The Washington herald., 1917-05-18
Griff Is Confident Team
Will Win Majority of Games
Poor Base Running Has Been
the Big Drawback to the
Nationals This Season.
BY JOHN A. DUGAN.

Detroit, Mich. May r.-That puzzling
frown that Clark Grifith has been carry
ing since the middle OF April has almost
entirely disappeared and the big broad
smile OF the Foxey Pilot once more beams
forth, as the Old Fox Is confident that he
has at last named a winning combina-
ton.
Grin Is sure that the present lineup
Of the team will win more than the
majority Of the games that still remain
70 be played on this invasion OF the
West, but he is not basing this argu-
ment on hopes on this showing, in turn
ing In three consecutive victories, but
because they are now playing real base
pan and look TO have at last hit their
stride
Grin has been experimenting with his
lineup all spring and has at times made
many shifts In the batting order that
even proved a big puzzle to his veteran
members. but the Foxey Pilot was at
tempting TO get the best out Of his players
and has now settled his mind on the pres
ent combination, as this club with four
south-paw hitters in its midst walk right
into left-hand pitching while the right
handlers look like easy pickings
Grin has attempted to mix In his speed
with defensive combination and now
believes that he has both in the make
up Of his club.
The big drawback 10 the team 10 date
has been poor bals running. no less than
hve games, which have gone on the
wrong side Of the ledger can be account
ed for In this manner The old speed
on the cushions Is the biggest topic al
the skill practice held each morning, and
when the players get acquainted with one
another the Nationals are sure TO be
heard from as they are within a stone
throw Of the 81. Louis Brownies and
the first division.
The "OId Fox looks for more than an
even break with the Mound City club,
where a four-game series opens tomor-
row. The pitchers Of the Brownies have
been a big factor in their showing in
Johnson's circuit to date. but the "Old
Fox believes that ne has a quartet OF
Fingers that can turn back the St. Louis
club. and will open this series with Harry
Harper doing the hurting.
Five games will be played in Chicago,
and the 'Old Fox" is already figuring on
halting the white-hosed pennant-chasing
clan. Between the jump from st. Louis
to Chicago, the "Old Fox will be ten
dered one Of those real homecoming
events at Bloomington. Ill This is the
former home Of Griffith, and the old boy
lots Of this town while his first profess
sional engagement was with the Bloom
ingtcn Reds. members of the Three-Eye
League. Bert Davis, who was the base
ball writer on the Bloomington Peno-
graph when Grin was a boy-and from
good authority this was some long time
ago-with Link Fleming, former State
attorney, have planned this celebration
which will include a baseball game with
these Three-Eyed leagUers. a banquet,
and, Of course, one Of Grif's famous
speeches which he is now preparing.
Capt Huston. the famous owner of the
Yankees, was visitor here today. The
captain is here on business OF recruiting
Detroit patriots for the army and left
ahead of the Nationals for Cincinnati,
where he intends 10 carry on his cam
paign. Huston stated after the game to-
day that the Nationals looked a great
deal better than when he last saw them
and that he was sure that they would be
contenders all season.
Edgar Kolath. a Detroit sandlotter. was
given the once over before the game by
the "Old Fox" Kolath is a pitcher with
quite a reputation heEe. but he did not
impress the Nationals pilot with mis-
work.