The Washington herald., 1914-04-19
Three Wins FOR
GRIFPSPLAYERS
PLEASESLEADER
Flying Start Made by the
Team Shows 1t Is
Ready.
OUTCLASSED OPPONENTS
Johnson Will Work Opener Here on
Thursday-Nationals Expect to
Take Rest of Series.
By WILLIAM PEET.

New York, April 18.-Winning
three out of four games played
during the opening week of the
American League season is what
one might call getting away from
the post to a flying start, and to-
night Clark Griffith, of the Ma
tionals, is the happiest man in the
world.
In the games played this week
the Grifithmen have outclassed
both Boston and New York. Pitch
ers Johnson and Boehling have
fulfilled all the good things pre-
dicted for them, the team as a
whole has put up fine article of
the national pastime, and, best of
all, the club is in great shape phys
ically.
There is nothing like getting
away WE'LL discoursed the "Old
Fox" tonight. 1T puts confidence
into every player on your own
team and fear into the hearts of
your rivals.
By working johnson today, Griff makes
1t plain that he will use the big fellow
for the opening combat of the season in
Washington against the Boston Red Sox
next Thursday. at the same time having
Walter in reserve to finish out a game
during the present series here in New
York II il Is found necessary
That Waller johnson today pitched
a poor game was due to STo reasons.
He lacked control because he was forced
10 work from an elevated pitchers box.
and then again the dirt on the Polo
Grounds is so full of mica that the ball
becomes shiny and cannot be firmly
Grasped. except by a spitball artist like
Heating.
Frank Chance has caused the ground
keeper to construct a young mountain in
the center of the intield. and as Johnson
has been pitching on the level Cno joke
intended this season. he was at a big
disadvantage and fioundered around like
fiSh out of water.
Just what is to be gained by the ele-
~ated pitchers box is hard to say. un-
less chance figured that his own twirl-
ers would soon aCcustOm themselves to
ii. while opposing slabmen would bs
bothered a whole lot.
Had Johnson been addicted TO chewing
tobacco. a habit common to most pitch
ers. he could have overcome the shiny
ball. but the Big Train, does not use
tobacco in any form. q
'I never have been able to pitch a real
good game in New York. johnson said
tonight. "and this afternoons exhibition
was no exception.
One reason why the Nationals are
striking fear into the hearts of rival
American League clubs this early is be-
cause Shanks and Morgan appear to
have their eyes on the ball Yesterday
in Boston Morgan virtually broke thS
game up and today Shanks came through
with timely wallop. !
Gandil and Milan. the men supposed
to drive in the runs are not sending
many over: this is especially true of
Gandil. but the supposed weak-hittins |
Morgan and Shanks. are very much in
the spotlight
When Ray Heating found that Morgan
had him in a hole during the first inning
of today's game he purposely walked the
Baltimore lad to get a crack at ShankS
Now he is probably sorry he did it. Two
of the New YOrks' crack PLAYERS were
not in tOday's game" Big Williams.
the first saCker. is laid up with a severe
Geld His place was well filed by
Pitcher Ray Caldwell. Right Fielder
Luther Cook was also on the bench.
Cook injured his knee during yesterdays
game. GiIhooIey played right field.
Just as soon as he found that he could
not control his speed this afternoon Wal
ter johnson Immediately changed his
STYLE of pitching. using his slow ball and
curve. From the fourth inning until the
game was over Johnson hardly threw
more than four fast ones to the New
York batters. His change of pace puzzled
the home team, as did his speed
Umpires Bill Evans and Jack Egan
handled the game, and not single de-
cision was questioned. In Boston, Con-
CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE