Evening star., 1914-08-12
Injured OutfieIder Notifies
Manager He Is Far From
Ready to Join Team.
NO DANGER OF THE FEDS
DISRUPTING GRIFF'S TEAM
Most Players Signed for Long Term.
Only One Has Ten-Day Clause
in Contract.
BY j. ED GRILLO.

It will be several weeks before Clyde
Milan will return TO his position in center
ifcld. Manager Griffith was anxious to
have his crack outf1elder in the coming
series with the Athletics and wired Milan
~ report at Martinsburg, If possible. yes
ts~day. so that he might get the benefit
Of a couple of exhibition games before
getting into real contests. Milan. how
ever replied that his jaws were still in
splints and that it would be two or three
weeks before he would be able to play.
THIS means that there will be no imme-
diate change in the makeup of the out
field for the team. 1t was the intention
II have Milan replace Shanks in center
and continue Mitchell in left, which
would mean the benching of Shanks.
Mitchell has virtually eliminated Shanks
from consideration as a regular follow
ing the return of Milan to the fold
The fact that the ex-Pittsburgher is
hitting around the 400 mark makes him
4 fixture in left.
Rumors TO the effect that the Federal
League is to make strenuous efforts to
secure three OF the Nationals infielders
are simply in line with other boasts
which the outlaws have made from time
20 time. Both Eddie Foster and Chick
Gandil are playing under three-year con-
tracts which have two years to run after
the present season is over.
Neither of these agreements contains
the ten-day release clause. There is no
question as to George McBrides loyalty
to the club. and Ray Morgan, while not
under a long-term contract. is expected
to get In line this fall AS are most of the
PLAYERS, he is playing under contract
from which the ten-day release clause is
eliminated In fact. according to Man
ager Griffith. there but one play
on his team whose contract con-
tains the ten-day clause. and that is
ha is take
advantage of this fact.
That the Federal League proposes to
make the Washington club pay Walter
Johnson a fancy figure next season is
generally conceded. Johnson Is to be Of
fered fabulous sum by the outlaws. ap-
parently for no other purpose than TO
make the Washington club put his figure
up to the highest notch, but it is safe
prediction that johnson will be found
under Grifhth's wing again next season.
and for the remainder of his career most
likely.
Harry Harper is gradually being de-
velopedinto a sensational slab performer
1t is only a question of time. according
to the Judgment of some of the veteran
players on the team, when Harper will
be numbered among the crack left-hand-
ers of the league. His work in the game
at Marttnsburg yesterday was nothing
short of sensational. He pitched SIX in
nings, during which period he famed ten
men and two OF the three hits he allowed
were of the scratchy variety. True dar-
per was up against semi-pro team, put
on the few occasions that he has been
given chance to work against Dig
leaguers he has shown well. His control
seems to have been much improved. and
the fact that he Is but nineteen years old
is an assurance that there Is a good
chance for further Development
The Nationals are scheduled to play
an exhibition game at Frederick. Md.
this afternoon, and will board an early
train for Philadelphia Griffith intends
TO work Walter Johnson in the open
while Doc Ayers is being groomed for
the second struggle. Bentley will
work in the game at Frederick today.
so that the exhibition games have not
interfered with the rest the regular
pitchers are in need Of
Connie Mack and Frank Bancroft Of
the Cincinnati club have plans under
way TO tour the west this fall with
two teams made up of the stars OF
the American and National leagues
Mack no doubt will take his own team
starting soon after the worlds series
is over. The teams are to play through
the west and remain on the coast for
several weeks. Bancroft is to select
a team from the various National
League clubs. Guarantees from cities
en- route are being secured.
Eddie Ainsmith will be able to take
part in the games scheduled for Phila-
deIphia the latter part of this week
Will reinstate the Nationals catcher
Thursday. the day that the Nationals
open three game series in Philadel-
pha.
Ainsmith was going at his best at
the time of his suspension and Grif
nth proposes to use him behind other
pitchers besides Johnson.
There 10 a oojp bn nf
club-owners in organized base ball which
does not reflect much credit on four
members Of the executive committee OF
the Players Fraternity. That committee
is made up of Jake Daubert and Ed.
Reulbach of the Brooklyn club, Jack
Miller of the st Louis Cardinals. Ray
Collins OF the Boston Red Sox and John
Henry of the Nationals. The first four
named are accused of having forced their
clubs to give them new contracts at
largely advanced salaries. Soon after
they had been appointed on the players
committee. it is alleged, they created the
impression that they We're dickering with
the outlaws and new contracts at in
creased figures We're the result. John
Henry, however. stood pat on the two
year contract he signed last winter.
The Pittsburgh club has asked for
waivers on First Basfmen konetchy,
who q year ago was credited with being
the best first baseman in base ball. Grif-
Lltf4 was iiilpilS tilpee HOliNeu tnat the
Pittsburgh club wants waivers on ko-
netchy, and ii is likely that no club will
refuse for the good reason that the former
ST Louis star has a contract calling for
a big salary. which the other clubs nat
orally will hesitate TO assume. But the
fact that the Pirates want TO get rid of
NoHetCny does NOT mean that he is all
through, by amy means Mike MitchelIs
showing with o!Ic Nationals proves that
Mitchell Was let out by Pittsburgh be-
cause he was believed TO be all through
VI siEce joining the Nationals he has
played the best bail of his career and
sis hit around the 400 mark No one
can understand why Pittsburgh should
Iet 9 player Lke Mitcheil get away