The Washington times., 1915-05-24
GR|FFS PROVE
TO Be BETTER
TEAM At HOME.
THAN ABROAD.
Once Had Reputation Of Per-
forming Best While on Road,
But Matters Are Reversed
Now.
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

DETROIT, May 24.-From being
considered better road team than
a home performer, the Griffmen are
fast becoming just the opposite.
Now, following this most unfortu-
nate jaunt around the world, the
players are beginning to look for
ward to arriving at Georgia avenue,
thinking they will get their breath
better back at the old stand. How
ever, the Nationals lose little in
switching from a road winner to
home winner. Most clubs are just
that. The Mackmen won pennants
through their ability to clean up all
foenen at Shibe Park. On the road
the Athletics were no better than
any other aggregation. 1t was at
Shibe Park that they got in their
hcks.
Next Saturday the Griffmen will
play their first game at Georgia
avenue since April 80. They will
have for opponents Bill Donovan's
marvellous Yankees, the surprise Of
the circuit. 1t will take all the Ma
tionals have to hold their own with
the Gothamites. On the following
Monday, observed as holiday, come
two more contests with the Yankees,
one at 1O:80 and another at 8
o'clock.
p,,t
in Washington until June 4, when the
Cleveland Indians arrive to start the
first swing through the East Of the
frontier clubs. The Griffmen will then
be home till June 20. Before that long
stay opens. three games are scheduled
for Shibe Park, Philadelphia, June /,
2 and 8. Twenty-three games are
billed for that long stay. and IL Is that
bunch upon which Griff depends to
pull his club up by its own bootstraps.
Manager Griffith believes that be-
fore his team again hits the trail it
the standings and proves that in a
race like this one, any one Of the frst
fve or six clubs can leap to the top
with q brief winning streak. and that
two weeks from now, II they happen
to tumble into a slump.
This is what's known as an open
race" is Griff's explanation. That
means no one. two. or three clubs
have a cinch through superiority over
al. others In the league. Indeed. it
would be difficult to pick tho winner
Of a long series between any two OF
the hrst six clubs in the league right
now. II they could be hooked UP to-
gether.
"1t's possible to pick out strong and
weak places in every club in the
league, but It's impossible to fore
tell just what part Of the machine
strain because you can't see what's
gon,nnss to HRgen o,b, II es'eSs "a s%en,y TN bs It.
anced, the shade that makes for VIC
I believe have a chance. It's any
bodys pennant this year
Some strenuous batting practices
are due for the Griffmen on their re-
turn to Georgia avenue: The Old
Fox 10 determined that his athletes
perk up in their offensive play and,
unless the weather is too hot. the
morning until they hit the road for
their second swing oil the way
around. That comes on June So giv.
for getting their artillery ready.
There is considerable relief from
Federal League action this year. In
1914 the Independents chased tho
Grffmen ali around the circuit, taking
the desired stars out for motor car
rides Ctld getting them into dark
places for, Guiet conferences All Is
has been sighted on the horizon and
X 1s unlikely that any will be seen.
either The players have nothing TO
occupy their minds now but baseball,
which Is tho proper thing.
Billy Fowler, secretary of the Drift
men, and Mike Martin, expert trainer,
are heroes, 1t was learnsd today after
the team arrived here from Cleveland.
Their cool-headedness quelled an in
cipisnt panic in a moving picture the
ater Saturday night. Neither said a
word about It until they reached the
had little to say But the rumor spread
and the facts leaked out today.
Fowler and Martin attended the stan
dard Theater in Cleveland Saturday
night, getting seats in the second row
and jammed into the house, when some
one rnn into one OF the exits. shout
ing Fire. Fire"
Immediately the audience began
toward the various exits. Before the
usual wild rush could set In, however
Fowler and Martin hegan shouting
motioned the piano player to get busy
and he did, pounding out a lively all
that aided not little in preventing
a panic.
SeAing Fowler and Martin in the front
of the house .motioning them to sit
down again, the excited people started
hack for their seats, and In q second
the crowd was watching the pictures
and hRd forgotten ell about the call al
fire Hut for tho "oolness Of the tive
Grifmen many might have been in,
Jured.
II was impossihl" tn Discover whr
shouted into the theater. though thC
house policeman gave Chase.
POth Fowler and Mnrtin are today