Evening star., 1914-04-17
GRIFFITH TO MAKE
CUT IN HIS TEAM
But He Has Not Yet Decided
Where He Will Send the
Surplus Material.
CASHIOM MAY BE PITCHED
IN SERIES WITH YANKEES
Nationals Manager Is Much En-
couraged Over the Big Fellows
Showing Against Providence.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

boSio>. MISS, april ia declUeu
cut in the forces of the Nationals is con-
templated by Manager Griffith, and will
take place within the next few days.
Only the recruit players will be affected
thereby, however. Just now Griffith has
thirty men on his list and he proposes
to cut this number down to the regula-
ton twenty-five Though there is a rule
compelling each club to bring its forces
down to this number by May 10, Griffith
is not making the reduction because OF
this. for it is understood that because of
the presence in the field of the Federal
League the American and National
League clubs may carry this year as
many players they desire. But Grif-
fifth does not figure that the players he
will let go will be needed by him this
season, though a majority are sure to
have strings attached to them.
The players who will be let go or farm
ed out are believed to be among those
who have been left home These are
Paul Smith, Ben Spencer. Dick Williams.
Paul Musser. Collier and Lee. Just
which of these are to be sent elsewhere
mas not been determined. nor has the
club been picked which shall harbor any
of them for the rest OF the base ball
year 1t is known. however. that Grif-
nth has negotiations on with the Toronto
club of the International League, which
is to be given the pick of the squad
which Griffith wants to have developed
Were it not for the fact that the ar
rangement of a non-confiicting schedule
between the two major leagues is very
irable. base ball would not open in
Boston until some time in May At this
season of the year the weather Is much
too uncertain here, and as a rule a lot Of
the spring games have to be postponed
and played off as double-headers later
The Nationals We're decidedly fortunate
to have such a good day for the OPEN
ing, thus allowing them to break all at
tendance records for an opening day
But since then conditions have not been
of a base ball kind. and it is questionable
if the remaining game of the series will
be played.
Joe Boehling or Joe Engel will be Sc
lected to do the pitching-that is, if Grit
fifth does not change his mind again, and
he admits that he is apt to do this quite
frequently this spring until he gets
correct line on his pitchers Leonard,
ieft-hander, is sure to appear for the
Red Sox.
BY reason of his splendid showing
against the Red Sox in the game We'd
nesday, Doc" Ayers has won a berth
on the regular pitching staff for himself.
Ayers like Johnson and Boehling, will
work in regular order. Griffith is con-
vinced that Ayers is winning pitcher.
With any sort of a break he should have
shut out the Carrigantes Wednesday
His failure to handle Gardner's tap in
the second inning properly and to throw
Lewis out at third resulted in the first
run, even after Moeliers inability to see
Lewis hit had given him a two-bagger.
But Ayers showed a lot of stuff. and his
control is on a par with that of johnson.
Nothing helps pitcher as much con-
troll. and that as much as anything has
caused Griffith to announce that Ayers
will be worked in regular order with
Johnson and Boehlng in the future.
Just which of the other young pitchers
will follow Ayers on the regular staff de-
pends entirely on what they show in the
trials they are to be given from time to
time The chances are that most of them
will get a look-in while the Nationals are
in New York. That Jim Shaw and Joe
Engel are slated for a berth seems to be
foregone conclusion. and one of the
young lefthanders. too. may be added II
Griffith has his way about it his twirling
staff will consist of six regular slabmen.
He figures that this number will be
needed when the double-header period ap-
proaches and in addition he will prob
ably carry couple of others to be used
in emergencies.
The present program is to work John
son against New York Saturday, and
then rest him unit! next Thursday, when
he will pitch the opening game in Wash
ington against the Red Sox. But after
that, according to Griffith's plans, John
son will not be used to start any series,
but will be held to finish them.
Let nothing happen to either Ainsmith
or Henry this season and the managers
and critics around the American League
circuit will have to concede that in this
pair Griffith has by far the best catch
ing staff in the league. There are other
but none of them has two who class
Well up with the top-notchers, and that
is the advantage that the Nationals have.
Neither Henry nor Ansmith has ever
shown better form than this spring. Both
are catching and throwing brilliantly.
and what is more they are to be num-
bered among the teams most timely hit
tiers, While Ainsmith is also the fastest
runner ON the squad.
Howard Shanks' value to the team far
exceeds the general impression that he
has created in the two seasons he has
been installed in left field. The fact that
Shanks has been only an ordinary hitter
has apparently detracted much from his
great value to the team fielder. Not
only can Shanks field well as any left
fielder in the league. but he is intelii-
gent player IN every sense of the word
Shanks. unlike most outfelders, knows
the art of backing up plays made in the
nfield He is one of the few outflelders
who frequently take part in infield plays.
because he is never found to be standing
out in his position when his services are
required in the inner field. Shanks gives
promise OF hitting better this year than
he ever has before, and if he does he will
be a mighty hard man to replace.
Though the Boston team would proba-
bly be better fortified if it had the serv-
ices of Heinie Wagner, the strength of
the former champions must not be under
estimated Carrigan not only has a
strong team which is sure TO be con-
tender. but he has it working well. and
it is sure to play an interesting part in
the present flag struggle.
Joe Wood, of course, is not yet ready to
deliver his share of the slab work but
there is every reason for believing that
within a month he will be at his best,
and Wood shares with Johnson the hon
ors of being one of the greatest pitchers
in the country today. Collins is handy
man, and Carrigan seems to have three
or four young pitchers who give promise
OF delivering. To top it all OF. there is
no doubt that in Lewis, Speaker and
Hooper he still has one of the best out
field combinations available
Having been encouraged by. the good
showing of Carl Cashion in the game he
pitched in Providence early this week,
Grifhth is very apt to work him in one
of the games in New York. and If Cash
ion shows well in this game he, too,