The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-05-18
YANKS HAVE CHANGE
TO GAIN NOW WHILE
GRIFFS FACE ENEMY
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.


struggle for frst place honors in the
American League will be fought be-
tween the Cleveland Indians and the
Washington Griffmen. three games
carded for Georgia avenue and the hnal.
next Sunday. In Cleveland. While the
two pacemakers are graphing. the
Yankees have an excellent opportunity
to gain at the expense Of both.
Walter johnson will very likely pitch
two of these games against Cleveland,
today and Sunday. Bert Gallia 10 prac-
tically certain to twirl tomorrow, with
either Joe Boehling or Doc Ayers COM
ing in on Saturday. The odds are
slightly In favor OF the Grinmen.
IL the Griffs and Indians break even
in these coming four games and the
YAnks clean UP the Tigers. the Dom
ovanites will gain a bit at the expense
OF both leading teams.
II either the Griffs. or Indians take
three out of the four. the Yanks can
crawl closer to the losing team by
slanm1eg those fangless Tigers.
In any case, the Yankees opportun-
American League Will watch closely
happenings in this circuit for the re-
mainder of the week.
Manager Griffith Is quietly confident
present series with the league leaders.
''1hings have been breaking well for
Them" is the explanation. OF the Old
Fox. "just as they have with us. They
lot OF ball games. But this can't go
on forever. With both teams here,
only one can get this advantage.
think my team will.
cleveland has a good ball club, that
goes without argument. But don't over.
look the fact that have a pretty good
club of my own. Once we ran away
with six successive victories. Yesterday
we hung up our seventh straight.
my team is showing the proper fight
ing spirit. / guess all those fans VINO
saw game with Detroit Monday win
agree with me that the boys showed
plenty OF fight. II they hadn't they'd
never have been close enough to win
when the break came. That's what
mean by saying that an earnest, ag-
gressive team makes its own breaks.
It's always in a position to take ad-
vantage of them when they come along
naturally.
I'm not taking anything away from
got the edge on them. In the first place
where have they faced such pitching as
they will face for the next four days!
Pitching counts for q lot too. when
teams are evenly matched.
1.-THE best they could do In Boston
was to break even In four games. and
few who have seen the Red Sox will say
that their pitchers are In such good
shape as mine are. They will be later
but they're STOW starting.
.'I'm not picking any particular games
as victories. knowing that Fohl has Q
grand bali club here. but ] do think
that we'll be out in front after finish
Ing with the Indians"
Among the Washington players thu
same confidence exists In their abilit,
10 stellar honors. Alright fielding be
hind gilt-edge pitching Is what they
believe will keep the teams close enough
TO enable the home boys to benefit from
some of those long. timely hits they
have been getting lately.
The timely bingling of Ray Morgan
Zeb Milan, Henri Rondeau, Hank Shank
and John Henry has opened the eyes o.
the fans here to the ability Of the HON,
team. Every now and then. too. Eddi'
,Foster, Joe Judge. or George Mcbride
breaks UP the game with q crashing
safety 10 the garden.
No one Griffman is doing all the hit
ting, nor any, two or three. Day afte
day the hits are scattered all UP ant
down the batting order. The boys ar
impartial about this clouting. Nobod,
70 "hogging" 1t. an
The Griffmen should grow stronger II
the box, instead Of weaker. from nov
on, too.
Walter johnson. Harry Harper. an,
Bert Gallia are already at the top o
their game. They can be depended upoi
go out. Harper Is getting over his un