The Washington times., 1916-01-17

Going over to the New York meet
ing?' was asked Griffith.
sure I'm going" was his instant
answer 'I want to arrange some
business there with the mnnag gers of
several clubs. hope to have some
real news during the session. some
thing that will wake up Washington
fans
Manager Griffith is most hopeful of
obtaining either Eert Shotton or
Derrill Pratt from the Brownies. He
had a long talk with Branch Hickey
AT the Chicago meeting in December
and is now hoping that Hickey, in
his capacity as assistant to Fielder
Jones. will be able to talk the
Brownies leader into listening to the
Washington offer.
Though IL seems almost impossible
to obtain jacques Fournier from the
White Sox, the Old Fox will again
make an attempt to arrange a deal
that will bring the smuggling French
rlan to the Capital. Griff is going to
New York with all authority to bring
Griffmen for 1916. If he fails it will
be only because il Is impossible to
perfect certain trades he has in mind.
"I'm going to give Henry Rondeau
more time this year TO show his
stuff" gays Clark Griffith. Il let him
20 last year because he had shown
nothing, but afterward, when he
had got going. he showed up all the
other outflelders in the American As
fine shape, but he hit for more than
300 and ran the bases we'll. So this
spring I'm going to let him take his
time. hoping that he will deliver. He
had foolishly worked out In gym
we're in bad shape when he joined
us at Charlottesville. I have told
him to cut that out this winter and
report ready to begin work. He may
be Just the chap ] want"
Manager Griffith is going to open
the season with as many youngsters
In his lineup as possible. He counts
on using Charlie Jameson in left field
and Turner Barber in right as long
as they show some big league stuff
Right behind them VIII come Merito
kids with longfngs to play big league
outfeld ber.ns. Only after these lads
fall down will Henri Rondeau and
Dan Moeller get an opportunity to
set out there in the sun.
Fielder Jones will swap Edgar Willett
and some cash for Walter Johnson.
And the Old Fox says that'E suit him.
Extrd paper.
The tale drifting back from st. Louis
today has Grit opening nesotiations
with Fielder Jones, the new manager of
the Brownies, and asking for Shotton,
F'ratt. and Sisler. or any one or two Of
them. Then. according to the truthful
scribe of the Mound CITY. Fielder broke
forth thusly:
Stand back! You can take my gold,
but spare me my players. But. to show
perfect fairness, I'll give You Edgar
Willett and a few dollars for Walter
J Jobnson.''
When Grin heard this tale today he
Hrinned. and then replied: 'Is that
E'ielder's offer? Well. III take II. The
deal Is done. Drag on Willett and coin,
BOYS, drag 'en on
Thursday night comes the annual ban
uuet rendered to Clark Griffith 6v the
Cardinal \. G.. OF Alexandria, and the
Venerable Reynard SAYS he'll be there
with bells on. This Ia the fourth an
nual hsnnuet and reception given in
honor of Manager Griffith by the Cari-
mails. and. from all reports, it Will be
better than ever.
Jim Baskette. former pitcher with
Cleveland. may be through with the
game. In the fall of 1914 he slid into the
plate. hurting his knee. 1t weakened
on him In 1915. and the surgeons took
out piece of decayed bone. He was
almost feauN 10 play again "ilSH II
tuilor was discovered in his thigh, and
now he may have to have his leg ampu-
tated.
1t will probably be necessary for the
Washington club to obtain an extra
building AT Cha arlottcsville in which 20
house the overflow. If the Old Fox
fails to arrange some trades he now
has in mind, he will have to journey
down to the college town and ind a
house in the near vicinity Of heal
quarters for his extra players, mostly
rockies. 1t may be possible for al
the athletes to live under ono roo,
nat mat will come only after salts
factory dea's with other clubs. II
they fail, the Old Fox will have more
men in camp than ne really wants.
Though he has said nothing about
II, il is expected that Manager Grif-
nth will not follow his 1915 system
and open up the training season with
the following lineup of the first team:
Judge, first base; Foster. second base;
C. Milan, center field: Barber right
field: Jameson, left field; Shsnks, third
base: Henry, catcher; Mcbride, short
stop; Johnson, pitcher,
m other worus, in 1915, the training
season saw the whole old lineup work
ing Tor the so-callcd regulars. Mana
ger Griffith failed to note that this
very lineup took away some of the
steam of the rockies. Only one rookie
in the past four years has been able
TO go at full speed, no matter with
which team he played. Joe Geaeon
never cared whack about a little
thinE IKE this when he was ts31ng TO