The Washington times., 1917-02-25
Have lust as Good a Chance as
Any Other Club in Ameri-
can League.
MUCH DEPENDS ON DUMoNT
Infield Makeup Is Puzzle, With
No Position Certain Before
Season Opens.
By LOUIS A. DoUGHER.

a pennanI race, running IhTOuBH
six months, is 4 jumbled affair. That's
Why no one can pick the ultimate
winner in February. That's why one
cannot say where the Griffmen will
finish next October.
Judging from what happened in the
American League in 1916, and seeking
TO argue what may happen this year.
the Griffmen will have just as good
a chance to win the 1917 Eonfalon as
any other club in the circuit. Be-
yond that, however, one cannot go.
So much beside mere baseball enters
into a pennant race.
Who can say what luck will be met
by Griffth's team7 Who can say that
a certain much-needed player will re-
main in the lineup at just the psy-
Geological time in the struggle7 Who
can say how many games will be lost
for want Of a hit, or because of an
egregious peg? Who can say anything
about baseball?
Has Some Experiments.
Manager Griffith has several expert
nnents to make with his ball club this
spring. He did not have them last
year.
{ At first base there will be found
either Judge or Shanks. Neither may
finish the season there. Judge was a
Iamentable failure as a batsman last
season. Shanks' light hitting is too
well known to require comment.
Judge may improve enough to I'LL the
bill, but the fans will have to be
shown. If he fails, and Shanks' field
ing is good enough, the fans will pre-
fer to see the Monacan on the sack,
II only for his life, dash, and aggres-
Eiveness.
Every other position on the infield
will be an experiment for the Old Fox;
too.
Second Is a Puzzle.
Second base will be a puzzle for
weeks. There is no saying that Ed.
die Foster or Ray Morgan will be
considered the regular, even IL Joe
Leonard does make good at third.
Morgan hit for .267 last year. Foster
was down at the .252 mark. In field
ing at second Fosters $50 average
was but three points better than Nor
gan's. Apparently, hitting must de-
eide between them
Foster had a poor year in 1915, for
6OAhC ICdSOh AtI al was
doing well until injured in New
York. Each will be given a thorough
trial, but he would be a wizard to
choose between them as second base
men.
Crane q Newcomer.
Manager Griffith says he will try
cut Sam Crane at shortstop, but that
means nothing to US. Mcbride was
the second best fielding shortstop in
the league last year, and hit for .227.
Crane was second best in the Inter
national League, but his hitting
against minor league pitching was
only 222.
Crane may be chosen by the Old
FOX to open the season at short, but
Mcbride may yet force him to the
bench 1t takes brains to be a major
league shortstOp, and Mcbride is con
sfdersd one Of the brainiest players
in any major league infield. The
youngster from Baltimore will have
10 prove himself a far better bats
man than Mcbride to oust the vet.
eran.
Moran is not figured to have much
OF chance to earn a place for him
self this year, though he may fool
the wisest war correspondent.
Joe Leonard, the wee third sacker,
may shine at the hot corner, but he
has yet to prove it. He hit for .271
IN forty-five American League games
last year, and .269 in ninety-nine
American Association contests. These
figures are encouraging, and, IL his
delding and running is good, he may
remain at third for the Griffmen. II
Ae tumbles, Foster will be placed on !
his old job once more.
The most promising part of the |
Washington club at this writing is its |
outfield. Milan will hardly improve.
but Rice and Smith look to be good |
batsmen, something the team needs |
more than anything else.
Must Have waIIoper.
To be a contender in 1917 the Griff- |
men must have a walloper, and Elmer
Smith seems to be that young man.
He is a slugger. If he doesn't con-
meet, he fans. But II he does meet
the pill, IT sails. He is sure to be a
regular.
Sam Rice's timely hitting last sea-
son gave him the highest average on
the club. .299. and he is sure to start
In addition TO his hitting, Rice is very |
fast on his feet. With coaching he |
may develop into a capable baserun- |
ner.
Mike Menoskey IS the best looking
OF the other outfelde recruits, and
may manage to hang on for a whIIa
after the season opens, IL not through |
put.
DumOnt May Succeed.
II he reports in good health, as he |
didn't last spring, George Dumont
may succeed. His pitching may make |
Or break the chances of the Griffmen |
10 win the flag, or at least finish high. |
johnson, Harper, Gallia, and Ayers, |
likely to pitch many games, are well |
known. They need no knocks or
boosts. If Dumont delivers the goods. |
the team should be a winner, so far
ls mound work is to be considered.
The catching stan is the same, with |
chances that Ainsmith and Charity |
may be worked oftener than they |
we're last year.
From our viewpoint, at least four |
-Iubs are sure to be in the pennant |
chase from the beginning, the Red |
Sox, Yankees, Tigers, and White Sox. |
Il is also possible that the other four |
hubs may upset all calculations.
Where will the Griffs finish? VIII |
Tpu bet the sun Will shine tomorrow?