The Washington times., 1914-05-12

In the matter of excitement, Een-
eral interest or quality of baseball
that game yesterday did not COM
pare with the ones that had gone
ahead of it, the Athletics winning by
to 4. while a large crowd looked on
rather indifferently.
Each team used three wavsring
pitchers and when the Nationals de
fense crumbled it was fare thee Well
to the Griffmen's ambition to keep
themselves on even terms with the
champions.
II may be that the tension under
which the Nationals performed while
they were losing, tieing, and beating
the Athletics had to do with the lack
of real class yesterday. Whatever
the explanation the fact remains that
the club showed many degrees weak
er than ii did on the days preceding
yesterdays setback
AS matters stand today the Griffs
have lost more games than they have
won.
Four for the Athletics, two for the
Nationals and one a tie is. the stand
ing OF the two series.
Amos Strunk returned to center
field for the Mackmen, after an en-
forced lay off because Of injuries and
celebrated by making a couple of
neat running catches as well as poll
ing out real hit Daley, who had
been substituting is developing into
quite ball player, but the effect of
Etrunks presence is easily seen In
the Philadelphia outfield.
In these days of changing pitchers II
Is not safe TO attempt TO definitely fore
cast a pitching arrangement but II
johnson goes through today and Boeh-
ling is able to work tomorrow, Shaw
will probably be in the box Thursday
and Ayres on Friday
The Cleveland Maps. badly battered
crew, will open their series here next
As though the Feds did not do enough
damage when they stole Fred Falken-
berg. the Maps are now founderins h1s
around with half q dozen dependable
ball u<layers on the hospital lists
As v-as announced in these columns
last March, Johnny Men, the caPtai4
of the University of Virginia team, will
DIN the Nationals next month. as soon
as he receives his degree at Charlottes-
vile.
Griffith shook up his batting order
yesterday, showing Raw Morgan into the
lead and moving Smith down behinS
Shanks but the shift avalled little IN
the matter of consecutive hitting. al
though Morgan did come through with
q triple that was about as far distant |
as any of the sInashes made during the |
set. |
once more we respectfully call your |
attention 10 the lack of impressiveness |
OF the Philadelphia pitchers.
When the champions of the world |
cannot find men on their staff TO hold |
q team that has been hitting so poorly |
as have the Nationals il means that |
those clouters will have to do som" |
mighty extra time hitting II the Mack |
IDs.pagNF
Brown and Bender staggered around il .
fre order named Yesterday.
Durirg the series no one of the Griff- /
men hit more valuably than did Howard /
AASnks.
He has now climbed TO the 80 mark, |
surely nothing 10 be particularly proud |
- in the matter OF actual figures, still |
quite lofty position when some Of the !,
other Grffithian's records are con- |
sidered.
Ir addition to the boost which Fos- |
ters great hitting gives, the batting |
average of the strongest eight men. the |
pito hers being barred, that Griffith can |
place on the field is .2&5 OF course, this (
sort Of near-clouting will not 90 a long !
way in climbing.
Except in the eighth, when he gave |,
base on balls and ChuCked in a wild I
pitch. Bert Gallia looked good during |
tho couple of innings that he worked !
yesterday. after having succeeded Joe !
Engel, who had taken the place of Doc |
Ayers.
1t would not be surprising 10 see Jack |
Bentley worked into a game should re-
lief b. needed for any OF the first string |
pitchers during the series that opens t,
this afternoon. What Bentley needs !
principally Is work for he will not de-
velop into a real pitcher by simply sit
ting on the bench or tossing to the bat
ters in morning practice.
As there exists the widest diversity OF
opinion as to the relative merits of the