The Washington herald., 1917-04-29
Grif viii Continue to Switch
Players Until a Good Com
bination Is Found.
Br JoHN a. DUGAN.

Boston. Mass, April -2s.-Reversing the
cogs will be a new plan in the lineup OF
the Nationals which the "Old Fox m
tends to make within the next day OF
two In the series with New York ano
Boston at the Florida avenue stadium.
Grin's new experiment viii be the piae-
ing Of Eddie Foster back at third base
and the substituting OF Ray Morgan at
the keystone cushion. From present
prospects II appears that Joe Leonarc
the lighting little third sacker. purchase
last season in that famous Clevelan
trade, viii warm the bench as he nc :
yet has struck his stride with the VIII
low. and since, Griff's. pitchers are not
going any too good. the club needs all
the batting strength obtainable in Its
lineup in order to overcome this handi-
cap.
OF course this is Just one OF the many
switches that the "Old Fox" will make
within the next month until he can get
together a winning combination that can
account for itself both extensively ard
defensively.
When the Nationals went out on thar
Western hike in 1913 and turned in sever
teen straight victories IL was brillia ;
defensive PLAYING rendered by the outht
that made possible this record. and Il
the fans remember II was a combination
OF Foster at third. Mcbride at short,
Morgan at second, and Gandfl at hrst,
that held down the inner cubes.
Although Grin insists that he will keep
sammy Crane in the short field position.
II the hitting OF the club warrants the
carrying Of him. it is sure bet that the
first slump he has with the willow will
no doubt md the Dandy Captain back
on the Job.
Crane is one OF the most brilliant field
ers that ever stepped his foot on a major
diamond field and IL the Old Fox still
Graves for the defensive end OF the game
Sammy well FITS into the combination.
Judge at first base is going at great
clip with the bat and in the field and
from the present outlook appears to be
the one best bet of the club.
G-in's hobby is to get a combination
working together that can play defensive
takebaIl. and until he gets a lineup that
can both hit and field the fans are to
witness many a shake-up on the old
score card.
The hitting of Morgan and Foster on
that great sweep around the western
wheel may keep the Nationals in the run
ming and with Judge and Rice going at
top speed the Grinmen should turn out
many victories when the pitchers return
TO form. The Nationals. have run into
all kinds of bad weather this spring,
and Grtff held this as one Of the rea-
sons for the poor showing his pitching
stan has made to date. Many of the
magnates and baseball followers through
out the major league circuits are prepar-
ing many arguments in favor Of later
opening and a shorter schedule or a
longer training trip.
The many lay-Offs of from three to five
days. due to frost. snow and rain this
spring has put the hold bug into the
magnCtes cap for the shortening of the
schedule and it will not be surprising to
see sUme action taken on this subject
when the schedule committee meets next
winter.
Most of these Hub City baseball scribes
cannot see the Nationals as a first d.
vision team, but although they admit
that it looks as il the Grifmen will have
hghting chance Of getting into the
classy heId.
The Philadelphia Athletics have made
quite an Impression here. but little hope
Is given for Bill DOnovan's Yankees win
ming the pennant, aE IT is ranked among
the two men teams with a pretty good
pitching staff
Bert GaI!ia will no doubt pitch the first
game of the home series with the Yam
KEGS on Monday while Dumont Johnson
and Ayers will work in the other three
contests.