Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-06
BY J. ED GRILLO.


Griffmen yesterday played ball as If
1t was the worst exhibition of the ma
| tional game the locals have INDUCED
| in in some time, and there will have to
be decided brace-up all along the
line If the team is to make any i'm
| provement in its showing.
After winning three out of four from
| the Red Sox Griffith was suspended,
and since then the locals have won but
| a single game. 1t seems that GriMth's
| absence from the bench has taken that
| spirit which was characteristic OF the
team early in the season away from IT.,
and it is high time that the local play
ers regain their hustling way and get
| down to playing ball as If it was their
| business.
| Why Griffith is kept off the bench
| under suspension longer than any of
| the players who were involved in the
Boston fracas is not plain. All that
| Agnews fist, and yet he is the only
one who is being severely punished.
1t is not at all certain that the Rom
deau deal for Acosta will go through.
There is a hitch, for one of the other
clubs in the American Association has
put in a claim for the Frenchman, and
this may stop him from joining the
Minneapolis club, and consequently
prevent Griffith from getting Acosta at
this time.
Griffith. however. says that the rule
is that the club from which player
was drafted is given the first chance at
| him when he is returned to the minors,
/ and that If the Cantillons have put in
their claim that the deal is sure to go
| through.
June IS The Star published a story
| to the effect that Rondeau would be
| sent back and Acosta come here.
| According to Joe Cantillon Acosta is
the most improved player he ever got
from the Washington club. Joe insists
| that the Cuban now is ready for fast
company and if this is true he will
strengthen the Griffmen.
Acosta was Handicapped during the
years that he was with the local club
because he was played but seldom. He
is said to have been the sensation of
the American Association this year,
after he got a chance to play in every
game.
The long drawn-out games played on
the local grounds this spring are
blamed on the umpires. who do not
follow instructions and keep the play
ers hustling through the games Yes
terday's game, for instance, required
nearly two hours and quarter to play.
There is no good reason why games of
nine innings duration should not be
played in less than two hours. During
the stay of Owens and Connolly here
there was not a single time when
either of them urged the players to get
move on them. Dineen and Nallin
will be the umptres to oficiate here to-
day. and for some time, 1t is under
stood.
Mcbride again played splendid ball In
yesterdays game. having ten chances
and nothing resembling an error. In
cidentally he made half of the hits
which are credited to the Nationals.
Two. one double. was his record.
Fielder Jones of the Browns believes
the New York Yankees are a certainty
in the present pennant race.
You fellows have Just finished play
ing the team which will win the PEN
nant this year" said the Browns man
ager this morning
Il don't see another team which has
chance. Chicago has been lucky to
win and it won't last Detroit is
through now because 1t has no pitchers,
and there Is hardly anything else IN
the league that compares with Dono-
vans team. 1 don't think the Red Sox
will repeat. They are not playing the
ball they did last year and their pitch
ers are not as good"
Jones says the trouble with most
teams in the American League this
season is that the players are trying
to call the turn on what the pitcher is
about to put up to them. and that this
makes some OF them look ridiculous
when the pitcher is smart enough to
cross them and give them that which
they are not looking for.
! Joe Boehling and Carl Weilman were
| the early selections as pitchers today
| in the first game of the series Of those
| with the st. Louis Browns
| The Browns are hustling, as usual,
and must not be considered an easy
| team to beat Jones has some good
| pitchers. a fast team, and one that he