The Washington times., 1916-05-29
Probable Line-Ups
Macknen.
By LOUIS A. DOUGHER.
Game at 2:45 o'clock.

Are the Indians cracking under the
strain of holding their lead in the
American League with three pitchers
and a substitute inneld7
The Indians have been running out
in front with three twirlers working
in most of their games. They have
been without Ray Chapman. the best
shortstop in the league. for a
majority of their games. Now. within
the last week, they have lost Terry
Turner, a cracking good innelher
when in condition. ...
Manager Griffith and all his players
believe that when the Indians begin
dropping games. they will drop q
whole lot OF them. In that case. all
fght from Cleveland 10 now done. Tor
the Indians have lost q double header
in the league that could not win from
them in the spring.
Immediately after today's game
with the Maekmen. the Grlffs hike e. for
will catch the midnight from New
York for Boston. arriving there In
time for breakfast.
The Griffmen today lead the Ameri-
can League by q game and half mar
gin over the Cleveland Indians. Thus.
they are sure to leave tonight for Bos-
ton. marching proudly in first place.
A twin defeat for the Indians by the
White Sox yesterday showed the Capt.
tolians ahead. and they mean to stay
there.
Just what chance the Griffmen have
of remaining In the hunt for the Amer
ican League Ronfalon will be shown
on this trip of the team opening tomor-
.As..A ft.a all 1ta
champion Red Sox. II the team main
tains its present speed in hitting field
ing. and general style of play. 1t may
return home with a much longer lead
than 1t has today. II 1t cracks. 1t
may come home down on the list. with
small chance Of regaining Its lead.
For practically a month the Griffmen
will be on the road playing twenty-nine
games. II. as in the past. the team
proves winning club away from home,
the tussle between Washington and
Cleveland may come to decision some
where. With the Indians playing at
homo during this coming month. the
0riffs will need all their past reputa-
ton to keep them out in front.
Six weeks have passed since the 1915
campaign got under way. and all the
teams are stretching out for the long
battle through the summer. Today the
Grdffmen look as good as the best and
better than some.
The Griffs today stand six and q half
games ahead of the Boston Red Sox. the
one club they all believe they must
beat to have a chance at the coming
worlds championship. Considering the
first four clubs in the hunt. Washing
ton looks as good as any OF the other
three. The coming trip Will prove this
one way or the other.
The nrinCinal ADVANTAGE of the
washington club is its pitching stan.
Without much argument, the average
fan will admit in any city that the
GriKmen have the strongest mound
corps in the American League. Given
the Washington pitchers Detroit.
dams by their work this spring, could
breeze into first place and worlds
series hcnors. Can the GEiffrten do 1t.
having the pitchers:
Washington should receive high
class pitching for the next month.
selves of coming home in first rlace
is a continuance OF their present gait
ut the bat and on the bases.
Right now Ray Morgan Charlie
Jameson, Joe Judge. and Xcb Milan
are hitting at TOP form. Eddie Foster.
after getting away to a poor start,
seems TO have struck his stride. The
catchers have done very well at the
bat while George McBride's timely
stickwork has proved most valuable.
II the team maintains it's present
hitting. II should return victor in a
large majority of its games. for II
In now leading all other clubs at the
bat. This means that only phenomenal
performances by Cleveland, New York
and Boston can dislodge Washington
from its present position.
-
Many helieve that Cleveland is about
ready to crack under the strain OF
uRing three pitchers. Morton. Covel-
eskio- and Counbe have won most OF
the Indians victories This spring. and
largely to them goes the credit for ths
wild rush OF the team into first place
or course, Speakers hitting behind
them had much to do with that. too
but the best OF hitting can't win for
bad pitchers at least, not often.
Two weeks ago Bill Donovan said
and Clark Griffith agreed with him
that the Indians would blow" al
soon as they hit the rough places
Both these veterans of the mound
were basing their opinions on the
form OF the Cleveland pitching stan
Both Donovan and Griffith had beer
through the major league mill al
pitchers. and they believed they were
right. They will be backed up now
II the Indians fail to maintaip theiI
T'7f