Evening star., 1914-02-21
EXPECT SHAW TO
Be GREAT PITCHER
Local Youngster Picked as
Most Likely to Be Walter
Johnson's Running Mate.
YOUTH. SIZE AND ABILITY
ELEMENTS IN HIS FAVOR
Comiskey's Return Will Strengthen
Organized Base Ball in It's
Fight Against Federals.
BY j. ED GRILLo.

nm, most promising OF GriffitHs Young
pitchers IS believed to be Jim Shaw.
tiood Judges of pitching material con-
sIder Shaw the most likely recruit who
las dropped into the majors in several
vears Last season was Shaw first year
IN professional base bail. He made an
enviable record with York in the Tri-
state League. and In the few games he
pitched for the Nationals he displayed
marked ability
Saw has not only benefited by this ex-
perience but he seems to have grown
ot during the winter. He is now one of
the hig men of Grif1ith's pitching staff,
standing well over six feet and weighing
over Is5 pounds without having an ounce
OF fat on his frame
Wit me benefits of good handling this
spring and a lot of wise tutors to teach
him the fine points of the game. Griffith
and h.-~.dvisers lgure that Shaw VIII
prove 4 capab running mate Tor Walter
johnson. He is hardly out Of his teens,
but has every action of great pitcher
Last spring Shaw vas late reporting
and SLOW to get under way This year
he will have the benefit of early work
and good handling and is apt to be in
his hest form from the outset of the
season. If Shaw comes up TO expec-
rations the pitching staff of the Ma
rionals will be one of the best in the
circuit,
The return to this country OF Charles
ComiSkey. who has been with the
world tourists. will do considerable tc
strengthen organized base ball IN lts
stand against the Federal League HaC
comiskey not made this trip the
chances are that the F'ederals would
h2yc made but little progress this
winter Comiskey Will give base ball
the benefit of his wise counsel of
which il is very much in need. ana
the difference in the. attitude of the
outlaws from that time on will be-
come apparent. There is no doubt
Ihat Comiskey is desperately needed
by the powers of organized base ball
For base ball is in worse condition
right now than il has been since the
adoption of the national agreement.
comiskev had beeii sadly missed. and
his return is going to make a differ
@nce III the sltuation
The roster of the ST Louis Federal
League team bears the name OF BOD
Groom. So that II seems lndeed that
Groom has jumped the Nationals Thsre
will ne no tears shed l,v local patrons OF
the game. because Groom mas never been
popular here. and Vet ne may be missed
Dy the team The fact that he is sea
soned twirier made him desirable for the
coming season. when Griffith is trying to
stsrs But If the Youngsters come
through Grcoms absence viii not be
felt Thor. is some satisfaction i'll know
ing tnat Groom WAS We'll treated by the
local club and that he had no reason 10
he dissatisfied with conditions here
Jo., birmingham benoans the fact that
his pitching staff does not LOOK formi-
dabie enough to hold its own next sea
son tn. loss uf Falkenberg and Bland
ing has left the Maps in a bad way
The fact that Griffith viii have but one
seasoned pitcher reXt season-Wa!ter
Johnson-is not taken seriously by the
Cleveland critics Frank Bostock OF the
Cleveland Press indicates that in the FOL
loving: -.It really does srieve us exceed
i0gly that we can t scare up a rev
honest To- goodness tears and sympathize
with Clark Griffith in his WailinS that
m, poor old Washington club will have
70 depend upon its young twirlers this
season.
III We only had Walter Johnson here
sboIts we opine we wouldn't wall very
much. Irif's laments seemed to have
been caused by his loss of big Bob
Groom.
There isn't a chance for us TO win
unless some of our Young pitchers come
true. but still we can't weep with him.
You see We haven't even a looh-in.
with really only seasoned man. Wal
Ter Johnson continues Crit
''Ruf Walter alone. Grf. with eight
amateurs behind him. could make first
iivision outfit. In speaking thus also
tboGt his pitchers, our genial friend
lark forEets seemingly about his young
rack. Joe Boehling. not to mention Cash
IN. Gaila and Engel
'G.-irs pitching predicament can hardly
compared to that of one Joe Brming
an. who is now trying to develop one
God ri-ht-handsr TO do the work done
asst year by the kahler-FaIkenberg-
Standing trio