The Washington herald., 1914-07-25
.ACOSTA SLATED
FOR REGULAR
Grif's Young Cuban Ready
to Jump Into Game When
Moeller Cracks.
OTHER SPORT. COMMENT
Johnson Will Face ST. Louis Browns
IN First Game of the Series
Today.
OTHER SPORT. COMMENT
By WILLIAM PEET.

ny "tLbIAm FEET.
Merito Acosts. who last year was car
ried with the Nationals as a bench
warmer. and who is at present playing
left held, owing TO MiIan's injury, Will In
season or two be Grifhth's lead-off
man.
There are many fans in Washington
who would rather see Acosta in the game
right now as a regular than BRnny Noel
Ter, but Moeller Is still far from being
all In, and until he shows unmistakable
signs Of cracking there is no chance for
the Cuban to land a steady job.
Acosta's hitting and fielding against the
Chicago White sox during the series just
closed was a decided revelation to many
OF the skeptics, who had taken with a
grain OF salt all the nattering press no.
tices printed in the Washington papers
about the dark-skinned little fieIder
Joe Benz and Urban Faber, White Sox
twirlers, told the writer that Acosta was
the hardest man in the American League
for them to pitch to. Like Eddie Collins
and others. Acosta refuses To be fooled
into hitting at bad balls. He makes a
pitcher pitcn all the time, and wnen he
gets a slabman In the hole. takes a toe
hold and comes through with mighty
swing.
The writer watched Acosta closely dur
ing the three recent games against Chi
| cago and only saw him hit at one bad
bah. Jim Scott on Thursday gave him a
low curve inside, with the result that an
easy roller to the box prohibited his
reaching first base.
Against left-hand pitchers Acosta is
lamentably weak. but he can overcome
this to some extent by practice He Is
| also a bit 4imid on the bases, and does
not know the art of sliding as does Milan.
shsnks and other members Of the local
club.
For a kid just breaking in. who hardly
knows how TO speak the English Ian
guage, Acosta has shown wonderful i'm
provement since he has worn the Grifith-
ian livery.
The Cuban will be ready to step into
the shoes Of either Danny Moeller or
Clyde Milan when this pair show that
their usefulness as big league players
Is over.
Walter Johnson is slated TO pitch for
the Nationals in ST. Louis today, and
following out his usual custom when
johnson pitches. Branch Hickey will
probably send one OF his second string
| fingers to oppose the Monarch Of the
Mound.
When the Nationals opened up against
the Browns on the first trip West. the
! initial clash being on Saturday, May 9,
johnson was In the box and beat Wiley
Taylor to ,, winning the only game
credited to the Grifmen Of that series
| johnson was forced to work his hardest
and was batted safely eight times, but
the Browns will find a different johnson
in the box today. Walter was in a bit
Of a slump last May. At present he Is
pitching the best ball. Of his career.
Jack Dunn's squeal about losing Johnny
Blair, the young outfielder signed by
the Nationals. and his threats Of pro-
testing to the National Commission
make interesting reading on a dull day,
but Dunn. II he presents his side Of the
affair. hasn't a leg to stand on.
The writer happens TO be familiar with
the Blair case, and Jack Dunn is only
talking TO get a little newspaper note
/ riety. and in a feeble way seeks to square
himself with Monumental City fans. who
might be prompted to ask why Blair
slipped through his hands.
As a mater OF fact Dunn wrote Blair
for his terms while the last-named was
playing with the Martinsburg club. and
for 50 much a month and a cash bonus
Dunn did not reply or make a noise
like a cash bonus and when Blair had \
chance to try out with the Nationals
he grabbed It in jify.
HarktnR BACK TO tne SIniIn-SArpentler
scrap of recent date. 1t seems to US that
Mr. Eugene CORR. the referee, Is the Fred
Merkle Of the London boxing world.
Frank Chance thinks he was unjustly
treated in the furry Of criticism over the
announcement that Kraft would play first
base IN place Of Mullen and the position
he takes Is the proper one
II had no intention Of taking out Null
len." said Chance, and the business
MANAGEMENT had no authority to make
such an announcement. am running
this club and will run il as l think best
Mullen is playing good ball for me and
as long as he does so he will remain
on FIRST base and would have remained
there whether We got Kraft or not"
Dave Fultz assures US there Is no
danger Of another strike now for the
simple reason that the National Com
mission is not going to violate the Gin
einnati agreement with the fraternity
And II looks as II Dave has the right
dope. One scare like that was enough