The Washington herald., 1916-05-12

After an absence Of eight years from
the Ban johnson circuit Fielder Jones, the
former White Sox pilot now in command
of the St. Louis Browns, drops around
for a short call and tells us what he
thinks of us.
1t is sometimes interesting to hear what
other folks think, therefore the state
ments of Fielder Jones are presented in
the foregoing box.
Jones cannot see the Nationals as pen
nant winners.
He's not the only one in this respect,
for almost every so-called baseball eX-
pert in the country last winter consigned
Grifith's club to the second division.
Short hitters,' he says, well possibly
so, but short hits count just as much
as long ones when there is a man on
second base and one run needed to win.
pitching mediocre" Walter johnson
has always been considered a first-class
twirler He wins more games than he
loses. Harper and Boehling are a couple
south-pa paws who would be hard to get out
of the league via the waiver route. the
same holds true Of Gallia and Ayers,
while Jim Shaw when he is right has
been known to win once in a while.
Lacking the punch" may be construed
several ways. Jones once piloted a club
which won an American League pennant
and this team was known as the Hit
less Wonders"
A brief review Of the games played this
season shows that the Grifrmen are very
much there with the punch-they have
collected hits when needed, although il
is true that the team cannot boast of a
single fence busting slugger.
Jones admits that there is speed on
Grifhth's club-in this respect he is GER
tainly right-we1l say there is plenty Of
speed there
When questioned by the writer about
the foregoing statements Manager Jones
denied that he had ever said the Wash
ington pitching staI was only mediocre.
II have contended all along that Grif-
fifth had the best twirling staff in the
American league" he declared.
Outside of pitchers and speed. the other
stuff goes, according to our understand
ing
Now that We know what Mr.. Jones
thinks OF us we can breathe easier, in
cidentaHy II might be mentioned that the
Griffmen are at present right on the
trail of the league leaders and have won
this position by outplaying all rival
Eastern teams.
The St Louis Browns play the final
game OF the series here this afternoon,
johnson or Harry Harper.
Harper wants to redeem himself for the
licking the Browns handed him few
days ago and he may be ordered to start,
but II he does, Griffith will have shifted
the plan he mapped out Sunday when
he told the writer that for the present
he would not open against any OF the
Western clubs with Johnson but hold
him until the final game.
On the other hand Johnson Is ALWAYS
mighty effective against the Detroit
Tigers, and IS the Jungaleers start a
series here tomorrow. the big fellow
may be saved until then.
For the Browns. Park. a young col
lege recruit, will toe the slab. Park is
the big Highlander who twirled during
the final chapters OF the opening game
and held the Nationals runless.
Joe Judge is hitting the ball in hard
luck these days. He smashed a line
drive to center in the openig chapter yes
terday, which, had it gone two feet to
the right, would have been good for
triple. Later in the game Joe cracked to
deep right, the ball falling foul by inches
only.
Judge struck out three times and on
each occasion the crowd cheered him,
showing the younsster that they were
with him.
George Mcbride made a pretty catch
IN the sixth inning yesterday when he
raced back Of second base and pulled
down Sisters Texas Lacquer with his
back to the stands johnson was on
third base at the time and Miller on first,
but two were out and the catch retired
the side.
WILLIAM PEET.