The Washington times., 1914-05-31
FANS ARE RUNNING
ENGEL AS PITCHER
About Time They Changed Tac-
tics and Offered Encourage
ment to Griff's youngster.
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

Joe Engel, Clark Griffith's young
twirler. has the makings of a big
Lacquer, but he will never be a shin
ing light in his own town until the
crass-brained fans in the pavilions
allow him to show his stuff and sup
port him while he is struggling olt
there. in the hot sun. Hammering a
young player breaks the spirit and,
more on this account than any other.
Engel has steadily failed to make
good with the Griffmen. When the
fans who are always bowling for
young blood" get it into their heads
to support this same "young blood" 4"
even when it is going bad, the sooner
will the young fellows deliver the
goods.
It's cinch that Manager Griffith,
who was a great pitcher in his own
time, believes Engel possesses the
right stuff for the big league, or he
would not have clung to him so long.
The writer has followed EngcPs
work, both at home and in other
cities, ever since the Old Fox signed
him up, and he can truthfully say
that the boy pitches his best ball
when on the road. Indeed, the rec
ords prove this to be true.
Suppose you were a kid trying to make
good with a big league team. Suppose
the manager ordered you to the firing
line and you were constantly jeered
from the moment you started To warm
up until you entered the box You'd be
bit nervous, wouldn't you?
Then, suppose that YOU started in to
pitch by giving the catcher a saiIer
with the old cry. Take him OUT
Would that tend to steady you any?
You know II wouldn't.
10 build up pitching staff. Manager
Griffith has had to take green pIayers
and try to develop them into stars. He
has made Joe Boehling a commendable
performer and Joe has got over his wild
days. But Joe Boehling knows, and
has told the writer so. that he never
nome town. because the fans there SIM
ply would not endure him. They
wouldn't give him a chance.
suppose Grif gets tired of Engel
constant failure to pitch winning ball
and sends him to some other club
Then. too. suppose he makes good. as
he undoubtedly. would Wouldn't there
be mighty roar from those same fans
who now sit in the stands and jeer at
the youngster? Yes, they'd be CRYING
that "Grif ought never have let him
go. l. always knew he'd be great
pitcher"
It's about time that the fans got
little common horse sense into their
OF discouraging the youngsters now
trying hard To make good with the
Griffmen. This applies to them all
too. not merely Engel The Young
sters need this announcement The
don't care what is said OF
them. Experience gives them thick
hides
Through all his troubles here in
Washington. Engel has never whm-
pered. His code doesn't allow whim-
pering. He's not yellow and he
thinks whimpering the mark of the
coward. So he goes into the box and
tolls as hard ss he can. failing day
after day for want OF cheering support.
Engel is not a finished pitcher He
can't he expected to pitch the smooth
kind Of ball a veteran will pitch. But
ever hit him hard. II the fans at
Florida avenue will sit quietly and
watch him work himself out Of the
holes he digs for himself by his wild
ness. the day will come when they will
see him one of the best performers in
major league baseball. Stop swinging
the hammer.