The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-04-19
Job on Thursday for the opening game
at Washington.

Job on Thursday for the opening game
at Washington.
Part Of today was spent by Griffmen
f, in reading Baseballdom a publication
! just off the press, compiled by George
Moreland. the veteran statlstician.
1t covers the game from Its 1ncep-
ton, and has many records heretofore
unpublished. Today each of the Ma
tionals received copy.
Some idea of the high esteem in which
the Nationals are held by some experts
is indicated by the New York World In
announcing yesterdays game the paper
did not speak simply of the Washington
club but the Washington club that
will this year win the pennant is here
today to play Frank Chances team.
On all sides of the press box yesterday
was heard praise of the Griffmen. The
largest crowd that has ever seen an
American League game In this city
since the welcome to Frank Chance a
year ago was out yesterday. Billy Fowl
er got paid for nearly 1900.
As the Athletics had just left here,
the real critics had a pretty fair OPP
portun.ty to compare the Mackmen and
the Grinmen- Some of the more con-
sentative of the judges say that the
Athletics do not look like the champions
Of last fall, and explain that the team
is not yet in Its proper form.
On the other hand, Washington has
numerous supporters among the unbi-
ased Of the crowd, who insist that they
cannot give the Pennsylvanians any
thing on the men from the District Of
Columbia.
They do not attempt to disparage the
marvellous offensive strength Of the Ath-
letics. but call attention to the fact that
Washington Is possessed of the most
stubborn defensive club in the world,
presuming, of course, that all of the
good things that have been said about
the pitchers proves true.
While it is rather difficult to figure
home sentiment when hopping from
place to place with a ball club. II three
letters that reached here today may be
taken as a criterion, the Nationals will
crash all attendance records at home
next Thursday.
The correspondence is from men in
players to do anything to get them
t-ckeLs. The Nationals. unfortunately,
cannot alter the situation, as all reser-
vations have been exhausted.
The triple combination OF Johnson,
pitching; Shanks, hitting. and Milan.
fielding. is today being given credit by
the Griffmen for the victory by to /
of yesterday.
Don't be misled by reports that John
son was great He was not great or
even approachin gthe form he showed
last year or even at Boston in the
opener. The elevation of the box may
have had something to do with this, but
the fact remains that his control, long
his forte, was lacking and several times
he was In trouble as res lit OF his
own inability to master the light OF the
ball The only New York run came
directly from this as he made a wild
pitch and then, suffered from a passed
ball. for which he himself was appar-
emily somewhat to blame.
When there were no runners on the
bases Johnson. time after time, had the
ball Hopping from one side TO the other
OF the plate and the Highlanders finally
adopted the system Of trying to wait
him out instead of following the Usual
plan of hitting at everything that was
apparently bound plateward.
But at that, johnson was quite good
and when he realized that he was in
for bad day in the matter Of lack OF
control, he resorted TO speed and thereby
saved himself
shanks' double In the first inning. with
the bases loaded, was really what de-
cided the issue for the Nationals. Up
to the time he cracked il out, Heating
had pitched but two balls and both of
these were strikes. He tried to slip
ever the third, and that il did not go
as a triple was due entirely to the con-
dition OF the ground. Neither of the
outfelders, who made the try ever got
within yards of the ball while II was In
the air, but when il struck the loan II
died and 1t was possible to keep the
speed merchant glued TO second.
The next two times Shanks famed
but on his last trip made another hit.
Milan's stellar stunt came in the
eighth, when there were two out and
two on Caldwell lambasted a wicked
looking blow toward right-center. and
the crowd was yelling franticsllv for
all hands TO tally, when Milan came
from nowhere, took a leap and speared
the leather as IL was about TO go past
him for three sacks. or maybe better.
This CHANNEL who hit for the pitcher
in the eighth comes from Denver,
where he made a great record as
hitter. On his only try he belted the
ball up against the left field fence.
Shanks made a great try and jumped
in time TO touch It, The play saved at
least another base, for had the ball
hit the wood II would have bounded
back. 90 great was its speed, and 1t
would not likely to have been possible