Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-05
S0X MUST BRACE
OR LOSE GROUND
RoWIand's Team Is in Bad
Slump ard May Lose En-
tire Series Here.
TEAM is NOT HITTING;
LACKS REAL CONFIDENCE
Griffmen, Going at Fast Pace, May
Continue as Real Contenders
in Race.
BY J, ED GRILLO.

]
The fact that the team is in a batting
slump has had Oppressive effect on
| nearly every member of the squad. and
there is an absence of hustle and con-
tidence, which will have to be reviewed
before there is a possible chance for the
Rowland charges to win many games.
The team has stopped hitting ever since
it left on the present trip Even the rec
ogniZed master of the bat has fallen
down, as is shown by the fact that Eddie
Collins made his second hit of the trip
in the second game yesterday. Collins
failure to hit is the hardest blow the
SoX have suffered. He is continually
facing the pitcher at critical stages, when
a base hit might change the complexion
of the game. and he has failed to come
through on a single occasion since the
the team started this trip.
Now there is no doubt that Collins can
hit, but he is in his second slump of the
year and the Sox are losing lot of
ground as result
Attention was called yesterday to the
fact that Griffith's pitchers were going
better than they have at any time this
season. This referred to Johnson, Gal
liza and Ayers, and the hope was ex-
pressed that Boehing and Shaw also
would come back to form. Boehling in
the opening game yesterday demon
strated. that he is to be reckoned with
during the rest of the season. 1t was
the best game he has pitched in some
time. and he seemed as good at the
finish as he was at the start. If he can
continue that pace it gives Griffith four
alright pitchers and there is no telling
how high that may land the Griffmen
in the present race
Merito Acosta was very much in evil
dence in the second game He scored
hits and stole a base, which helped to
score one of the runs. In the field
the Cuban took care of everything
that came his way. Acosta now is
showing that it was well worth Crit
fith's while to carry him the several
years, for he is sure eventually to be
one of the best outfelders in either
major league.
Kopp played in the first game, and
right center which had all the ear
marks of triple when it left the
bat. Felsch. however. got under way
with the crack of the bat and man
aged to pull the drive down.
in charge here has he had more
misunderstanding team than the
present one. That infield looks n little
better every day, and his outfleld is
playing up to a higher standard now
than it ever has before. Barring &C
cidents. this team is going to be hard
to stop. 1t is hitting at the right
time it's pitchers are showing superior
form, and it is displaying lot Of hus-
tie and confidence in it's playing.
Seven of the nine games played at
home have been victories. and Griffith
is hopeful of continuing this pace dur
ing the remainder of the campaign.
Russell, the Sox southpaw, will most
likely be on the mound for the visitors
today.
It develops that Kopp really was re-
the game yesterday. After the first
game the youngster told Griffith he
was not at home in that sun field. and
that he would like to be given a
chance to practice out there for
while before being played regularly.
He said these games were too i'm
portant to be thrown away. and that
if Griffith had some one else who could
fill the place for while 1t might be
the right move. Griffith was dunn
ciated Kopp's position. and immediate
| " notified Acosta that he would play
the second game. Now Kopp is prac-
ticing morning and afternoon. He
| sun is shining because he is deter
mined to make himself sun fielder.
"If Jim Shaw has as much stuff to.
up during the second game yesterday
| he will be pitted against the White
Sox today If he is not right Walter
Johnson will be on the mound sale
Manager Griffith this morning: -.
arm. but, according to Griffith. i
seems to have recovered. and he i:
pretty sure to pitch. Johnson warmed
up several times during yesterday:
double header, and that is not a goot
thing for a pitcher if he is expected
to pitch the next day. So Griffith /:
particularly anxious to give his speet
king another days rest.
Manager Griffith very sensibly wa
taking no chances On having the SO!
nose him out in either contest. He hat
Walter Johnson ready during the clos
ing innings of both games. so that NJ
could jump into the game If eithe
Boehling or Gallia should have shown
signs of weakening. 1t was not ga.
! and both twirlers had to go at tol
speed the entire route, so that there al
ways was danger of their faltering a
the closing innings approached.
By their splendid work during thu
last month or more the Griffmen hav'
again made themselves contenders II
! the pennant race They are ten games
behind the leaders, but that is not al
| impossible margin to overcome. ant
at the present pace the team is settfnt
it would be accomplished easil!
enough. From the start of their sec
ond western trip to date the Nationals
have won nineteen games and lost nine
a very good percentage.
| Before Manager Rowland can hope II
| win any penants in this league it will
be necessary for him to do some ma
| terial strengthening. AS was pointed
out at the outset of the campaign, TIL,
| cidentally none too we'll fortified in thu
outfield. though Felsch gives promise
of improving. The SoX may continue
| to be contenders in the race this year
but there is not much chance of theil
beating out either Detroit or Boston.
| After having seen the work of koob
| the young south-paw of the Browns
it seems that the Detroit club made 6
serious mistake when it did not give
| that youngster trial. 1t was under.
| stood that tentative arrangement hat
| been made for Koob to join the Tigers
| but for some reason he was cast aside
/ and st. Louis picked him up. The
| Tigers would stand mighty good
| chance for the flag if they had Koob
| for he looks to be one of the best left.
handlers in the league, though he still
! is only a boy.
! Henry took Ainsmith's place in the
eighth inning of the second game Ain
smith is bothered with a bruised hand
| and it was causing him a lot of pain
when he was retired.