The Washington herald., 1917-04-20
PITCHING
STAFF is not in FORM
Griff's Hurlers Have Failed to Delive
the Gods.

lllC 1OOSs
New York, April 1s.-The "old Fox'
and his Nationals win welcome the re-
turn to Washington. as during the six
games played to date the athletes from
the Capital City have shown the effect
Of not getting the morning workouts.
while Grifrs pitchers are far from being
in form.
With the exception of Walter Johnson,
and perhaps Bert Gallia and George Du
Mont, the Nationals pitching stan is at
present shot into million pieces.
These Manhattan fans are puzzled to
know what the trouble is with the twirl-
ing band of the Nationals, as the WASH
ington club has at all times during the
early season been looked upon as having
the best developed pitchers OF any club
in the league, but this spring something
has reversed the cogs and Griff's hurlers
look like a bunch of school boys before
their opponents.
After showing a great amount of stun
in Philadelphia last week, Bert Gallia
blew before these Yankees. while Doc
Ayers. George Du Mont, and Jim Shaw
have failed to deliver to date. Ayers did
not look so bad In the game Wednesday
against the Yankees when he went to
the rescue OF Gallis, but the Hillville
sawbone was not himself. and will. 10
doubt, be able to do himself justice until
after three or four days OF good work.
outs at the home ball yard.
There Is only one reason to account
for the Nationals string being so far
In the rut and that Is the length of
time in which the Nationals have been
on the road without the morning prac-
tices. or course when the long Western
hikes are taken the club Is on the road
for sixteen to twenty days, but this gen.
orally comes after the warm weather
has come to stay and players are in mid
season form
The Nationals have held but six morn
ing practices since leaving Augusta
training camp on March % and both the
pitchers and players are in need OF more
work
Five or six days stay at home will
sure touch on the rough spots and put
my club once more In shape" said the
Old Fox tonight. Between barnstorm-
ing and the early season invasion, our
pitching stan is pretty well crippled. but
I am confident with a little more work
that the boys will round into shape and
that we will give any OF these clubs a
race for the honors.'
ball club and one that can hit. but re-
mains to be seen whether his pitchers
can deliver for him. am not so much
impressed with the Yankees as they seem
to be a poor defensive club and are
liable to blow at any time. 1 know that
the Nationals are stronger than either
Of the clubs and are ten per cent better
than three other clubs that are supposed
to be in the race and I am sure we will
make many of them set up and take
notice when we do hit our stride.''
In an EFFORT to turn back the Yankees
today and return home with an even
break on the first road trip the Old
Fox made switch in his lineup plac-
ing Joe Judge in the lead-ofr position,
and Joe Leonard sixth. Although Judge
got on two occasions the hoodoo was
not broken as these Yankees. seem tc
be getting all the breaks and II was a
case of again being beaten a tough one.
Before the contest today both clubs
gave an exhibition drill. The Yankees
proved to be far more advanced than the
Washington crowd, but the Nationals re-
ceived big hand under Corporal Dean S
directions.