The Washington times., 1918-06-25

The White Sox were strong favorites
to repeat when the 1918 campaign started.
Today three clubs. Boston. New York
and Cleveland, are favord over them,
while in some places even Washington is
considered q better risk for a mans
money.
The most noticeable thing about the
champions these days is the absence OF
fighting spirit The team never was
ranked among the scrappy outfits. but
now it is sleepier than ever. Losing cap
able men has greatly reduced the ag-
gressiveness OF the Sox and shrewd base
bali men say fourth place will be the
best the champions can hope for this
year.
Losing Close Games.
Losing close games, say by one
run with small scores, is always con-
sidersd a sign OF weakness in a ball
team. II this reasoning is sound, the
White SoX haven't a chance, for they
are doing just that thing. Out of
their last eleven defeats, six were by
lone tallies. Only twice were they
swamped, the Red Sox defeating them
TO 0 and 6 10 O.
Those who put money on baseball
races are veering to the East for the
4S4o pGHudHA " llLGls VIII lllt IAtu
Sox or Yankees favored for the tri-
umpk. However, some believe that
the Cleveland Indians have an excel
lent chance OF grabbing the gonfalon,
while smaller number say that the
Griffmen may fool the baseball world
by winning Washington's first pen
nant-
The point Of all this, Of course, is
that the White SoT are being counted
out Of the race after starting
faVorites.
Some HOnprOductiYe STUFF.
'Nonproductive. nonproductive -
where do they get that stuff? How
did Crowder get that way? Why,
say-if Sam Rice stayed with the
Griffs for the rest Of the season, in
stead O. going over and shooting big
guns, into HUnland, say-the Griffs
would cop the pennant, that's what
they would. He's the most productive,
nonproductive guy that the Old Fox
has had on his club this season"
The Royal Rooter stopped for breath.
All Of which is but q way Of re-
marking casually that Sam Rice de-
feated the Mackmsn again yester-
day.
Sam is doing the Patti stunt He
Is doing il mighty well, too. He fare
welled in New York Saturday. He did
il again here Sunday. He bobbed
UP again with another farewell yes
terday and he may be doing it yet
once more today. Here's hoping he
does, for he is most successful.
In the fifth young Joe Dugan, who
looks mighty good for a youngster,
poled a healthy drive to left for two
bases, the army bleachers prevent
ing his getting at least three on the
wallop. When Gregg surprised him
self, Connie. Won Oil, Billy Fowler.
and Nick Altrock with a safe smite
over Judges head into right, Dugan
thought he could score.
Sam Rice was over like a dancing
girl, picked up the bounding pellet
and lifted IL on a line to Val Pic
mich Mr.. Dugan found the official
spheroid, TO quote the eminent Mich
olas Altrock, waiting for him ana
the Mackmen had lost a run that
looked already in.
His Hit Does It.
When the home boys came in for
their half OF the eighth they wore
irowns. The Athletics had tied the
count in the FIRST half, that's why.
Mr.. Gregg had been doing well I'M
I'll that seventh, shutting of all hope
OF tallies, but in that frame he could
not keep Rice from polling a safety
to~center. nor Lavan from bingling
10 the corner in the right for three
sacks. sending the artineryman over.
Then Maurice Shannon had doubled
TO open the eighth and come over on
zoe Dugan's single to the same hole.
and the count was even when the
home boys came up for their wacks
Even the 'VTf1d md 1a1nfnr~ Dnrnawava 9