The Washington times., 1917-06-21
new PLAYERS WILL
REPORT TO GRIFFS
Old Fox, Scouting for Him
self, Hopes to Find En-.
ALL WILL RECEIVE TRIALS
Mcbride viii Have Charge Of Club
in Managers Absence.
ALL WILL RECEIVE TRIALS
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER

New players are expected to join
the Griffmen at frequent intervals
during the next month. They will
be put right into the line up, too.
according to Manager Griffith, who
has come to the conclusion that he
must find the added strength or give
up the fight to keep Washington on
the baseball map.
The Griffs will open a months tour
Saturday at Boston. 1t is expected
that Bill Murray, the Brown Univer-
sity shortstop, will replace Sam
Crane that day. If he makes a good
showing, he will be retained in the
battle line. II he doesn't, he will be
benched.
The Old Fox will shoot from Bos-
ton to Baltimore Saturday night, II
he goes to Boston at all, TO have a
talk with a prospective player he be-
lieves will prove OF assistance to the
Washington ball club. The player
Is with the Toronto club.
VIII Scout Frequently.
Manager Griffith expects to do
considerable scouting while his team
is on the road. He is constantly re-
ceiving tips about promising players
in minor leagues, and he intends
looking at some of them. II they
measure up to his own standards,
and can be purchased at reasonable
sums, he will send them on to his
club, wherever it may be, and they
will be given immediate trials.
During Griffith's absence, George
Mcbride will be in charge of the ball
club, having all the authority of the
manager. He will choose his pitchers,
yank them IL the occasion requires,
and send up his pinch hitters.
Knows Teams Needs.
Griffith knows his teams needs. He
will try to find hitting inhelders and
at least one hitting outfielder. lie ad-
mits this much, but is silent as to
pitchers.
Much criticism has been hurled at
Doc Ayers for his poor work as a re-
lief twirler. 1t is only fair to state
that Ayers Is used in the morning
batting practice, sometimes sent back
for more in the afternoon before the
game and then kept warming up in
the right field bull pen. Taking his
place on the slab. he is through for
the day before he begins his real
work.
The Washington club. among other
things, needs more pitching material.
To obtain IL. some OF the excess bag
gage on the bench might easily be jet
tisoned. The club is well within the
player limit now and new players
s-plenty can be tried out without get
ting the club in trouble with the
Chicago office.
Get Thorough Test.
Whatever new players join the
Griffmen should get a thorough test,
for they will be pitted against prac-
tically every ball CLUB in the league
during the coming trip. The Griffmel
will visit every city on the circuit.
first cleaning up the East and then
hiking West.
On their return the season will Lave
but two more months to go. II they
come back in the cellar, the chances
will be 100 to l that they will finish
there, or mighty close to II. II they
get started on a winning streak, it
will be possible for them to finish in
NTH place, though the fight becomes
harder and harder from day to day.
Three clubs are now recognized rs
out of the pennant hunt, Washington,
Philadelphia, and st. Louis. DeTrois
is only a bare possibility. Cleveland
is a better possibility. New York has
a chance to horn into the scrap. The
real fight is between Boston and Chi
cago.