Wins Out.
In the intersectionaI scrap ended yes
terday the West was the victor. OF the
nfty-eight games played the frontier
teams won thirty. The White Sox led
with eight won and five lost. The Maps
were second. with nine won .and six
dropped. The Browns won seven and
lost nine. while the Jungaleers landed
ok victories and dropped eight.
The writer. having seen all the teams
In the league. is inclined to believe that
despdte their fine showing to date. the
Naplanders will not finish one-two.
club In the West, with the White Sox
close behind. Callahan has the best
pitching stan In the league. but his
team plays ''army baseball" The
Brownies are not as fast as they must
beneftting by playing 50 per cent Of
their games at home. where they have
the best hitting park In the league. have
won games through sheer weight OF
their willows. Their brains are not in
evidence Falkenberg and Gregg will
not win any pennant for the Maps.
With young pitchers showing good
form, even in defeat. and Ty Cobb run
ming wild. the Tigers must be consid-
league. Though hardly strong enough
to worry the real leaders, the Tigers are
certain to disrupt the even tenor of this
race
Cleveland Insane.
Cleveland is insane with thoughts Of
winning the nag. 1t is more than likely
however. that Ban Johnson's thunder
win tear that club apart before long.
particularly IL the official guessers now
working In this league will report to
him the tactics Of the Maps. They are
using the same methods long thrown
aside by such managers as McGraw.
Mack. Griffith, and company. the low
brow stun, the insult, the vile language.
the indecency. Another riot in which
the Cleveland club takes part will bring
down the punishment from the car OF
baseball and another riot is sure to
take place in Boston or Washington, IL
the Maps try to pull the same stuff in
either place that they have pulled In 1
Cleveland Some players refuse to be
maligned, and receive no protection
from the officials of the league
The Maps are all swelled up over their |
string OF victories and their high rank |
II 10 strange thing for a Cleveland
team to be 90 high: and they cannot
endure prosperity. Joe Birmingham is
in for fine bawling out by the league |
head within a few days for allowing
such tactics on the part of his team |
Nan Latoie is the only one absoIved
from this charge, the big Frenchman |
never forgetting he is a gentleman un-
der any circumsta noes
Tomorrow morning the Grifmen leave
for Philadelphia Six games are due to
be played there. double-headers coming |
on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday
night the team will arrive for a months
stay at home During this time Clark
Griffith expects his boys to get into the |
best OF playing condition. Improve their |
batting by morning Practice, and show
themselves worthy Of making a battle |