Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-12
SLIM ATTENDANCE HERE
GIVES FOIL NO CONCERN
Cleveland Will Not Be Numbered
Among Clubs Complaining,
Manager Declares.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

Complaints by the magnates of other
teams in the American League about
the poor attendance at the games In
this city may have been the underlying
cause of rumors to the effect that the
Washington franchise was to he moved
but Manager Lee Fohl of the Cleve-
land Indians will not be numbered
among those kicking about the low
level OF receipts here.
III the crowds in Washington are
not up to expectations 1t is no concern
OF mine. said the chief of the triee
In his wigwam at the Harrington yes
terday. AS long as the Indians draw
at home l will consider that my club
Is doing what the fans expect of IT.;
further than that my interest does not
extend. 1t is true that lack of good
sized crowds here will affect the sum
total of receipts for the Cleveland club
on the season, but we are not de-
pendent upon Washington for the
financial success of our year. Natural
ly 1 would like to see the fans flock
ing to the park here, but we will not
go away kicking. even if there is only
one person in the stand to see q game"
Manager Foil is making no extrava-
CANT pennant claims for his team. but
has by no means lost hope Of figuring
in the scramble for the bunting and
doesn't mind telling you so. Despite
the fact that the season is one-thrd
gone and his team in fourth place,
having won only one game more than
it has lost. he has confidence in the
ability of the Indians to forge to the
front, and really expects them to do it.
Il believe we have good chance as
any of them" is the way Fohl puts it.
Although It has rained nearly every
day in Washington for some time bac ok,
yesterdays contest was the first that
had to be postponed because of condi-
tons brought about by the elements
since May s, as the Griffmen have been
staging battles in between showers re-
Gently. Altogether this season nine
of the Griffmen's games have had to
be called off because Of bad weather,
four here and five abroad. and there
was one tie game in Chicago. Two of
already have been played off. That
Of May 8, with the Red Sox, will be
played as q part of a double header at
the local grounds September 10, and
yesterdays listed game will be staged
when Cleveland returns here July IS.
The other postponements will be made
up for In double bills in the following
cities on the dates specified:
At Boston. June % and Is.
At Philadelphia. June %.
At New York. July 8.
AT Chicago, July Is.
At st. Louis, July 10.
Although Joe Wood, whose attempt to
stage comeback in a game against the
Yankees in Cleveland several weeks ago
further injured the salary wing he was
nursing. is useless for box duty as a re-
suit, 1t is unlikely he will be cut adrift by
the Indians mana cement. Wood has
proved himself to be Of great value as
coach OF pitchers, and, having a wise
base ball head, has otherwise been Of as
sistance to Manager Foil in directing the
team. To Wood is given the credit for
teaching Ed Klepfer the fast ball he now
is employing with success. and he has
given the other Cleveland players tips
that have aided them in their work.
All hope Of Wood regaining his former
effectiveness has not been abandoned.
The former exponent of the Smoke ball"
yesterday was examined by DIR. Robert
Drury Of Columbus. Ohio who is in this
city on business. DR.. Drury, who former
ly was a ball player himself. is regarded
as one Of the leading surgeons of Ohio
1t was he who prescribed treatment for
Wood before he went into training camp
with the Indians this spring. According
to Drury, Wood overexerted himself in
the one game he attempted to pitch. He
has advised that he start the training
program he used down south all over
again and has cautioned Wood against
again trying to pitch a full game when
the time shall come that he Is able to
appear in the box once more When
at his best, with the Boston Red Sox, from
which the Indians purchased his release
this year for big sum. Wood was one
OF the most effective pitchers the game
ever has produced.