Evening star., 1914-08-17
GR|FF'S BEST MEN
W|LLP|TCH TODAY
Johnson and Ayers to Work in
DoubIe-Header Against
New York.
CHANCES TEAM is GOING
AT A VERY FAST PACE
Yankees Have Been Improved Con.
siderably Since They Last
Met Nationals.
By J. ED aRuLo.

| NEW YORK, August 17.-Reali1ing tho
| Yankees are much improved over what
| they were when the Nationals tackled
them last Manager Grimth purposes to
use his two most effective pitchere~John-
son and Ayers-in the doubie-header Stat
| ed for today.
Just which pair OF Chances twirlers
will be used is hard to tell, but there ,s
some consolation In the fact that Calo-
we'll will not be ono of them. The star
of the local twirlinE staff has mysterious
ly disappeared. He jumped the traces
In Boston last week, and 1t IL under-
stood that after being fined no Eudoenly
disappeared, and rumor has 1t that no has
jumped to the Federala. Whether this ID
true Ia not known, but the fact remains
that hs is not apt to pitch against the
Nationals In either of the games today'
which will materially increase tho chances
of the Griffmen.
Dexpite the fact that Ayers was not
effective in his last game at fhliaoeipi.as
he is pretty sure to show TO aoVahtaso
here. The doctor mas never r sno~h h.,ne inc
the stumbling block on most ocoaAons;
but he has pitched some splendid pail
against the Yankees. Johnson mas peen
beaten by the New YORK team am. OH a,hWa pus
he will have had but two days rest
since beating the Athletics, he is pretty
surc to give a good account OF himseir.
While II is true that the failure Of
several members of tho Nationals to
play up to their standard this season
has been a serious handicap. Manager
Griffith does not intend to make any
material changes In his lineup next
season. unless he Is convinced by the
work Of the recruits that he Will try
out that some of them are superior to
those now holding down positions. II
has been an on year for Gandil. ana i..' also
Morgan, Both may come back with
a vengeance in the next campaign. ana
surely both are too valuable to think
of turning loose. Both have oeeh IN
batting slumps, and whenever tne
standard his general playing falls OF.
But there Is no reason for believing
that the slump Is permanent. Inc
nlayers in question are much 100 young
even to think of having seen their best
days.
whether Joe Boehling will ever be
the pitcher he was last season 10
conjectural. The injury to his knee NEE
may be a.+ more Sss,.vss serious The ms.sss ioose
cartilage is not easily healed. and un-
til it is Boehling should not be used IN
any game. His failure to live up
to last years performance hae oSsn
as much Of a detriment to the Ma
tionals' chances this year as the un-
expected failure Of Walter Johnson 10
show his usual form.
Those who have noticed the rapid
strides Of the Boston Braves are con-
yinced that Stallings' team stands
a chance to land the flag this year. IN
which event there will be- more real
interest in the next worlds series thah
there has been In several years; ,s;.h -.
Braves He now has fast
hard-hitting, Intelligent ball team.
which was the tail-ender July 4. but Is
now threatening . the hs,, Giam.s; asme: whose
Stallings deserves a world OF credit;
He has been one Of the most successful
managers in the history OF the game,
regardless of the fact that ne mas
never won a pennant Conditions have
never been favorable for Stallfngs. for
the reason that he has been forced to
change players just at times wnen ne
was making progress. Not single
failure is charged against him in his
MANAGERIAL career, and it would be a
fitting climax to have him win a. cham
pionship with a team which was picked
to finish last in the race.
II the Giants repeat it will be a
sorry worlds series this fall. No one
will give the McGraw team credit for
having a chance to win from the Ath-
letics and there will be a lack of in
terest On the other hand, should the
boston Braves come through and finish
on top there will be some question as
to the certainty of an Athletic victory.
for the Braves are a hitting team and
have some pitchers of class. 1t is, of
course, a long way to the finish of the
campa ign, but the Braves will have but
to go at their present gait to finish
on top.
While, of course. Pittsburgh has but
very remote chance to be prominent in
the present race, Fred Clarke and crew