Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-01
WOOD MAY PITCH
AGAINST JOHNSON
These Two Stars Likely to
Meet in Final Game With
Boston Today.
SERIES WITH new YORK
WILL START TOMORROW
Nationals May Make Up Enough
Ground Against Yankees to
Regain Lead.
By ]. ED oRILLo.

BOSTON, Mass, June lin the hope
Of winning the odd game Of the series
here, Manager Grihith will send Walter
johnson to the slab today. There Is a
slight chance Of Walter being opposed by
Joe Wood. although Smoke is said to
be far from in form. II Wood is not
back. He has an even break to date
with his famous namesake and Carrigan
may figure that he is the logical man to
pit against the Nationals star.
If the Nationals can continue to play
tho same kind Of hustling game that
has marked their stay in this city, there
is an excellent chance Of their being on
top when the end comes. There Is lot
Of fighting spirit about tho Griffmen that
other teams do not display. incidentally.
there is a vast improvement in the hit
ting. The development of Shanks and
the return to form Of Moeller makes a
whole lot of difference In the teams Of
fensiye strength. Gandil gradually Is
recovering his best batting ability. but
Morgan. although he has been showing
more than he did earlier in the season.
is vet far from being the hitter ne was
last year. The fielding Of the team mas
been nothing short Of sensational, ana
probably will continue to be II the pres
With any sort Of a break the Ma
tionals ought to move back to first place
before they start west Thursday night.
There are four games TO De piayed III
New York. The series starts win
double-header Tuesday. and, while those
Yankees must not be figured easy pick
ing. the kind of ball the Nationals have
been playing should give them the ma
jority of the games.
While Grtfrs team is engaged at New
York, the Athletics are In Boston, ana
they are slated to play f1ve games IN
three DAYS. and, as they have another
double- header in New York today 1t looks
yery much as II this punching OF CONNECTS
will badly exhaust Mack's pitching staH;
which, at its best, is a rather oouotiui
proposition. The Boston team, wniEn, ~
the way, would rather beat the Mack
nen than any other club. 10 not going to
prove easy picking in the coming series,
and 1t may be its lot to win a majority
Of the games from the leaders, in which
event the Nationals ought to pass TO the
front again before they start on thelr
first invasion Of the west.
The Federal League is not overlooking
any chances to mako players in organ
outlaw circuit are travelling around the
country talking large figures to ball
niayers. and even making them PROPOSE
tons to jump at once. Jim shaw Is one
Of the Nationals that have been talked to
by the Feds. A representative of the
Buffalo club had a chat with Shaw in
Washington just before the team LETT
there, but the first thing that Shaw did
about 1t was to run and tell Grin. There
is, Of course, no danger OF Shaw taking
such a foolish step.
Another story emanating from the Fed
publicity department Is to the effect that
the Wards. owners Of the Brooklyn club,
fer of 10000 to sign a three-year con-
tract. Walter says that he has heard
nothing of tho proposition. but it stands
to reason that II such a figure we're Of
fered he could not turn it down II there
were any chance for him to get away
Grimth, however, ts not allowing him
self to be worried by the Feds. He
contends that the new league is on its
last legs and is only blufang.
After Nen. the virginia collesian. has
worked out q few days with the
Nationals. it will not be at all surpris-
ing If he Is given a chance at second
to develop a substitute for that posi-
ton. to be fortified in the event of an
injury to Morgan, and, incidentally. In
case Morgan's slump with the stick
continues lnoouuIS6lys
The opinion of every one who saw
Neff play at Virginia for the past two
years Is that he 10 sure to develop into
q cracking good player, but, Of course,
there Is a lot of difference between
college ball and In a major league, and
Neff will be looked over before any
opinion is passed on his ability to make
good in this company.
In the double-header which is expect
ed to be played in New York Tuesday.
Grifath will most likely pitch Jim Shaw
and Doc Ayers Shaw il not apt to
have another of day. Saturday, In fact,
he had moro stuff than he could con-
upon to give q good account Of himself.
But as johnson 10 to pitch today. he
will not be apt to appear in the New
York series, but probably will open in
St. Louis.