The Washington times., 1917-04-14
GRIFF CLAIMS HIS
TEAM Is IN RACE
Says Pennants Are Not Won in
April, But Some Things
Are Shown.
HAS HITTERs AND PITCHERS
Needed Offensive Strength and
Now Has It-Concedes Bos-
tons Superiority.
HAS HITTERs AND PITCHERS
ByLOUIs A. DOUGHER.

PHILADELPHIA, April 14.-After
thinking over'things for a whole day,
Manager Griffith has concluded that
his team should be considered a con-
tender for the 1917 pennant. Further
more, he admits it, he confeses 1t.
So II must be so.
"Pennants are not won in April but
many things are shown in April
Just the same" is the Old Fox phrases
1t. Now, for instance, you must ad-
nit that johnson and Gallia looked
like regular pitchers. Well. Jim
Shaw, Doc Ayres, and George Du Mont
are going to look as good when they
are giving some work TO do.
That my team can hit has been
shown in two games. Against Bush,
who was pitching wonderful ball at
all times, even when he was being
hit, my team showed an ability to get
hits when they were needed. Against
Myers, also a fine pitcher, my players
knocked him off the rubber in one
inning.
Need Just Two Things.
"I had the fieIders last year. l
needed just two things to give me a
chance this season. hitters and pitch
erS- I have found what 1 wanted.
! am satisfied that, aside from the
Red Sox, no team in the league has
anything on my ball club.
II have read arguments from many
to the effect that the White Sox
should win the pennant. Well, don't
see that. They are no better, even
with Gandil on first base, than they
were last year. You can't make
brains for a man, remember.
IF we can bet out Boston, we ought
to win the pennnt. mats the way 1
size up the American League. ] don't
say that we are going to do this, but
we ought to make good fight"
What Griffith Thinks.
Manager Griffith really believes
though he hates to admit 1t for pub
Iication, that his Ball club stands ar
excellent chance of winning the pen
nant or course, he realizes thai
luck bears a big part in the award
ing OF q pennant to any club. 'Ht
eannot foresee what luck he Will
have. but II everything is even. h'
thinks his team improved sufficient
" to hold its own against any otheI
team in the league.
Friday the 18th proved most un
Fortunate for the Griffmen yesterday
Just when Du Mont was all ready fol-
some live performances on the rub
Der. and was begging for a chance tc
twirl, IL has to go and rain on the
boys. Now the Minneapolis Finger
thinks his luck may be all wrong
He wanted to start on the 18th OF
the month.
Proves Slow Day.
It didn't rain all day, but 1t wal
q slow passage OF the hours for th'
Griffmen. Some OF the boys slep
away most of it. Others played
cards and the movie hounds, led BY
Cuckoo" Jameson, raided all th'
nearby theaters. Every athlete. in
the bunch was glad when the day
was done. A rainy day in Philadel
phia is like a week on a desert is
land to the anxious athletes.
Corporal Dean was grieved TO lost
a days work on his embryonic sol
diers. He has entered into the bat
tie for the $500 prize, and hates Il
miss any chances to drill his squad
He plans to keep them busy on th'
manual of arms, using bats as guns
until they can give an exhibition o.
% this phase of tactics for the Wash
ington fans next Friday when tn,
flag goes up in the Capital.