The Washington times., 1918-04-29

mlAtcE mug GINS
These games between Yankees and
Griffs amply have borne out a truth
that is at once apparent In glance
over the batting records OF American
League players The season IL two
weeks old, and most Of the pitchers
were supposed to be in good tim
when they came North.
An unusually. large number Of 800
hIttsrs would appear to refuts the
testimony offered in behalf Of the
boxmsn on their return from the
South. This washington-NSw York
seriss also seems to indicate that the
pitchers are not there. Washington
scored IS runs in games, the Yanks
scored IS.
All By CIOss Margin.
L An idea Of the way the tide has
turned from one club to the other Is
shown in the fact that the Yanks
took the hrst game, the Griffs the
second. then HuEgins troupe won two
in a row, only to have the Nationals
repeat on successive days at the
Polo Grounds.
The rubber" game to date was
the great pitching duel between Jim
shaw and Allen Russell at the Polo
Grounds on Saturday. the Hanks win
ming by the narrow margin OF z-l
score.
-Four OF the seven games have been
decided by enc run. and one game
lasted twelve innings. These figures
would indicate that there Is little
to choose between the two CLUBS Al
this time.
Comparing the two clubs on q
broadey scale II seems that the Tan-
KEGS should out-hit the Griffs on the
ssason's play. Warrington had
shade OF three percentage points In
ths 1917 returns the figures being
.24I for GriffIth's club. and .25s Tor
Bill Donoyan's boys
The loss Of Sam Rice cuts down
the National strength on attack ana
the addition Of Bodis, Pratt, and Han
nah, who looks like q hard hitter.
seems TO have improved the Yankee
attack. Up to Friday lat the Ianks
battsd at .2Ss and the Nationals ~
.25I. Both are hitting abnormally At
this time, the Yanks more so than
Washington.
Grffs Yielding Better.
AL fielding combination the Griffs
shape up As better than the Higgins
crowd. Griffith has more speed in
his outneId, and possibly a little
more steadiness in his inhsld play,
hut the edge in this respect = not
very pronounced.
BEHIND the bat Higgins exeels Crit
nth as he has three hTBt-class catch
srs in walters. Hannah, and Ruel.
while Griffith will rely mainly upon
Ainsmith RusI Is a faster man than
Hannah and as good throWer. Yet
Hannah has stepped IN to MI the
place Of walters, and his All-around
work has been such that the psppsry
young backStop has not been missed.
In pitchers Griffith gets the call.
He has johnson. Harper, Shaw. and
Ayers, all OF whom are experienced
boxmen who know all the tricks OF
the trade. They have not started AZ
their best clip, but are certain 70
round into form Johnson In himself
u almost a pitching stan.
Has Three Veterans.
Hurrins on the other hand. has
three veterans, and four pitchers
who have yet to show their worth
a. major lsaEusrS. His veterans are
/ Caldwell. Russell, and Mogridge, the
/ second string boxmsn are Love Mon
roe, Thormahlsu, and McGraw. on
/ the veterans Caldwell has q sore arm
and the two others have been IN
and cutters. Thormahlsn looks 70 be
| the best OF the young ptteherS-.
Summarizing the comparison the
I Yanks are . stronger batting team,
( better hxed behind the bat but
weaker in pitching and a little behind
/ in heldinE. The clubs may battle for
/ fourth and NTH places, and. ngurtng
their present line-ups. should not be
l far from each other during the sea
son.