The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-08-08

CHICAGO, Aug. Sin looking 10
he future it would appear as though
me principal concern OF Clark Grlthth
should be to bolster up the Nationals
bv adding another understudy for his
inhelders.
The catching staff of the Grinmen
viii do. As soon as Milan RECEIVERS
there will be a quartet Of tried out
felders available. with Cube" Acosta
& possibility, and there are plenty OF
pItchers who seem only to lack ex-
perIence to make them compare
favorably with the best sets OF
moundsmen in the league.
But Griffith finds himself rather shy
in surplus infield material. Schaefer's
principal value to the team at presenS
is As a coacher, strategist and general
adviser to the manager The illness
hat sent Doug Neff home may or may
not have a lasting effect on the
playing Of this promising younster.
Constant bench duty has had most
INJURIOUS effect upon Wally Smith. In
ne spring Smith looked like a man
N no might prove SO Strong as to I'M
5errnine one of the regulars. But week
fter week he was forced to remain idle
while the regulars performed, and this
onforced loafing has hurt his playing
10 no small extent.
Joe Gedeon was undergoing the same
-ort of treatment when he realized mat
would eventually eliminate him. he
received the consent of his manager to
20 TO the coast. and since then has
zen playing brilliantly for Los An
Eeles.
smith has already shown that he is
q capable ballplayer, but what he needs
.= more work, to keep him primed and
'orestan taking on more extra weight
But Griffith apparently appreciates
me fact that a couple Of young infield-
ers would not be hard to take. and the
couts have been given instructions to
grab up any promising youths who
might be lurking in the underbrush
through which the emissaries OF the
Washington club are now beating in
several sections Of the country.
Doc Ayers deserved a better fate
than he received in the game Of the
st at the hands, brains. and bats Of
the SoK yesterday. Had the suppart
Of the twirler been orthodox, there
would have been no score for Chicago.
AS II was. the big right handler who
performed so we'll for the Griffmen in
most Of his games. fell victim OF a
defensive system that was most Sauzy.
Gsndil. ordinarily one OF the most re-
liable of the fie!ders on the Griffithian
oils. came through with an error
hitch gave a runner the start 70 what
developed into the first run OF the
-ontest and later Dan Moellcr let a
rrounder hop through his legs ana roll
v allwards, and place another SoX play
scored on a hit. The errors Of the Ma
r.onais were not so numerous, but
u her they did come they were most
ostIy. and 70 the faulty support rath-
~ than 10 any other cause, must be
sttrTbuted the downfall Of the Wash
',,s,onisns in the series which is to
saw whether the team still has chance
N force its way into the forefront OF
he fight. or is to battle 10 1lnlsh as
4 has for the past two years-secono-
Ubu, Inc Benz was hit more freely
han was Ayers the veteran MAS most
Elective with men on the haSes. HIS
control was grand, and ~hiic ne 1id not
aspire TO any records In the matter OF
strIke-outs, he succeeded In moving
down the invaders at each opportunity
Of placing runs to the best possible ad-
vantage.
II was a duel on the mound in which
Benz came out the victor because ms
afforded Ayers was faltertng and uncer-
tain.
AS a mark Of coincidence to the most
distinguished member of the baseball
publlc, IN the aUilctlCn WHICH ne mas
suffered through the death of his help
mate. the flags at Comiskey field were
dropped to half-mast, and drooed dis
consolately while the Athletics engaged
in the days labor. II is doubtful II
there has ever before been such a mark
Of sorrow in the whole history OF base
ball.
Jim Callahan played a little trick on
all of the Chicagoans when he shot the
name of Coombs into the lineup in
centerheld in place Of Bodic. While he
came unannounced. II seems that
coombs was grabbed up from the Bay
city club, OF the South MichlGan I
League, where he earned reputation |
and favor as a hitter. He failed TO |
show enough yesterday TO warrant the |
belief that he is on the thresh Did Of a |
marvellous baseball career.
The Indications are that Walter John |
son viii be held over until Monday 10 1
pitch the concluding game Of the series |
before the Nationals commence TO vend