The Washington herald., 1914-08-05
Fight VIII Be Waged in East
as Western Clubs Appear
to Be Outclassed.
OTHER SPORTING GOSSIP
BY WILLIAM PEET.

In second place by one point-thus
reads the standing Of the American
League printed elsewhere on this page.
Who's In second place?
Why, the Nationals. OF course.
washington's victory over the Cleye-
landers and the rout Of the Bostons Ly
st. Louis turned the trick. incidentally
II might be mentioned that the Browns
slipped ahead Of rne Sox and landed in
sixth position or at the top of the
second division.
II seems kinder nice to be back In
the runner up position doesn't II, fans?
Even though We are hanging on by the
skin OF our teeth.
Now to take a slant pennantward -
those pesky Athletics refuse to be licked.
The Mackmen triumphed over the White
lSox again yesterday and Washington is
eight and one half games behind the
White Elephants.
But six games for the Nationals re-
main TO be played in the West during
the present trip. one In Cleveland today
and five in Chicago. The Mackmen play
five more, and as Cleveland Is to be
tackled I'm four Of these, the results can
be predicted without much trouble.
Grifith's youngsters must hustle TO
maintatn second place, and the real night
for perhant honors will come of in the
East when the Nationals. Boston. and
the Athletics oppose each other.
The absence OF Ray Morgan and Clyde
Milan has not seriously Handicapped the
club during the past four days. Grin
was lucky to be fortified with a utility in
fielder the caliber of Wally Smith and to
have picked up an outfielder able TO hit
the ball as Mike Mitchell has been doing
since he Joined the team In St Louis.
The Athletics are going TO find both
Washington and Boston tougher oppo-
nents than the teams along the Western
border. and IL the Grifithian forces are
able TO trample down the old hoodoo and
hang a few beatings on the Mackmen in
the Quaker City next week, this old race
to the flag is going to be mighty inter
esting on the home stretch.
Without attempting TO disparage the
grand work Of Mike Mitchell. who is hit
must be born In mind that this Is Mitch
ellis first fling in the American League.
and opposing pitchers have not as yet
been able TO discover his weakness.
The chances are that when Mitchell
goes against these hurlers again he will
find them harder TO hit. Still the fact
remains that without the National
have found the going rocky in the West.
for he has helped win three-fourths OF
the games played on the present trip.
From Paris comes the report that Jack
Johnson. the colored boxer who some
time ago renounced his allegiance -
the American flag and became a citizen
OF France. would probably be called
upon to enter the army and fight against
the Germans.
II a stray bullet should happen to
bean" the big scrapper, there would not
be held lodge Of sorrow over on this
side Of the pond.
Walter Johnson will more than likely
be sent against the Maps in the final
game Of the Cleveland series this after
noon. II was planned to oppose the
great Walter with Rankin Johnson. but
as Rankin has cast in his lot with the
Feds Birmingham will be forced to call
upon one OF his other FINGERS either
Coumbe or Hland'ng.
POOR CONNIE,
Poor Connie Mack, the luckless gink,
Is weeping in Despair.
His pitching STAT Is 90 the blink,
His outfeld only fair.
His veterans are frail and thin
And weak and worn and sear.
And all that they can do Is win
Npennant every year
Encountering first the obstacles thrown
in their way by organized baseball. then
unfavorable weather. and the threatened
warfare between the United States and
Mexico. and finally a conflict that affects
the entire world, the luck of,the Federals
has hardly been Of the best 1t Is enough
to dishearten the hackers OF the new or
Canization. and it would not have been
surprising had many Of them withdrawn
their financial support some time ago. II
is a tough proposition they have to face.
and the fact that they are still in exist
ence Is more proof than any press agent
notice ever sent out that the Federals
had the backing they claimed when they
entered the game.
Marsans isn't sorry that he jumped
from the Reds. While with them he drew
about 1900 to $500, and he had to labor
each and every day-when it didn't rain.
But it's different now. Prevented from
playing by a ruling of the courts, Mar
sans is acting as scout for the St Louis
Feds, is getting $500 a year. and doesn't
have to do anything but travel around
the country and watch minor league ball
uapnas