The Washington herald., 1915-07-15
morgan SLATED
FOR THE minors
Nationals Second Baseman
Will Be Sold to Minneapolis,
Is Report from West.
OTHER SORTING GOSSIP
Double-header Scheduled for Today
in St. Louis-Ensel and Ayers
Slated to Twill.
OTHER SORTING GOSSIP
BY WILLIAM PEET.

Ray Morgan. the Nationals second
be seman, is to be sold to Minneapolis.
according to a rumor printed in Mime
apolis newspaper. and where there is
smoke there must be some fire.
At present Morgan is warming the
bench. suffering from a wrenched knee.
sustained while taking part in a game
against Chicago last week. Until the
time he was injured. or. to be exact. for
a period OF two weeks. Morgan had been
under suspension for failure to keep in
condition.
Manager Grifith has steadfastly main
tanned all along that he would not sell
or trade Morgan. declaring that the
watch charm infie,der'' was needed for
the good Of the local cause. Just what
has really transpired during the past
week or so nobody knows. as Griff Is not
talking for publication. yet 1t seems
highly improbable that the Old Fox
would be willing to part with Morgan
at this stage of the race and ship him to
the minors.
The best Morgan is getting in some
When the youngster gets back into the
game again he. is almost certain to de-
liver the goods.
Ray has bumped into a heap Of trouble
during the past month. but his many
Washington friends are confident he will
come through with a rush once he gets
back into the good Graces Of the Old
Fox.
American League rules were entirely
ignored in st. Louis yesterday when the
Griffmen and Browns played but one
game.
Because of two games postponed from
the May trip to the Mound City. double
headers should have been staged during
this visit on consecutive days, Tuesday
and Wednesday, Instead a twin sketch
was played Tuesday. and 1t has been
announced that two games will be played
this afternoon.
Just how American League managers
can get away with this stuff is past all
understanding.
Rules are rules and should be obeyed.
Speaking of rules reminds US that Ban
Johnson proposes to put into effect start
ing next week an order which prohibits
a pitcher from stepping out of his box
to get the signals from his catcher.
Until the advent of Frank Chance as
pilot Of the New York Yankees no pitch
er ever thought of walking half way over
to first base to get signals from his
catcher, but since that time other box
men have acquired the habit.
According to President johnson. much
unnecessary time is consumed in such
tactics, hence the order to cut II out.
Stepping out of the box to get catch
ers signals is done for the purpose of
foilinG the attempts of base runners
said to be sharks at stealing signs.
but il catchers cover up properly as do
Henry. Ainsmith. and Williams, OF the
Washington club, such actions are I'M
necessary.
The unconditional release of Harry
Smith by the Giants is the surprise Of
the baseball season. This youngster
looked like a wonderful catcher last fall.
and Manager McGraw predicted that he
would be the best backstop in the coun-
try in two years. McGraw believes that
he needs veteran catchers In the present
race, and the signing of Doom made
it necessary for him to send Smith out
for further seasoning Smith refused to
go to Rochester. and McGraw was forced
to release him Internationally to keep
within the twenty-one player limit as
1t was impossible to suspend Smith I'M
der the circumstances, and he had al
ready been on the disabled list"
Russell Ford, former New York twirl-
er, inventor Of the emery BALI and
last season the foremost pitcher in the
Federal League. has been given his IN
conditional release by the Buffeds
Inability to make good without the
emery ball, which was put under the
ban by the Federal League at the close
of last season, occasioned his release
Ford has won only two games so far
this season. Last year he won twenty
one games out of twenty-seven.
kNIo
Doc" Ayers and Joe Engel will do the
pitching for the Griffmen.