The Washington herald., 1917-04-28
COLD WEATHER STOPS
GAME WITH RED SOX
Grif Is Dissatisfied with Nationals
Pitching staff.
By JOHN A. DUGAN.


Boston. Mass. April z7.-The Griffmen
were forced to sit around the hotel lob
bies and engage In the national indoor
pastime today. for the weather resem-
bled north pole temperature and the ball
park was colder than the inside of q
cold-storage plant.
The day of idleness means another
ldouble-header on the last trip Of the Ma
tions. but Griff feels that his pitching
staff will be In better condition than II
Is at present and consequently 10 not
grumbling at the postponeuient.
The Nationals got some skull practice
and the Old Fox told some Of his crew
that rattler for Minneapolis would
soon oe on the way unless there was u
big Improvement.
Griffith smiled when he heard that
Tommy Mccarthy, the Red Sox scout
was at the Capital looking over some
promising talent IF he can get any
body down in our home town, he Is well
come" he said. 'I know that Catholic
University and Georgetown have some
promising young material but it is not
yet developed TO big league caliber. I
have quite a few scouts looking over
Washington talent for me, and while I
don't know just who Tommy Mccarthy
is after, viii venture Il Is somebody
upon whom We already have a report"
Incidentally Griff is doing a little scout
ing himself. He mysteriously disappear
ed for several hours yesterday and again
today and the gossip is that he discuss
ed baseball with some New England
League managers with a view to signing
up TWO new twiriers. Who these men are
none viii disclose. but II is whispered
that one Of the prospects comes from
Lynn, and that Patsy Donovan rs an
other big league manager who is angling
for his services
don't want to be considered as
yelling sour grapes" but really think
the Red Sox are slipping. They have a
wonderful pitching STAN that viii prob
ably Keep them going for another season,
but the infeld is slipping and one veteran
VIII be lucky If he lasts the season"
The Red Sox have a world Of conf
dence that will win them many ball
games That confidence Is largely due
10 the superb pitching, but let that ele-
ment OF team play fall down and you will
see the worlds champions hit the toboE-
gan ana the other teams begin to come.
with the Nationals pitching stan not IN
good shape piling up double headers does
not cause Grin to carry a broad smile. As
ne Is not at all pleased with his teams
showing and has warned the players that
unless things change for the better and
soon at that they can expect a lively
shake up in the lineup.
Menoskey, the rookey from Minneapolis,
Is the hrst to get call into the game
who viii no doubt play the field until
he shows that he Is not the man to NIL
the position. Grin talks Of giving this
youngster a chance at the first bag. He
also states that unless the pitching stan
comes to Its own some OF them are
N "a 70 To- r. 1ff ss
bah field.
Mollie Crafts, who has the making of
a good pitcher, and shows much promise,
will no doubt be retained while Ayres
and Shaw will be compelled to come
through to hold their names on the Ma
tionals' pay roll.
It looks as II the Old Fox will con-
tinue to use Morgan at third providing
the watch charm takes care Of himself
and plays ball Of old. Also, 1t Is no
secret that Elmer Smith has not come
up to Grinf's expectations. Shanks and
Menoskey may be found fighting it out
for the left field position. Although
Smith has been hitting the old Pill con-
sistantly, his fielding has been below
par.
Every one of the clubs In the Ameri-
can League have taken a drilling of
players in earnest but the Red Sox. this
team alone refraining from beginning
their military training at their spring
camp. Capt. Huston, Of the Yankees,
who Is the father Of the big idea in the
American League, was handed quite a
surprise last week. when he learned that
the Red Sox were not drilling.
He promised to investigate. 1t is prob
able that this led to Ban johnson order
ing the Red Sox to take up military
drill at once and make 1t a feature of
their daily workout.