Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-03-27
NASHVILLE GAMES
MAY TAKE PLACE
Contest Expected Today and
Griffmen May Remain
Over for Another.
STREET AND JOHNSON MEET
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
NASHVILLE, Tenn, March 21.-Ai-
though 1t was raining when the players
went to their breakfast this morning ana
also decidedly chilly, the sun broke forth
shortly thereafter and Manager Griffith
was hopeful of being able to play this
afternoon. He said that if the weather
indications looked favorable he probably
would stay over here and play Nashville
tomorrow, instead of going on to LOUIS
vile this evening and spending the open
day in the schedule there. johnson. Craft
and Jameson each is scheduled to work
three innings against the Vols here today,
provided there is a game. and tomorrow, II
Griffith goes through with his intention OF
staying over, Shaw, Dumont and Thorn
as will be trotted out, if the latter has
recovered sufficiently from his sore throat
Walter Johnson held quite lengthy
tanning bee with his former battery mate,
Gabby Street. yesterday evening. discuss
ing bygone years when they teamed it
together in Washington. The star of the
king of pitchers still is all glitter. That
of Street lacks the luster of the majors,
though in Dixie Gabby still is rated with
the wisest. To the Vols backStopper
Walter johnson is more than a stellar
performer on the diamond, he is q great
friend
He not only is wonderful pitcher, but
n fine gentleman Gabby declared after
he had. left his former battery mate last
evening. Last year, so he told me, he
got off his stride in pitching by using
an overland system. but now is depend
ing more upon a side-arm delivery. a
man who lives the perfect life of Waiter
Johnson should go on pitching for ten
the American. He is not a fellow who
grows fat or puffy, his habits are perfect
and he keeps in prime condition always
1T is his belief that the stuff he once
had is not all there now. That is, he is
not quite so good as he once was. But
take two-thirds of what he has away and
still Walter Johnson will be wonder
1T was good to see him again, mighty
good
Although rain necessitated calling off
the game scheduled for yesterday be
tween the Washington and Nashville
clubs, Manager Griffith was not per-
turbed. He viewed the situation philo-
sophically. IF the weather has to
work against me somewhere I should
prefer to have it be here" Griffith said.
we got three good workouts in Bir-
mingham and Memphis and l figure
laying off just at this time will not set
us back. I had not figured on picking
up much money here, anyhow. With
good weather in Louisville and Cinciu-
natl. however. I believe we will get
enough in the way of receipts to at
least pay our expenses. in which case |
shall be well satisfied,
The expected Improvement in Harry
Harper's condition has not material
lied. Harper's shoulder felt so much
better toward the end of the stay in
Augusta that high hopes were enter
tanned that it was on the road to re-
covery, and that it would simply be a
question of strengthening it with judi
cious work to have him ready to take
his place on the rubber by the time the
season opened. but almost all prospect
of this has faded. 1t is no secret that
Manager Griffith is much concerned
over the outlook regarding Harper.
Just how long it will take to restore
the full use of his arm to the big south
paw is problematical and there is no as
suranee that it ever can be done. Man
ager Griffith will leave nothing undone
to bring this about, however. When the
team returns home it is Grffith's inten-
ton to have Harper's shoulder exam
lned by specialists and he probably Will
pc sent to New York for this purpose.
Specialists are expensive, but if thew
can discover the cause of Harper's dis
ability and remedy it the money spent
will have been wisely invested, for
there is no gainsaying the fact that the
Washington team without a pitcher of
Harper's caliber would be an entirely
different-looking outfit
Harper is not being helped any by
the fact that he is worrying consider
ably about his condition. Griffith is
trying to prevent this, and only a day
or two ago told Harper he could con-
slider himself as good as signed to "A
ftve-year contract, an evidence of the
managers appreciation of his true
value and indicating his determine
ton not to quickly abandon efforts to
restore Harper to his full measure of
usefulness to the Washington club.
old now. and in the ordinary course of
circumstances should be able to hold
his own in fast company for ten years
or