The Washington times., 1916-02-29
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

walter johnson, king OF en- all!
Bert dallia, running q close second
to the king.
Harry Harper, whose work In 1915
gives him precedence over all other
southpaws for the coming season with
the Griffmen.
Who Will be the other finger to
make the fourth OF the regular quartet
to perform for Clark Griffith when
the campaign cets under way?
OF course. L sors without argument
that Walter. Jc'Eson. the coffeyvilie
chicken fanciar, T',il be the Grinmen's
premier finger. It3 no disgrace to
any other t-.ii'ler 20 follow johnson In
achievement.
Bert Galia produced the goods un-
mistakably last summer. and should
be just as good this season.
Harry Harper improved so much by
his experience IN Minneapolis that he
pitched big lelguc ball when he came
back to the Griffmen.
But who will be that fourth per-
former7
Doc Ayers seems right now to stand
the best chance. The big Virginia
mountaineer possesses what most
pitchers lack-control. That control OF
his. coupled with his GOODNESS uader
fire. makes him doubly valuable to the
Old Fox. Ayers is fine spring per-
formerer. Naturally big. no woriu best
In cool weather. Last year he COM
plaiLed about being kept on the bench
during the opening campaign. Whea
showed In, he delivered. lie IL a good
bet.
Close behind Ayers comes George Du-
mont. the rookie from Fargo. ". D.
This youngster showed plenty OF class
in his brief trial here last fall. He 81
in earnest about making good, too,
which counts for a whole lot. Dunsont
should make q great fight for the
place
Don't forget Sam Rice. though. In
dopins out the twirier to mako the
when he Joined the team last season.
He did well enough, but might have
done better. had he had sufficient
strength. This year he reports to
Manager Griffith ready for the hardest
Kind Of work. Keep your eyes on Sam
Hice. right handler with future.
Two lefthanders, In addition 10 Har-
per. will be at work at Charlottesville
on Thursday morning. They are Jack
X.
a CHANGE for one OF them, but hardly
ror both.
Boehling was wanted by Pittsburgh.
but Jimmy Callahan failed to offec a
suntcient sum to land him. BoehlinR.
In condition. Is classed with the best
trouble is to keep him ready However.
he will be put through the grinding
mechine this spring, and may produce
the same old stun OF yoro.
Bentley has been charged with failure
10 Ahow sufficient stuff" In the lingo
than anything else. II Jack has perked
up In his speed, he may land a regular
berth. He has most deceptive de-
livery. patterned a lot aftet that Of
Ray Collins, the Red Sox veteran. and
II he can dig up some stuff" he may
make the fourth to work in turn for
the Old Fox.
win have to solve this spring Is
named James Aloysius Shaw.
Last year Shaw was expected to
prove wizard. At camp he showed
almost as much speed as johnson
had. His daily workouts filled Griff
under way. Shaw was used In turn
and had only fair luck. Wildness
bothered him more than anything
else:
fALtCT HAAihk OhA1 u
the young Pittsburgher injured his
pitching arm ana was OF no more use
TO the team for the rest OF the sea-
son.
During the winter he was injured
IN a hutning accident, but has fully
recovered from that All that makes
him a puzzle now Is whether or not
no has found that elusive control II
he has, he may be the fourth man
or the regular twirling starr.
or Course, there will be other twiriers
AZ Charlottesville. but they have long,
hard row 20 hoe.
Charlie Humphreys. the Virginia
Lacquer, will do his best to hang on
and Clark Griffith will give him fair
trial, but inexperience win be his great
est handicap.
Allen Dahlen. or whatever his right
name is, Il a rookie from Sheffield, Pa,
without any experience worth consider
HTod' Sloan, from Linden. Tenn. is
another green kid, with worlds yet TO
conquer. 1t u doubtful II these three
hang on.
The wissnheimers Of baseban will put
their money on Doc Ayers. Joe Boehl-
ing, or George Dumont to make that
fourth OF the regular quartet. at least
during the spring.