Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-26
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

NEW YORK. April o6-with one of
the other members Of Donovans pitch
ing staff working today. it Is not likely
that base hits and runs will be as
scarce for the Nationals as they were
saturday. when Ray Caldwell was on
the mound; hence Griffith is confident
that his team VIII make it two out OF
three here
Indications are that il Will be jim
shaw who will face the Yankees today
fifth may change his mind and give
Joe Boehling the chance to win the
final game of the series, though moth
ing definite will be decided as to the
pitcher who Will work until Just before
the game starts.
Saturdays victory placed the an
KEGS on even terms with the Nationals,
but this tie is sure to be broken to-day
and it is the belief of the Griffmen that
they will be the ones TO pass forward
The present race is a close one ana Is
apt to continue until all the
teams strike their normal stride, when
some of those which are now prominent
are very apt TO fall back into the sec
ond division. Griffith expects his team
10 get going at top speed pretty soon
and when il does he predicts that II
will rid itself of several of the teams
which are now close up with the Ma
tionals.
Walter Johnson does not pitch as he
used to- and until he realizes that ne
must resort to Il different system OF
delivery he is not going 10 be as Ell
fective as formerly. When Johnson
was in his prime his prlncipai STRONG
point was his speed. which he kept
we'll up near the shoulder II is near
is impossible to hit the ball when
pitched in this manner. yet this spring
Johnson has been pitching a lot OF low
balls, and these have been hit with
much more regularity than formerly
Some of the players contend that Am
smith is not the proper catcher Tor
Johnson. though Manager GrlHth pair
ed them in this manner when he nrst
took charge of the team
1t was noticeable in Saturdays game
that Johnson on no less than twelve or
fourteen occasions shook his mead wnen
Ainsmith gave him d signal, showing
that he did not have confidence IN MS
catcher's Judgment as to how to pltch
to the various batsmen. Naturally Am
smith is not encouraged by the fact
that johnson will not pitch as he wants
him to and there Is feeling there
which. while not exposed, exists, never
theless 1t is not unlikely that Crit
fifth will make a change soon and allow
Williams and Henry to handle John-
sons delivery. Both of these catchers
are experienced in the art of working
would be of much help to Johnson.
There is no doubt that Williams
would do the majority of the catching
for the Nationals If he had strong
arm Now he is confined to catch those
pitchers who have ability to hold run
ners on first base, giving Williams
chance to protect himself with his
comparatively weak throwing whip.
Being an excellent hitter. wise catch
err and good receiver, Williams would
be of more help to the team than he is
now IL he had good throwing arm
Howard Shanks is downcast, because
he is not playing regularly, and he has
informed Manager Griffith that 1t is
a handicap for him to be idle on the
bench Griffith, however, is determined
10 give Rondeau a thorough trial and
il another change Is to be made 1t will
only be after Rondeau has proved that
he is not good enough for the place.
Grifith, however. believes that Ron
deau will prove one of his best hitters
and II he does there is not a chance of
him being replaced
The return of Dan Moeller to the line
I'D will make a big difference in the
Nationals showing. Not that Acosta is
not a splendid ball player and holding
his own, but he is not as experienced
as Moeller, and does not show the speed
or ability to get on the bases as often
as the regular right fielder. Further