The Washington times., 1917-04-28
NICK HAS CROUCH;
UNABLE TO WORK
Skies Weep and Mr.. MCAltrock
Can't Show Wares to Bos-
ton Friends.
GRIEF. VOICES QUEER IDEAS
Among Other Things, Old Fox
Says Jim Shaw Will Be
Great Pitcher.
GRIEF. VOICES QUEER IDEAS
By LOUIS 4. BOUCHER.

BOSTON, Mass, April 2s.-Nick Nc
Altrock is disgusted. Nick McAltrock
furthermore is more than merely dis
gusted, he is chagrined. He Is dis
gusted with the weather, he believes
that the gods OF New England have
something against him.
why 1 can't understand this at
ALL" says Nick McAltrock. II used
to pitch for this team out here. 1
had a lot of friends here 1 have
them now. But how can show them
anything, the skys are weeping. The
Red Sox trim our fellows: how can
show them any funny stunts. Its
too much for me-" And Nick knows
what he Is talking about. He makes
his living making folks laugh. How
in the world can a man make folks
laugh when their feet are frozen.
When tears run from their eyes from
sheer cold blasts and then the games
are not even close, 1t can't be done.
Nick Has Company.
But Nick isn't the only one of the
Griffmen with a Crouch Old Fox
Clark Griffith is another. He is sore
81 impossible for him to do any work
here. He thinks foolishly too, that
had his team played these last two
days he would have had a two vic
tories. OF course, that's a foolish
thought, but the Old Fox has It that
way, SO we should worry. What
could be fairer.
During the afternoon. after the
rain had made II impossible for the
athletes to get down to business, the
Old Fox held court in the lobby of
the Hotel Brunswick. He sat around
there and answered all the questions
all the Boston newspaper men could
ask him. His record was 900.
Grin Loses Tongue.
II there is one thing the Old Fox
does well it is meeting newspaper
men, He sat like a sphinx. II foolish
questions were, hurled at him he
smiled and made queer answers. So
you can see what information he
gave the Boston scribes. Then he
led the procession to the mahogany.
That was where he made a big hit
Grin told the Boston scribes that he
believed Jim Shaw would become a
great pitcher. He told them a lot of
funny things like that.
For instance, he sSid that II given
good health he himself might go in
and pitch a no-hit game. At this
wild statement Butt Whitman, of
the Travellers, and Eddie Martin, of
the Globe. came close to fainting
After time they came to and laugh
Cd loudly and most unroarously.
Hope to Win = Game.
Today the Grinmen are going up
against the Boston Red Sox with
the idea OF winning a ball game.
Every now and then the Griffs win
a game, and they think they may
win one here II Carl Mays is pick
ed 90 do the pitching today, the
Grfhs may be winners, IL only be-
cause they think they can turn the
trick II Shore is called upon, well,
that's different.
With a right handed pitcher toll
ing for the Boston club, Menoskey
Is almost certain to be played in
left field Griff thinks this young
ster can deliver the real goods in the
garden, and wants TO try him against
real opposition. So prepare to see
what Menoskey does against big
league pitching. He is almost sure to
be in left field today.
GrIns Fails To Fall.
Manager Griffith, being soft
mark, has had to combat a bunch OF
scouts ever since coming to this
town. Yesterday a couple of these
pests visited him and tried TO unload
on him a couple OF catchers-as il
the Washington club needed any
catchers. Not one of them had a
pitcher guaranteed to pitch nine in
nings. which is one OF the require
ments OF the Washington club just
now.
yesterday was a comedy day for
the Griffmen. After raining all night,
il began to snow in the mOrninG-just
little snow-and then continued
raining. Around noon the sun tried
TO come out and scare everybody, but
nobody was scared.
Decides On Day on.
Frazee got busy, took a look at his
ball park, and decided that there was
nothing quite so good as a day off
for both teams. And so II was done.
The Griffs went to their pinochle
games or to the movies, and the Red
Sox went around to see their friends,
being home boys with talent. The
Rcrlbes tore their hair, having moth
inR TO tell the folks at home in