The Washington times., 1917-04-22
HARRY HARPER IS
ALMOST READY NOW
Hackensack SouthpaW Round
ing Into Form and Should
Play Next Week.
GRIFF WON'T HURRY HIM
Team Leaves Tuesday Night for
Boston to Play Four Games
With Champions.
By LOUIS A. DoUGHER.

Harry Harper, the Hackensack
southpaw, should be ready to climb
the mound by the time the Grinmen
return from Boston next week. With
him taking his regular turn on the
slab, the chances of the team will be
greatly strengthened, for now the
Old Fox Is going along without q left
handler to break UP the enemy.
Harper has been working out every
morning at the ball park and yester-
day he pitched to the batters with fair
success Almost all the lameness has
gone from his salary wing and he
says that he should be on the job in
. week or so,
The tall forkhander has been taking
good care of his arm. as he feared
that he might have to lay OF q whole
season and go back to that dear Hack
ensack and the adorable junk busi-
mesa
Won't Hurry Harper.
Manager Griffith said today that
much as he needs a southpaw for his
star at this time, he would not hurry
a1LpCE. o0 OC4ACNCo bAAA1 w
more harm than good.
'tIts a long summer" says the Old
Fox. HTf Harper IL himself when he
comes back to work, shan't have to
worry about him for the remainder of
the year.
'Tf he goes In too soon and hurts
his arm again, may be bothered un-
til October and never have him in real
form So I'm letting him take his own
time. He's pretty near ready now,
though. and I look for him to be pitch
ing against the Yankees when we
come back from Boston"
Leave Tuesday Night.
The Grinmen leave Tuesday i'm
medistely after the game with the
Aackmen, for Boston. where on the
following afternoon they are due to
open q four-garhe series with the
worlds champion Red Sox. This
series Will keep them away from
Georgia avenue until q week from
tomorrow, when they open a four
game series with the Yankees.
The Red Sox follow the Yanks
into the Capital The FIRST series
with the champions here will be of
out in Boston this week there Is sure
to be plenty Of fireworks at Georgia
avenue when Jack Barry's bean ball
pitchers make their appearance.
The Grfnmen leave on May to
open their hrst invasion OF the West,
and viii not again be seen here until
May 70, when they tackle the Red
SoX In four clashes, two coming on
May 80, morning and afternoon
Anent Joe Judge.
When Joe Judge was replaced by
Hank Shanks In the first inning yes
tsrday because Hill, q. southpaw, was
sent to the mound by Connie Mack,
murmurs Of disapproval were heard
on every side. Judges stellar hit
ting since the season opened, and
his speed on the bases have en-
deared him to the rooters, and they
were riled because Shanks was
played at first in his place.
Manager Grifith's explanation is
reasonable. He says that Judge,
facing only right handlers, is whal-
Ing the ball He is In his proper
stride.
'Tf I let him face southpaws he's
more than likely to get out of his
stride, and then be of no use when
rtght-handers are. working against
u.s." continues Griff. HE has no
complaint to make about his being
taken out"
Too Many SOuthpaws.
Replacing Judge with Shanks tends,
too, to reduce the one-sidedness of the
Griffmen's lineup. Judge is a south
paw batsman and 30 are Milan, Rice,
Smith, and Leonard. II he could hit
southpaws as well as Milan or Rice,
he would be kept on first base. no
matter what kind OF pitching the op-
position offered.
In yesterdays morning practice
Judge was wholly unable to get his
swing against Harry Harper. The
Old Fox knew this when he took him
out In the afternoon. The fans didn't,
which explains their wrath.
While Leonard IL not hitting his
weight, nevertheless, the Old Fox
intends to keep him in the game until
such time as he 10 certain that the
youngster is not Of major league cali
. Der. Griff looks for Leonard to get
started soon, and then keep hitting to
the end OF the season.