The Washington times., 1919-04-06

should add much life to what has
generally been a dumb bunch
Davis is unknown to fast company.
Foster is well known. If the former
holds up under the strain, Layan
may not be missed. II Foster does
as well as last season, he will be one
Of the leaders.
What I'd WOIf Thinks.
Ed Wolf, a Philadelphia baseball
writer, with experience as q scout for
the PhiIlies, took a peek at the Griffs
in Augusta and failed to enthuse. He
says that lit looks TO be all hurting
with Washington" He predicts lack
of hitting as a stumbling block to the
Grifmen this year. Judging from the
practice games this spring, Wolf is
right for, there has been little real
slugging at camp.
VOLTS remarks concerning Ike
Davis and Ed HoVlik, two new merl-
bers of the team, are worth repeating.
He can't see the one, but predicts
great things for the other.
ITO replace Lavan at short" writes
Wolf, ''Grif has obtained a kid named
Davis from the Wichita team of the
Western League, but as we happened
TO have seen Davis playing in ten
consecutive games while browsing
through the alfalfa, our personal
opinion is that Griff has not obtained
that Of which he stands most in need
scoring power.
Shanks Just ~ Coed.
at is doubtful il Davis will hit well
enough to keep Howard Shanks from
being the regular shortstopper dur
ing the approaching heated term, and
he will have TO hit TO keep Shanks
out Of there, for he is no better fielder
than Howard. Davis is small ami
hashy, but he cannot cover the terri
tory to his right that Shanks cal.
Couple his inexperience with this and
1t looks like Shanks at short during
the first half Of the season, al a.,
rate"
On the other hand Wolf likes Hov-
lik, though he admits that he'll never
win any prizes at a beauty show, but
how that son-of-a-gun can pitch
baseball.
1--WE happen to have seen Mr.. How
Xix pitching several games in the
Western League" says Wolf, "and
nobody in the world ever packed any
more stun than this guy, not except |
ing Walter Johnson or Grover CIevo- |
land Alexander; either. This takes
in an all-fred lot OF territory, but |
1t goes.
Curve BALL whistles.
"Hovlik has a curve ball that
a fast one that sails like o |
stone, and a straight drop ball that |
Is apt to break down and crown you /
IN the bUnions when you swing at it, 1
His only fault is that he never couid !
get any control
This Hovlik person is Griff's new
est pitching hope. II he gets him /
10 acquire control, that big Bohemian I
will be making American League hit |
ters throw away their bats next sum- |
ner. We know what we are talking l
about when we converse about this |
guy"
But VOLTS summing up is that /
the Red SoX, White Sox, or the .
Yankees won't have 10 throw up any ;
Isndbag revetments to keep Grin |
rom piling into the intrenchments /
IND prying them loose from their ad- /
anced positions, and even the Ath- {
etics ought TO give him an awful 4
battle for preferred position"
The relative strength OF the Griff-
men in their league will only be
'hown by what happens, and no man
.Ver lived, not even Hughey Fuller
on, could rest assured that his spring
,hoice OF & pennant winner would sail !
come In front, It's q long summer.
auch can happen without warningI