Evening star., 1916-10-15

There are many towns in the south
where the Nationals would be wei
coined and. II a business proposition is
considered a lot Of money could be
gained by going to Cuba to train. for
the Nationals would draw immense
crowds there in their exhibition games.
Grif1th being the first major league
manager to bring Cuban players to the
big league when he brought Almeida
and Marsans to Cincinnati some few
years ago. He also had Acosta and
Calvo as members of the Washington
team. and Acosta will be with the To-
calls in the spring.
Manager Griffith yesterday sent a
contract to Johnny Berry, tho best
left-handed pitcher and all-round
player among the thousands Of Chi
cago amateurs. who as a reward for
his splendid record was taken to see
the world series by President Ban
Johnson.
Being under age. Berry will not sign
his own contract, but he will persuade
his father to do so. He will be taken
and II he shows enough stuff he will be
carried through the season.
That there is no chance of the world
not be repeated. but. Just to satisfy the
few doubling Thomases that there is
no ground for such report. President
Ban johnson already has announced
world series admission fees to figures
Just double what are charged by major
league clubs during the regular sea-
son.
There is every reason for believing
that tho winner in the National League
next season, which very likely will be
the New York Giants. will be much
more formidable team than the two old
league representatives that have faced
the Red Sox this year and last.
That 1t will be no easy matter to find
competent manager to flll the place
vacated by William Carrigan there is
not the slightest doubt, and yet IL
he might go farther and do worse than
sign William Murray, former manager
Of the Phillies. who undoubtedly is
one Of the most capable managers that
Not only Is Murray q man Of great
popularity with tho general base ball
public. but he always has perfect con-
troll over his players. who respect and
like him.
Murray would I'LL Carrigan's shoes
perfectly. He is just the man for the
position, and 1t is to be hoped that
Owner Lannin will land him.
That the batting strength of the local
team will be decidedly more formi-
dable next season than 1t was this
there Is not the slightest doubt.
Even such good judges as Ty Cobb.
Bill Donovan and Bill Carrigan have
conceded that the Griffmen will be one
Of the best hitting teams in the league
next season.
The acquisition of Elmer Smith and
Joe leonard is going to mako re-
markaole dfnerence in the teams hit
ting. and Sam Rice is picked to head
the team by both Cobb and Griffith:
Ed Foster came back into his best
batting stride during the last two
months of the season, and he is GER
tam 10 be one of the timely swatters
OF the team next season, while Howard
Shanks. John Henry and even George
Mcbrlde did some very timely hitting
IN tne last campaign. Joe Judge also
IN the position he Is slated to play,
than any other man tho Nationals have
haa IN their history, and he will be Of
heip In speed and hitting as we'll as
brilliant fielding.
Many fans the country ov.r ara Of the
opinion that tho CHICAGO WHITE sox are
the pest team in tho American League.
BUT tnat 10 hardly the case The sox are
weak IN the pitching department and are
In need OF first-cfass first baseman who
caa hit and field.
Fournier is an in and out hitter and Is
the worst fielder Imaginable. Ness Is
Just fair man for the place ana until
this position is properly filled and few
good pitchers are added Comiskey's team
is not apt to set the race on fire. except
in spots.
Lee Fehl. the manaser Of the 1ndifns,
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