The Washington times., 1915-05-21
President Charles Somers
Thought to Be Dissatisfied
With Progress Which He
Was Making With Indians.
Was Most Youthful Manager in
American League and Has
Had Team Since Beginning
of 1914 Season.
BY LOUIS A: DOUGHER.

CLEVELAND, May 21. - Joe
Birmingham has been discharged ns
manager of the Cleveland American
League team. President Charles
Somers made this announcement to-
day, although he limited at such a
movement several times since the
season has started. Unsatisfactory
progress of the team is thought to
be the reason for Somers' action, al
though Birmingham has had little
indeed to work with.
No successor to Birmingham has
been intimated by either President
Somers or any member of the team.
Birmingham is the youngest Ameri-
can League baseball manager, and
has had charge Of the team since
the beginning Of the 1914 season.
That he intends selling either Doc
Ayers or Jack Bentley, two of his sec
ond-string pitchers. to the Cleveland In
dians for cash. as announced In a
morning paper here today, Manager
Griffith enters an emphatic denial He
declares that he has no intention of
letting 20 any Of his men for money
though he admits that he might con-
slider trades that will strengthen the
Nationals. That report about Ayers
and Bentley Is wrong" was what Grin
said today. Yes. have had several
conferences with Charlie Somers since
coming here, but not about rl1yers 1t
is about something else about which l
cannot talk for publication"
Charlie Somers was with Grin last
night for several hours. returning to
the hotel with him. Ayers was intro
laughingly said that he might even
know that Ayers was player on
ference with the various magnates In
every city he visited may bring about
is not definitely known. but II Is SUD-
posed to have something to do with the
Griffith believes in fighting the Federals
to the bitter end. and 1t is thought that
he 10 preaching his doctrine to every
magnate he visits. Just what will come
Of II all cannot be foretold.
IN Chicago Griffith was c.oseted with
Ban Johnson for about an hour In
ST. Louis he PLAYED tag and hide-and-
seek with Bob Hedges, and since com
in tie company Of Charlie somers.
Asked what all these conferences mean.
ne always replies that they have moth
ing 70 do with his ball club, and cannot
be discussed yet. Just when they will
be discussed remains a mystery.
II fs more than probable that Man
ager Griffith will begin shifting his
lineup within a few DAYS. unless the
team shows signs of bracing UP. He
feels deeply the failure Of some of his
veterans to come up to the mark set
for them by the manager all winter.
This applies more particularly to Chick
Gapdil, Ray Morgan. and Eddie Ain
smith. whose batting can hardly be seen
with the naked eye at distance Of an
inch or two.
Several things have deferred the team
from getting good start. the principal
ono being the bad weather ever since
leaving the Canital. No ball club can
do its best with constant Interruptions
by the weather gods. Eight days have
been missed thus far On this to-ne"
counting a Sunday IN Boston end two
scheduled vacation davs in Chicago.
The players have simnlv curled up and
axpired. and II Is impossible 70 sav
when they will come to life again, II
they ever do
Jimmy Nc Alner. who once steered the
Nationals into lowly berths visited them
here yesterday. II seemed Nhe ancient
days to have McAleer around the hotel
and the Nationals in the second divi-
sion at one and the same time