The Washington times., 1917-05-06
ORDEAL OF FIRE Is
FACING GRIFFS NOW
After TackIing Champions
They Leave for West.
OLD FOX Is WELL SATISFIED
Team Fortunate in That 1t Meets
Weak Ones First.
OLD FOX Is WELL SATISFIED
BY LOUIS A. DOUGHER.

- -
BY LOUIS A. DOUGHER.
The Griffmen are due to begin their
ordeal of fire this weel:. Facing the
worlds champions in three games is
no sinecure. Then they begin upon
a three weeks journey around the cir
cult. opening at Cleveland Thursday.
Manager Griffith is satisfied with
conditions. Even If his team is occu-
pying the cellar, the Old Fox is wor-
rying not. He believes that his team
has found itself, and that fourth place
Is not so far away.
I'VE have been handicapped consid
erably by the weather, as everybody
knows" is the way Manager Griffith
explains the situation Then, too,
couple Of the boys failed to come up
to expectations. That fo- me to
experiment more or less. But 1 think
! now have the strongest combination
I can place on the field, and that we
are due to climb right up the ladder"
Hit Weak Ones First.
II the Griffmen even approach their
former style Of playing on the road,
they should begin their climbing this
week. Their first two opponents in
the West are the Indians and the
Tigers, the weakest clubs on the
frontier. 1t is possible that the team,
once 1t hits its stride, may fight an
even battle with the stronger Brown
les and White Sox on the fag end OF
the trip opening this week.
Wa1far Johnson fe 70 ~
form he showed In the first game OF
the season at Shibe Park, but he is
so good that any kind of hitting be-
hind him should make for victories.
George Du Mont has yet to pitch
q poor game. The Minneapolis youth
is sure to be worked frequently dur
ing the next three weeks.
Shaw Shows Promise.
"Bologony" Jim Shaw, hunter of
ferocious rabbits, shows all kinds of
promise. He has won two games in
three starts and Manager Griffith is
banking on him to keep up this aver
age throughout the season.
Harry Harper was brilliant in his !
nrst game Of the season and, even 10
failing to maintain that speed, shOSld |
prove just as formidable to the !
Bert Gallia, like johnson. has fallen |
OF since his first game at Shibe Park, |
and may not be worked as one OF the |
regular quartet
Doc Ayers seems to have made a |
berth for himself in the bull pen.
Team Hitting Well.
The team Is hitting well, with Fos- |
ter, Milan, and Judge well above the |
800 mark. There is no particular
reason for believing that they will |
come back far, at least for another |
month Their solid cIouts should win |
mary a game.
Sam Rice and Ray Morgan are hit
ting below the expected form. The /
former is quite the best hitter on the
club. but be Is not getting as many
safeties as he should, or as he very
likely will get soon.
Ray Morgan's work with the fail
is expected to keep him in the line
up all season, but there is plenty of
room for Improvement by the Balti-
morean- Manager Griffith looks for
Morgan to begin hitting almost any
day now.
Leave on Wednesday.
The Griffmen close their present Sc
ries with the Boston Red Soz We'd
nesday night, and will not be aEain
seen here until May 20. when they re-
turn for two days battling against
the champions.
-Four games each in Cleveland, De-
troit, and st. Louis will be follow ed
BY fve in Chicago before the Griff-
men head homeward.
The Indians. in spite of the great
batting Of Speaker, Wamby, and
Chapman, have not impressed critics
with much strength. Their pitcherR
have been most erratic all spring.
The Tigers have also been suffering
from poor pitching.
Brownies Are Strong.
The Brownies have been receiving
dne pitching, especially by Allen
sothoron, Dave Davenport Carl
and Bob Groom. With Sis
er. Jacobson, and Pratt all hitting /
he ball hard, and the whole team /
Fielder Jones baseball, the
Browns are making real history in
he Mound City.
Though maintaining themselves =
high In the race, the White Sox are {
'econd last in club betting. Their !
ligh-grade pitchers are keeping them {
iround the top of the ladder, for Fa- c
yer, Cicotte, Williams, and Scott have
'een going at top speed. E
The White SoX are always high up q
a the spring standings. BY the time t
august rolls around those pitchers
viii have begun to tire, and then the {
cam, lacking consistent hitting, I
Hides down the ladder r
LEARY AGAIN TO COACH.