The Washington times., 1916-05-23
CHICAGO WHITE SOX
DUE FOR SHAKE-UP
BY OWNER COMISKEY
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

NJ TINS season, Cnarne COtnishey'
owner Of the chicago white sox, con-
templates asking for the resignation OF
Manager Clarence Rowland. and the i'm
mediate sale or exchange Of many play
srs who have proved failures. according
TO today's dispatches from Chicago.
Comiskey blames the poor work Of his
team upon its lack Of lighting spirit, ac-
cording to the Chicago story, and has
promised to weed out the slackers and
bring In some scrappers.
No member Of the Chicago party, now
In this city. knew anything Of the plans
entertained by Charlie Comiskey, but all
were interested. Knowing nothing of It.
no opinions were expressed.
II Comiskey goes through with any
radical change In the management and
personnel Of his ball club. he will be
doing only what many close followers
Of baseball have expected for some time.
In 1915 the White Sox, strengthened by
the purchase of Eddie Collins and the
development Of Urban Faber. jumped
into an early lead and maintained 1t for
many weeks. When the pitchers crack
Cd In midsummer the reason was given
as too much work, the experts dwelling
upon the long spring practice schedule
that brought the team home from Cal
ifornia.
When Comiskey found his team falter-
ing he purchased many other players to
Bolster 1t in its Tight. Eddie Murphy
was obtained from the Athletics, and
iskey's biggest outlay came in buying
Joe jackson from the Cleveland club.
There seemed no end OF Commy's pa
thence and no bottom. to his purse.
w. 49,
Of the White sox many scoffed. calling
attention to the fact that he had never
had any big league experience. The
ecoffers stopped soothing. though. when
Rowland's hustling. fighting team
Guided that Rowland knew something
about running ball club. Now tho
scoffers are out In force again all over
Chicago, and their remarks have reach
ed Comiskey.
and played few exhibition games before
the opening Of the major league season.
II was confidently expected by Chicago
fans that the great pitching star. back
ed by the hitting Of Eddie Collins.
.Hsppy" Felseh. and Eddie Murphy. Murphy.
would carry the team to the front at
once.
The failure of the white sox against
spring in the west Out OF eight games
played. the White Sox took Just one,
and II was more their weakness than
anything else that enabled the Indians
TO rush to the lead In the race.
The principal reason given for the
failure of the White Sox to perform up
TO expectations IL the lack of hitting.
Those maulers Of the pill. Eddie Col
Tins and Joe Jackson, have failed miser-
ably this hiss. spring; , Neither seems able to
failure has spread a spirit Of gloom
among the others.
Unless he is hitting up around $50.
Joe jackson is Of little value to ball
club. His fielding is nothing to marvel
his speed. 1t takes brains to be base
runner.
! Jacques Fourier. the smuggling French
man. In another failure at the bat this
spring. He has been benched within
the last week on that account.
Happy" Felsch mas performed well
enough to hold his place. but Eddie
Murphy has not startled his friends
The pitching has generally been good.
though the best work Of Faber Cicottc
Russell. Wolfgang and Danforth has
zone for nothing when unsupported with
the bat.
Chicago is a great baseball city. With
Boston. II Is ranked as one Of the two
best In the country. Chicago. entire
Comiskey's team and Comiskey has the
support of every one of those fans.
both for himself personally and for his
team.
It is believed here that comlskoy. who
Is not with his ball club. has heard the
Comment Of the South siders and
realizes that something radical must be
done. IL he is to have ball club in
the first division.
with a club in the fight. conniskey can
make huge sums OF money. for his park
Is frequently fiilsd to capacity on J. Sat- at
ore frequent In Chicago when the club
IL battling for the lead. ana II doesn't
take many such throngs TO I'LL the till.
Just what conimy proposes to do will
not be known for some weeks yet: II
Is unlikely that he will drop Rowland
pntil he finds q capable successor. and
berth.
Just which Of his players are doomed
TO pass away from the club or the
League y a puzzle; The youngsters
to measures mp to big league require
ments, but Commy must have players
in the game every day, and so ne con-
G Ma GrSP Of IL. w White sos taiures ho%
ever. will drop out OF the league for
4here is no place for them. The good
bnes, or rather those with chances OF
Founding into first clqss condition. will
not be traded or sold. but the others
will very likely drop bnck into the
aninors.
g. Today the Griffmen are leading the
American League. and they mean to
hold their advantage.
The Washington club 10 Just half Q
game ahead Of the Cleveland Indians
who seem to have struck a snag In
their rush pennantward.
The Griffs have reached their present
lofty position In the baseball world by
d,nt Of hard work against the leading
OUTFIT itself. the Indians.
For the 1nal week OF their home stay
the Griffmen will play only second al
vision hall clubs. and II Is on this ac-
count that Manager Griffith. his play
ers. and the fans believe the team
should depart for Boston next Monday
night. marching along proudly In firsi
place.
When the Cleveland Indians came
here last week and trod on the home
boys twice In succession. some fans be
gan to lose heart. But when the nriffi
turned on the Indians Saturday, givinH
them a sorry whaling. and then de-
feated them Sunday in Cleveland before
a record breaking crowd. the fans be-
gan to expect good things.
The Chicago White Sox. stNERerins
along. provided the Griffs with thil
necessary aid In reaching the top OF