The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-15
TY COBB APPEARS
FOR SERIES HERE
Will Be Assisted by Detroit
Club in Facing Grifs.
EXPECT HARD STRUGGLES
Elmer Smith Goes Back to Indians
as Shanks Gets Job.
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

Ty Cobb plays the Grinmen today
unless the heavens open again to
drench a war-weary world. He will
be assisted by the entire Detroit club,
including many pitchers, catchers, in
fielders, and outfelders. Ty will re-
main here for four games.
To have Ty Cobb here is one OF
Washington's baseball treats, for the
Georgian's friends here may be num-
bered by the thousand. II Ty be-
longed to the Grihmen, instead OF to
the Jungaleers, they'd have to en-
large the ball park to hold the crowd.
But he doesn't belong here, y'know,
and so his friends and admirers will
have to visit the ball yard within the
next four days, II they want to see
their hero.
Just as when the Griffs toured the
West, the Tigers happen to hit them
at the right moment for trouble.
Today the Griffs will be fed raw meat
and then sent into the fray. ready to
eat Tiger steak and like it.
Have Small Margin.
The Jungaleers have a small margin
Of three and half games the better
Of the Griffmen. or course, If they
win two and lose two, they'll hold
this lead. But If they lose three, the
Griffs will gain a whole game on the
cats. That's what the home boys are
after. to gain on the Tigers.
That the four games now facing
the Griffs will be tough is fore
Swallowed by the batting averages of
the visitors. Ty Cobb is leading the
league with a mark OF .353. Bob
Veach has climbed into the 300 class,
being at Just 3O4. These are the only
Tigers hitting for 800 or better, but
Pep" Young. with POS, and Harry
Heilman, with Isl, are to be feared
at the bat.
Crawford Far Down.
The surprise Of the figures is Sam
Crawford's total Of a paltry .l67. This
il quite the lowest he has registered in
years and explains in a large measure
his position as a bench-wRrmer.
DOME Bush and Hack Spencer are
tied at .243. which calls for frequent
bingles. Wits IA. Burns 40, and STAN
ages us, though, are far from dis
quieting.
The twirlers likely to face the Griff-
men during this series are Bernie Bo-
land. rapid y becoming a star on the hill !;
Howard Ehmke. who almost became
Griffman; Willie Mitchell. a smooth
working southpaw. and George Dauss.
always a hard nut for the Griffs.
smith Leaves Town.
Having nothing else to do on a rainy
day. Manager Griffith sold Elmer Smith
TO the Cleveland club. thus upsetting all
the dope
When the 1916 season ended It was
generally believed that Smith would be
a whale with the stick for the Grifmen
this year. He is now hitting for 20.
which is a mighty small whale.
Foil fell down in his attempt to obtain
Sam Crawford from the Tigers so he.
oahandl:ke. suggested to Grit that he'd
like Smith.
Sure, you can have him." was the
instant reply. So Smith is now with the
Indians once more.
ShanFs n Regular.
The passing OF Smith means that
Hank Shanks. the Merciless Monacan. is
a regular in left field. Hank can hit
about as well as Smith. has almost as
much speed on the bases. and classes
by himself as a fielder. Smith will never
be the fielder Shanks Is. so the Old Fox
decided TO cut loose from Smith.
Nike Menosky and Che. lie Jameson
will now act as extra Uutfielders. Me
nosky viii probably have more oppor-
tunities to show his CALDER from now
on. The youngster is fast. is good on
fly balls. and promises TO develop into
q batsman-