Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-15

Griffith's pitching staff always has
been strong. but 1t promises to be
stronger than ever in the next cam.
paign. johnson and Gallia. who were
the teams mainstays in the past sea
son, are sure to have more capable
assistance than ever before. Dumont
star twirler. Harper also showed
marked improvement. while Doc Ayers
had a mighty good season. Jim Shaw
ought to come through next year il
ever. The youngster has a world OF
to be one of the great pitchers of the
league
1t is to be hoped that Griffith will
find a training camp where the players
will have a chance to get them
selves in good condition by the time
the season opens. Heretofore the team
has been handicapped in the early part
of the season by the fact that most OF
the players were not ready to do them
selves justice. Last spring. for in
stance, the team got a bad start, not
withstanding the fact that its pitchers
worked splendidly. The team was not
hitting anywhere near its form. as
Walter Johnson's experience shows.
and his teammates scored but one run
for him.
Every year the season is about six
weeks or two months. old before the
players find themselves. and this is
blamed on the cold winds which blow
over the playing field at Charlottesville.
1t does not seem logical to train in
the cold a team which is expected to
play here in sweltering weather most
of the summer. The system. it seems,
No
in the south where 1t can get accus-
toned to warm weather and incident
ally get itself in perfect condition by
the time the season opens.
If the second baseman Griffith has an
eye on is obtained Foster undoubtedly
will be shifted back to his old posi-
ton at third, and it would not be at
all surprising If Howard Shanks would
be found elsewhere, If he is not used
for utility purposes. AS regular How
ard is not hitter enough to be of much
help to a team. He seemed to show
considerable improvement in this re-
spect for a time last season, particu-
larly in the spring, but he wound up
with an average of .242, which is much
There is some doubt as to whether
Joe Judge will make a real outflelder.
There seems to be no question about
mis- ABILITY at the Ddts Uut ne mas
played first base during his entire ca
reer and has acquired an infielder's
throw. That Is to say. there Is some
question as to whether he would be a
capable outfielder SO far as distance
throwing is concerned. Judge, however,
is a young man and with a little prac-
tice might acquire the art Of outfield-
ing, which would make him more valu-
able than if he remained = first base.
In due time, of course, Judge may be-
come the teams permanent first base
man, but so long as Gandil displays
the form he did last season and during
his entire career as a National no one
is going to take his place.
Those who were disappointed by the
calling off of the Red Sox-Phillies trip
still have hopes, for they believe that
President Ban johnson may WELD the big
stick and force the Boston champions
to join the Phillies and go to the coast
1t seems that President johnson had
made the promise to the fair authori-
ties to send the winner of his league,
and he may insist that the Sox live up
to this promise.
Members Of the Boston world cham
pions seem to be satisfied with the
coin they got for winning the title, for
they have refused to accompany the
Phillies on a tour to the Frisco fair,
unless they get certain guarantees and
their expenses paid. It was the attitude
caused the trip to be abandoned, and