The Washington herald., 1917-03-12
WALTER JOHNSON FAR
FROM Being THROUGH
Nationals Playing Field Will Be in
Readiness by Time PLAYERS Arrive.

There seems to be an unnecessary
amount of skepticism on the part of quite
number of local fans as to whether
Walter johnson has passed the zenith of
his scintillating big league career.
The argument Is being advanced that
the Idaho Wonder Is now about to en-
bark upon his eleventh season as a major
league hurler, and they point to the fact
that the average span of a star mounds
mans life under the big tent averages
about only five or six years.
Glancing over the official averages of
the American Leagues slabbists discloses
the fact that johnson experienced one OF
the worst seasons that has fallen to his
lot since he has been a member Of the
Nationals clan.
But does that prove that the Kansas
Cyclone is going back? While the figures
may be there to show that Johnson, in
point OF effectiveness, was far from be-
ing the johnson of other years, a mere
glance at the team batting and fielding
averages will show that he was backed
by wretchedly poor combination.
On paper the Nationals, player for play
er. at the start of last season. compared
favorably with any other team in the
league. The campaign had hardly grown
three months old before 1t was apparent
to the most casual observer that the team
was playing a grade of ball far below
what It should have.
For some unaccountable reason the
Nationals of 1915 were at no time able to
get under way. Several times they ex-
hibited flashes that would cause a ray
OF hope to spring in the breasts OF local
fans. but just as suddenly would that ray
vanish.
As an in-and-out combination the team
was 100 per cent efficient. or course, this
in a large measure can be attributed to
the fact that sickness and injuries, at
one time or another, robbed the club OF
the services of some of the mainstays
and upon only rare occasions was the
full strength of the Nationals presented
for any length OF time.
Under such conditions is 1t any wonder
that Johnson's record should suffer? with
a team that one day looked like world
'beaters and the next taking a hue like
a Class aggregation (and generally
like the latter when the great pitcher
was on the hilD, 1t could hardly be ex-
pected that Johnson would finish high in
the averages.
years in the big league is no argument
that he is going back. The Nationals
star finger enjoys a reputation as a clean
liver. and 1t is only necessary to point
to Christy Mathewson, Eddie Plank. Cy
Young, Mordecal Brown. Nap Rucker
and others. who managed to hang on and
with a vengeance. too, for a span that
went trihe beyond ten years, II an
average OF five or six seasons can be
called a tri1e.
With the new material that has been
added to the club 1t is only reasonab BILE
to expect with the Grtfith fighting spirit
instilled. the Nationals may take on a
new lease of life, and II they do, Walter
ferry Johnson's name will be found
among the leagues select hurlers at the
end of the campaign.
"Reddy" O'Day. groundkeeper for the
Nationals Park. has an extra squad of
men at work on the local clubs field
Reds" has had them working from sun
up until sundown in an effort to have
the park in first-class shape by the time
the boys arrive home from the Augusta
camp.
Heavy rollers are being used in the OUT
Held, and O'Day believes that within the
next week or ten days he will have the
outer gardens in a far better condition
than they ever have been since the laying
out OF the field.
The infield with its crushed rock and
sand foundation will need very little at
tention. with the exception Of trimming
along the grass edges