Evening star., 1917-04-01

With Claude Thomas, Carl Sawyer,
Charley Humphrey ard Horace Milan
headed for Minneapolis, Mike Moran
witt, Augusta. Ed Flaherty at Des
Moines and Merito Acosta ticketed to
go to some class AA club. Griffith has
only twenty players on his roster, not
counting Nick Altrock The pilot says
he has decided this will be enough and
that he probably viii not carry more
than this number through the season
although he is privileged 10 have
twenty-five. Eight of the lot arc pitch
ars, namely, Johnson, Gallia, Shaw,
Ayers, Dumont. Craft, Harper and
Jameson. Only the last two named
are left-handers and both are uu-
known quantities at this time. tiar-
per may be able to work the soreness
out of his arm and regain all BIS old
time cunning. but there is no assurance
of it Jameson. although a pitcher
before he took to fly chasing with the
Buffalo club, several years ago has
been working as a tNirier only tpf
about a month now, and it is entirely
too early to say what may be expected
Of him He has been experimenting
with the spithall and has made con-
siderable progress toward maStef'ilS
this delivery, but he has been bothered
W
of this there is no way of telling Just
how lie viii pan out.
Having only two sou!hpaW pttchers
on the club, neither of whom is OF
esta ablished worth, it would seem that
Griffith is starting the season under
considerable OF = handicap. especially
in view of the fact that portslders are
supposed to be particularly effectiVe
in the American League. owing to the
large number of left handed hltters IN
the circuit OF the six right-handers
the measure of ability of each is pretty
well established, with the exception or
Craft and ii may be SAID for MIN thAt
he gives promise of developing !nto a
nitcber of the first rank. He has height
in his favor a good head aud nice as
sortnrnt of tWisters. With little
added weight he should become even
more effective. IL is inclined to be
wild, but this is a natural fault with
most young pitchers, and can ne rene
died by practice and careful schooling.
George Dumont is considerably heavier
than he was in 1916, when he was Ill
most of the time. he possesses "e
ceptiyc motion, and is figured 10 pave
an excellent chance this season pro-
yided he has enough stamina to travel
nine innings at top speed. Ayers @!ld
Shaw both are ia tine condluoi- me
latter has about as much natural ami
ity as any pitcher in the game. ana II
he can be brought to take his Work
seriously should make Z splendid SHOW
ing. Johnson and Gailla can pe ot-
perded upon to rank One-tWo on Grlf-
a,h's staff. OF the catching department
little need be said. In Henry. AFnslnith
md Charity Washington has what Is
believed to be the best balanced corps
Of backstops in the league.
There are eleven infe!derS and out
felders on the Washington clubs ros-
fer but it is a difficult matter to cias-
sify them, as Griffith himself does not
know under which heading Rice ana
Shanks viii be placed when the sea
son onens Rice because of his hitting,
ultimately may be able to win the
berA at first base from Judge and
Shanls, but IT is doubtful il he VIII be
sufficiently well vcrsed in first sacking
20 start the season there. II he Is
placed on the bag 1t is assured that
Menosky will be seen in the outheid,
for Mike can cover lot of ground. and
Griffith is much impressed with the
way he clouts the ball. Milan and
Smith are sure to be out in the garden,
but whether the third man VIII be Rice.
Shanks, Menosky or Jameson depends
upon how things shape up between now
and April IL. Leonard and Foster un-
doubtedly will be seen at third and sec
ond respectively, on opening day, but
whether Mcbride or Crane will be at
short or whether Judge, ShankS or