The Washington times., 1914-05-17

open next week. The Browns got away
IN fairly good shape, but have been
gradually skidding TO the position they
seem foredestined to finish, and, al
though always hard club for the
Grl1men to beat, there seems to be
10 logical reason now why the Ma
tionals sholld not profit by the stay
or Branch Rickey's brigade.
II Washington does not increase its
percentage this week, the outlook for
the following seven days does not ap-
pear propitious, as the fast-tyin De
troit Tigers will be here until the Ma
tionals leave for Boston for a trip that
Will continue until June q.
The middle of the week should tind
Cube Acosta ready to jump in in case
any mishap should overcome any of the
trio Of regular gardeners. He practiced
several days last week, and yesterday
showed that the ankle is speedily recoy-
ering its strength, although he prob
ably will de forced to wear the silk
bandage the rest of the season.
Acosta was certainly an unlucky Gu
ban to be sent to the ambulance corps
when the moment arrived when he mad
the best chance of his baseball exist
ence; thus far. to demonstrate his
worth.
The triumvirate of young pitchers
Bentley, Harper, and WilIiams-who
have been nursing sore arms for several
daEs, should be able to get back into
their real strides by the middle Of the
week Then, IL Griffith decides 10 re-
sumo morning practice for the whole
squad, there will be some competent
pitching for the regular 10 bat against.
No member of the Washingtop club
has been more discussed this spring
than Walter Johnson. and for no man
were the patrons pulling harder TO come
through. He is one nf the most talked
Of players baseball has ever known. and
now comes Conrad SaUtcr. OF Ridge
wood \. j.. with the following letter
10 the Baseball Magazine, which should
be Of interest TO the thousands OF ad-
.nlrers OF the grand pitcher:
The fans all over the country have
great interest in Walter johnson. and
columns and columns about him arc
ever. here are few facts and fig
ures | have not seen published as yet
Some people dixie the famous Bull
DurbamD have AN idea that Johnson's
record is vastly helped BY winning
soft games, that Is. games in which
he served as relief pitcher. Now. the
unofhcisl pitching record OF Johnson's
won and lost is thirty-six and :. a
percentage Of .s37. Minus all games in
which he was a relief pitcher. his rec
l..
en-. percentage. sill. Nov. let us sec
whether he really earned those six
games he won while helping another
pitcher out.
Johnson appeared in eleven games
as relief man. and allowed only
two runs Both Of these we're scored on
July 3, in game with st. Louis. John
son had gone in the box in the fourth
inning. with a man on third. This man
scored on fluke hit. st. Louis scored
another in the seventh. and then John
son went through eight innings straight
without allowing A score. So. in eleven
and one-third innings pitched. Johnson
allowed only two runs. seven hits, three
bases on balls. and struck out six
teen men. As the game ended in tic
he got no credit for this wonderful
work. Another fine piece of work.
for which he got no credit. occurred on
September ), when he went in in the
ninth inning. with the bases full and
no outs. against New York. Caldwell
hit the first ball pitched into a double
play. and NaiseI famed on three pitch
ed balls
Only three teams were able TO beat
llim-P philadelphia. three times; Boston
and cleveland. twice each: In four OF
However. in his three defeats by
his team gave him ten
runs. His shut-outs were distributed as
follows: Philadelphia three: New York
three: Boston, two: Detroit TWO; chi
cago, one: st. Louis. one.
Otis CIymcr, who ca%orted around the
outfield here when Joe Cantillon held
the tiller, has certainly some In for his
share Of hard luck during his career as
a player. He is nov oct o: the Min
neapoijs lineup with broken arm.
While with Pittsburgh he fractured a
lee and while here sprained his ankle
and was out for weeks.
Shortly after going 10 Csntillon's
club he suffered . br oxen