The Washington herald., 1917-03-17
Local Lad May Go to Mime
apolis Club Instead of
Des MONIES.
BY JOHN A. DUGAN.

Augusta, Ca, March 1s.-Although Ed
die Flaherty. the big right-handed pitch
er from Washington, is slated to hike
it to Des Moines in part payment for
Lefty Thomas he may never see the
western league. Joe Cantillon. the man
ager of the Minneapolis Club of the
American Association, who has been here
with the Nationals since Sunday, is sweet
on the big hurler and is making every
attempt to induce Clark Griffith to let
him have F1aherty.
Flaherty has sore arm at present but
he has shown the association pilot
enough to warrant him offering good
purchase price for him, and the Old Fox
is earnestly considering the deal. Thomas
was purchased from the Des Moines last
fall for a cash price, and an understand
ing that Griff would send a finger there
this season. Because Flaherty needs the
experience the Old Fox had him slated
for the western league, but now since
CantilIon is bidding for him it appears
as If it will be Minneapolis bound" and
some other pitcher will make the Jour-
ney to Des Moines.
Flaherty will get just what he needs
in the experience line If he is sent to
Cantillon's club, as the Minneapolis pilot
carrys a reputation for making his young
pitchers at a rapid rate. and when the
Old Fox issues the recall signal next fall
the big right-hander should be ready for
big league action.
Cantillon also has his eye on four other
of Griffith's players and is bidding high
for their purchase. Because OF the poor
hurting that Jimmy Shaw has rendered
the Nationals during the past two seas
ons It looked probable that he was one
OF the crew to be Minneapolis bound"
this spring. but Jimmy took the tumble
to himself and to date has shown the
Old Fox more than any of the other
moundsmen as he was busting them
through in the five innings In which he
worked yesterday and looked like the
Shaw of 1914.
Claude Thomas and Charlie Humphreys
are two promising looking southpaws
and Cantillon Is watching them with his
eagle eve. 1t Is known here in camp
that Cantillon made the trip here for the
purpose of purchasing either Shaw or
Thomas. but from what the lanky south
paw has shown it appears Is II Cantillon
must be satisfied with returning home
with Eddie FlahCrty and probably an in
lelder as Joe is stuck on the makeup Of
Mike Moran. the Washington sandlotter
Griff will find no trouble this season in
placing his youngsters as already the
Sally League managers are bidding for
Q
Cf the local club Is anxious to purchase
Moran but the Old Fox will not let the
| Washington sandlotter go to Augusta
until Cantillon turns him down. Young
Johnnie Berry may be shipped back here
after he is given a thorough trial on the
Yannigans transforming trip. as at pres
ent he is suffering from a sore arm and
has not been allowed to get into the line
up.
Each season Grin sends one or two
young pitchers to Joe Cantillon and when
| they return they tell stories of being
, Overworked and being pitched to death.
Each fall Grirf states by all that is holy
| that. he will never send another player
to the Minneapolis Club. but Just as regu-
lar as clockword, Cantillon gets the best
OF Griff's leftovers.
But five more days remain for Griff
to prime his teams for the hikes to the
! Capital City, and with good weather the
boys are sure to be ready when the
gong sounds in Philadelphia on April IL.
Griffith is not worrying about the rail-
road strike which to be called tomorrow
evening, as he has been given a guar
antee that he will be moved from town
to town on his transforming trip with
out any trouble and the squads will not
be compelled to make their trip back
North by automobile and boat lines. ,
The X-ray that was taken OF Joe Leon
ARDS right thumb showed that no bones
we're broken, but that the muscles had
been badly bruised and Trainer Martin
is treating this pet member. Mike is con-
fident that he will have him in shape
by Monday as he can already grip a
bat and throw.
Mike Menoskey has been crashing the
old horse-h hide like a demon and may
be found shifted to the regular team
at any time.
ta t,I-
Gans and keeps plenty of pep" in the
youngsters with his fighting spirit Tn
Gle Nick's club has now Won six games
and lost three and tied one in the inter-
club games and the veteran southpaw
declared tonight that his combination
would not lose another contest unless
Grin stole some Of his players