The Washington times., 1914-05-20

Washington club is received at Suite
S44. Southern Building
Being convinced through the perform
ance of Jim Shaw yesterday that he
has a dependable four. Griffith today
sent out numerous kilograms with the
idea of placing some of Eis surplus
mound material
There are now here ten pitchers-John-
son, Boehling. Ayers. Shaw. Engel.
Harper-and it is impossible to give
them sufficient work to keep them in
condition. The first four will be worked
in order from now on. so that all the
others have had to do has been TO
warm up, go in as relief, or pitcn 10
the batters in the morning.
Even this leaves too many men loafinS
to their own disadvantage, so if ar
rangements can be made with GONE
club whereby the men will be subject
10 recall at the close of the season. two
or three will be shipped 10 the minors
for work and experience.
Those Nationals are today within
three games of leading the league. and
are on the very heels of the Philacl-
phia Athletics in the battl for second
place.
Five victories in a row have not only
sent the Griffmen upward and onward,
fetal effect on the morale of the whole
club, especially as regards the pitchers.
Early in the season it looked like send
ing sheep to slaughter TO ask one IF
the young pitchers to go to the mound.
but now the team is storming away at
such a gait that all are overanMous to
get into the fray.
Without sounding a false note in the
general symphony of victory it might
H. oil -fa .IaE r=
must soon commence TO hit if they hope
to retain the place for which they have
worked so hard since the Inauguration
of the campaign.
While the batting all spring has been
weak the limit has been reached in the
have been able to finish in front has
been due to the excellence of their own
pitchers and daring and unhesitatlng
work on the paths.
The work OF Ayers and Shaw has
been little short of a revelation, when
one considers that this is really their
first season in the fastest league in the
world Each of these newcomers has
beaten Chicago and Cleveland in each
OF their last two starts, and the trl-
umphs have been due more 10 the pltcn-
ers themselves than any other cause.
They have been practically unbeatable.
II was thought the strain of that duel
with Jim Scott. that went into extra
innings, might have a bad after effect
on Ayers. but the doctor came back
agalusI Cleveland as strong u stronger
than he showed against the So&.
In the opening game OF the Chicago
stretch shaw looked miserable. But he
came baCA aud beat thelE' ana yesteT-
dav was duplication OF his previous
performance.
" hIie ne was nicked for half a dozen
nits. TWO of these came after he had
eased off in the ninth. and both were
.u,ield taps that narrowly missed being
outs. Shaw had shutout coming 10
him, but rather than try 10 glue the
runners TO the bases he allowed them
10 trot around, concentrating his at
tention on the hitler. The result was
that the Cievelanders had three stolen
bases ana got brace OF runs.
-
There was some little adverse critl-
Cism OF the Nationals Tor letting men
bounce around III the ninth. Inc clam
was that Shaw should have driven them
back and tried 10 blank the Maps.
Shaw however was WORKING Under
instructions, and. incidentally, gave an
other evidence OF the determination of
the Griffmen to win even II II is neCes-
ssry to sacrifice individual records.
When Shaw went to the middle Cf the
diamond in the ninth. he apparently had
the Naps stopped, and was told to take
ter. lie did this, and the system worked
out even though 4 couple of useless
scores were made by the men from
Ohio.
This is policy that Griffith
had when he was d pitcher himself,
and he has followed it ever since COM
ing here. II may go wrong once IN a
while, put in the vast majority Of cases
will pan out as it did ycstcrday-suc-
CeSsfully.
The Maps are unanimous IN their
praise OF Jim Shaw. Ia the opinion
of several OF the visitors. he Is the
best looking pitcher they have seen
this year.
In addition to cood mechanical pitch
Ing one OF the most encouraging Tea =
lures Of the work Of Shaw AMI Ayers
has been the improvement i'm thcir field
ing. They were both sfaky and uu-
reliable few weeks ago. hut they
have smuoihed out this department OF
heir work until they seem to be about
as good as an, Of the other more cX-
perienced pitchers.
Johnson, Boehling. Ayers, and Shaw,
Name any club in the AmeTicaR League