The Washington herald., 1916-04-01
Robby Says Griff
Has Strong Club
Brooklyn Manager Thinks the
Local Team Is Stronger
Than Last Season.
W. JOHNSON TO TWIRL
American League Speed Merchant to
Try Luck Against Dodgers.
Humphreys Is Sold.

Griffith has a pretty good ball club
In Washington this year-from what /
saw OF them today-yes, a pretty good
club. not as good a hitting team as my
bunch. but a better balanced aggrega-
ton than last year, as remember
them"
Thus spoke Manager wilbert Robin
son, of the Brooklyn Nationals, when in
tervIewed by the writer last night.
Harper, after he got started, showed
US lot of stuff-he looks like quite
pitcher" Robbie added.
Wilbert Robinson usually talks straight
from the shoulder-that's the kind of
. man he is, ard in complimenting Grif
the National League manager meant
every word he said.
Those who witnessed yesterdays game
must also have been impressed with the
looks of the Brooklyn Dodgers. This
club Is conceded by many experts as
one of the best in the National League
and picked by number 10 win the 1916
flag.
Baseball writer's travelling with the
Dodgers pay big Ed Pfener, who pitched
the first five innings yesterday a high
compliment. The majority Of them are
of the opinion that Pfeffer will easily win
as many games as Grover Alexander,
the Phillies star
Although the BrookIyns have enjoyed
much warmer weather In Daytona Fla,
than was the Nationals portion in Char
lottesville, the Dodgers. as a whole, did
not look to be in any better physical
condition than the Griffmen.
Charley Humphreys the little south
paw, who last year pastimed in the
Virginia League and who created
good impression during the Charlottes-
willie training camp season just closed,
was sold yesterday to Billy Smiths
Richmond club of the International
League. The deal has not been def
nitely closed and will not be until
waivers on Humphreys have been OBJ
tanned.
Smith was here yesterday and
watched the ball game between the
Nationals and Brooklyns.
Walter johnson is slated to pitch
five innings against Brooklyn in the
final contest of the series here this
afternoon. Jack Bentley will finish
the game.
Larry Cheney, the former Chicago
Cub star, will attempt to humble the
Nationals with his spitball, and it is
Claimed LOT Cneney tndt ne possesses
a good one. Dusty" Mails a south
paw, will divide the box honors with
Cheney.
Those fans who have been riding"
Ray Morgan the past winter and de-
manding that Griff get a new second
baseman, had little to say yesterday
afternoon. Thanks to Morgan's timely
single in the fifth, the ball game was
lrryN OLE bali mil or
couple of nifty double plays and thus
far has justified the Old Fox in grant
ing "one more chance"
When in condition there is no more
dangerous hitter in pinch on any
club than Morgan, and Ray will keep
himself in shape this season, you can
just put down a little bet to that
effect.
Grifith's Yannigans. in charge of Nick
Altrock, will invade Richmond today
playing Billy Smiths International
| Leaguers two games today and Mon
day. Doc Ayers, Joe Boehling and
Charley Humphreys will do the pitching.
Rippy Williams is slated to hold down
first base. and Ed Charity will be found
behind the bat.
Thomas s. Rice. former baseball writer
of the Capital, but now on the staff of
the Brooklyn Eagle is here with the
Dodgers. Mr.. Rice-is Of the opinion that
the National League race this season will
be close and exciting with the Dodgers
standing just as good a chance to win
the pennant as any of the other clubs.
Because the hitting was light on both
sides, yesterdays game hardly served to
impress any of the fans who watched the
combat with a true line of dope on the
relative strength of the teams. Judge
and Rondeau, both capable hitters for the
Griffmen, failed to connect safely. 1t
was Barber and Ray Morgan who upset
the dope.
Today's game may throw vastly diff
ferent aspect on both parties concerned.
In the seventh inning yesterday, Bert
Gallia, with two down, banged out a
clean single off Rube Marquard,s delivery
only TO be caught iat-footed a minute
later, when Marquard shot the ball to
Daubert at first base.
Marquard, according to rulings by
American League umpires. would have
been charged with a balk. but Bill KLEIN,
National League arbiter who had the
power to pass judgment, could see moth
ing wrong and therefore Gallia was de-
clared out.
There are many who witnessed yester-
days game who believed that Joe Judge
should not have Intercepted Morgan's re-
lay from Barber in the seventh inning
when Cutshaw banged the ball to right
center for a double, scoring Wheat with
the only run credited the dodgers.
Morgan's aim was true and unless the
ground proved to be extremely soft
Wheat would have been thrown out by
at least a step.
In cutting off the peg Judge may have
figured that he could turn back Cutshaw
at second but he pulled ''boner" here,
for there was no chance in the world of
so doing. Judge should have let the |