Evening star., 1914-05-31
NO LET-DOWN IN WORK
OF GRIFFITH'S PLAYERS


Of GRlFFlTH'S PLAYERS
Continued from First Page)
, ming. his first gave a very good account
/ Of himself, allowing but three hits during
his stay on the rubber and displaying
good control when his former failing in
that respect is considered. Cashion had a
lot OF stuff, and when the fact is con-
s1dered that he has been in but one other
game this season. he really gives promise.
The chances are that the big southerner
will have other opportunities on this trip
to show that there Is still hope of him
making pitcher.
There also was something encouraging
about Joe Engel's showing in the first
game. though 1t must be admitted that
he was dragged out of two decidedly
perplexing situations by the brilliancy
of his support. Two double plays. the
first the most brilliant the writer has
ever seen In his many years experience.
came In the third inning after Engel had
gotten off badly by walking Speaker
roster made sensational one-handed
pickup and throw to first of Janvrins 9
bunt down the third base line, and then
Howard Shanks. who is one outfelder
who does not figure that his duties are
over when he covers his territory in the
garden came into the limelight. When
he saw Janvrin bunt he anticipated that
|
so he ran there. Sure enough, Speaker
seeing that neither Mcbride nor Morgan
was covering the bag overran it to draw
throw. He accomplished this. but to his
utter surprise found that Shanks was
there to receive the ball from Gandil,
and he was ANONYMOUSLY retired amid
the cheers and jeers of the throng
A little later In the game Engel got
another break. He had been hit safely
once and had walked a couple. filing the
bases. with Que out. 1t was a ticklish
situation. for the Nationals lead was
none too big. Lewis solved him per-
fectly, and a line drive toward left re-
suited But Mcbride was waiting for 1t,
| tossed the ball to Morgan and the side
was retired.
There is no doubt that If Griffith had
farmed out Carl Cashion, SO that he
could be worked regularly and gradually
be developed, he would have shown a
lot Of ability long before this. Griffith.
too, has realized this fact on numerous
occasions, but there has always been a
barrier put up against his plans and he
has virtually been forced to hold Cash
ion or dismiss him outright, which might
have proved serious mistake Before
Griffith can send Cashion or any other
player on his team to the minors he
must get the consent of all the other
clubs in the American League, get the
waivers, as 1t is called. Well, the trouble
Is that there are not less than three
clubs in the league that refuse these
waivers, and Griffith naturally having
hope that Cashion may be developed.
does not want one of his rival teams to
| benefit by his impatience; hence, he is
hanging on to Cashion. though he might
be improved much more rapidly If he
| were put with some team where he could
| work regularly.
| for fhn
ing of the Boston team, for 1t was ex-
pected to be one of the best contenders
| In the present race, is the result of a
batting slump in which Iris Speaker has
been foundering all spring. The former
star of the local aggregation is in a bad
way as hitter just now. having made
but one hit in the four games the Ma
tionals have played here, and his work
| has not been consistent against any of
the other teams of late Naturally, the
slumping of Speaker has proved a handi-
cap for the Red Sox, for he was for
years their most reliable batsman.
| Herman Schaefer once more made good
as the teams pinch hitter. He faced
Bedient with two on In the fifth inning.
He had the crowd wild because he shiver-
ed from head to foot as he took his stand
at the plate. and followed with a two
base hit which was directly responsible
| for the only two runs the Nationals
scored. Schaefer, in addition to being OF
value for just such emergencies as arose
this afternoon. also is doing some clever
| coaching in the games which he does no,
| play, and his comedy is not referred to-
| either
The past two days have been strenuous
ones Cor the team, yet the players have
stood up well under the strain. A long
a1l-night trip here, which was fatiguine
because Of the lateness of the train
together with the fact that a double
header was played yesterday and two
games today. was enough to break dowr
the average team, but the Nationals have
stood up under it and are expected te
continue playing good ball the remainder
OF the trip.
It was unfortunate that Shaw was or
dered to pass two men. Speaker ant
Gardner, in the first inning, because h,
lacked control when he was expected t,
get 1t over. But Griffith is employing
lot of strategy in the games here and h,
has yet to make mistake
Bedient was hit much harder than tn,
score would indicate. There were not les:
than fourli drives caught by the fielders
and Hooper undoubtedly robbed Foster o
two three-baggers on line drives into hi
territory. Had either of these gottel
through there might have been a differen
with but one days rest, did not look a
il he had much. 1t was the first gam
the Nationals have played for some tim
in which the breaks were against them.
So far as is known Gandil is not-to b
suspended for his run-in with Sheridan
| 1t may be that the veteran umpire real
ICES he was at fault. and for that reasol
will overlook Chicks conduct Surel
there is some reason for a player to pro
test against decision which was as ray
as the one Sheridan rendered when h.
virtually gave the Red Sox the run whic
won them the second game Friday.
Sheridan was very much in charge Il
the two games. though he officiated OF
the bases. The first game was hardl
II started when he chased Schaefer to th
bench simply because he had one foo
\ out of the bounds of the coachers' box
Several times after that. when Grffit
was trying to steady Shaw, and also wa
warming up Ayers, there were short de
lays and on each occasion Sheridal
lpulled his watch and threatened TO for
felt. incidentally he ordered Chill Z