The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-05-09
JOE LEONARD MAY
CAVORT AT SHORT
YOungster Makes Good I'm
preston in New Position.
HINGES ON HIS STICK WORK
Grifmen Leave for Cleveland After
Meeting Red SOx.
HINGES ON HIS STICK WORK
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

Joe Leonard, shortstop.
This may yet appear on the score
card.
1t hasn't been determined yet. but
the youngster is working out as an
understudy for George Mcbride and
has some chance OF success.
Just when Leonard is again able TO
take his place in the Griffmen's line
up depends largely on himself. He
was kept at third base until his help
lessness at the bat endangered the
success of the team
Getting away to a bad start, Leon
ard allowed Il to worry him. Worry
ing over poor hitting never yet
brought Improvement and so Manager
Griffith benched the youngster.
Tries ShOrtheId.
Looking at the marvellous Foster in
action around the hot corner must
have given Leonard an idea or two
about the difficulty he would have in
getting back his old berth. So he be-
gan working out at short and soon
he was attracting the attention Of the
Old Fox.
Leonard has stamped himself a very
CdpdbAc a. MS al 10
strong and he covers plenty of
ground. II he can manage to over
come his batting slump, he may be
put into the lineup in McBride's
stead when the veteran slows under
the summer sun.
Manager Griffith has not yet lost
faith in Leonard. He believes that
the youngster may hit the batting
stride he showed here last season. A
.2T0 hitter at short would look mighty
good to the fans as well as to the
Old Fox This is a possibility.
Hike West Tonight.
The Grifmen leave tonight for
Cleveland. opening their first invasion
Of the West tomorrow against the
Indians. The Red, Sox open in De-
troit, the Mackmen in st. Louis, and
the Yankees in Chicago.
On comparative playing within the
past week, the Red Sox and Grif1meu
have drawn the weaker opponents,
and should beneht thereby for the
coming week. At the same time the
Mekmen have begun to play con
sistent baseball, and may stay with
the procession. The Yankees are in
the doldrums, and may prove easy
FOR the White Sox.
baseball in the East until May 20.
MeInnIs stIn Hitting.
''stuffy" McInnis, the Mackmen's
frst sacEer, has now played seven
teen straight games without falling
to hit safely at least once daily.
There's no telling where he'll stop.
Last year McInnis was as lethargic
as any other player on a most
lethargic team. As a sign of the re-
newed spirit of the Athletics, McInnis
is playing the best ball Of his career
this spring. He is there lighting for
everything, Grabbing about his hits,
and resembling q winning player all
the time.
It is because Of this changed atti-
tude on the part OF the players that
many critics believe the Mackmen
will finish at least in sixth place, II
not higher.
Six Games In Rear.
The Griffmen are six games in the
rear OF the leading Red Sox today.
They are but three behind the Indians
and Brownies. A winning squirt, in
augurated at Cleveland, may carry
the team rapidly into the first divis-
ion.
For the next eight days they play
the Indians and the Tigers. FohPs
team is playing most erratically. Some
days it looks like a championship ag-
gregation and on other days eighteen
players have to be thrown into the
breach. Steady baseball, with consist
ent pitching, should prove advantage
Gus to the Griffs.
The Tigers are receiving a poor
Arnnd NJ
George Dsuss. Jennings ancient link,
poor pitching, is still clinginE to
him.