Evening star., 1919-12-28
NATIONALS T0L|FT
BASE BALL CURTAIN
IN CAPITAL APRIL 3
Play Reds Here Then-Griff
Has Two Deals 0n-HuS-
ton Raps Waiver Rule.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

ton kdpS waiver kule.
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.
Washington fans will get their first
peek at a National League world
champion team and. incidentally.
sDection Of the 1920 edition of the
Griffmen. on Saturday. April 8. when
the Cincinnati Reds will arrive here
for twO-day sojourn. This is one
week earlier than was originally con-
templated. the change having been
made at the urgent solicitation of
the Cincinnati management for games
in that city with the Nationals on
April 10 and IL.
This arrangement will call for an
earlier trip northward from Florida.
where both clubs will train. and will
necessitate doubling back southwark
In the week intervening. but will in
no manner interfere with any plans
made to date and Will not prevent the
playing Of exhibitions in Virginia,
West Virginia or Ohio from all OF
which states offers for. games have
been received.
- Cables for Dates IN Cuba.
Although President-AEanager Grif-
fifth has had the preparation of an
itinerary under consideration for two
weeks the games here on April 3 and
4. and those in Cincinpati on the 10th
and 11th are the only dates thus far
definitely arranged. as there are many
details concerning guarantees and
transportation facilities that must be
worked out before a schedule can be
finally dec cided, upon. Griffith now is
planning to devote his attention al
most exclusively to the proposed
joint tour. and when arrangements
are completed It is expected to call
for games almost daily from about
March 81 on to within few days Of
the opening of tine season. The pro-
poSal to play two or three games in
gram Griffith sent yesterday to Man.
ager Linares Of the Cuban AllStars,
who controls the bail park in Ha-
vana.
To date the Washington manage
ment has been able to accomplish
team by trade or purchase, but hope
has by no means been abandoned that
some sort of a swap by which an in
fielder and outfielder will be added to
the local roster will be effected. Grif-
fifth is chary about talking of his
plans for the fear that premature
publicity might interfere with them,
but admitted yesterday he has at
least two dickerS in the nest which,
II hatched, will materially bolster
weak spots. He declined to name the
players he seeks or the clubs now
holding title to them.
Not After Strunk or Burns.
1t may be regarded as extremely
doubtful that either Amos Strunk or
George Burns are figuring in Griff's
calculations, however. Connie Mack
is reported as getting ready to cut
strings on the outfielder and first
baseman and the rumor mongers have
them both headed for Washington, but
it is not believed Griffith is anxious
to land either. Both are getting along
in years. particularly .Strunk. who
will be thirty-One next month. Strunk
still is fast, but is gradually losing his
effectiveness as hitter and his worth
is greatly impaired by an utter lack
Of aggressiveness. He hit for only
"a Bdrn aY4 ane hitter. climbing to
within a few points of 800 after a
no fielding marvel at first base and is
too slow to make a first-class outfield-
er. If Griff does succeed in pulling
any deals. one of them probably will
be with either the Red Sox or
Yankees. notwithstanding the impress.
sion that none of the "insurgent" club
owners will have dealings with a
member Of the '1oyaH five. Neither
Comiskey. Rupert nor Frazee would
hesitate to trade with any rival mogul
IL he saw a chance to make an ad-
vantageous deal.
That diplomatic relations have not
been severed was proved last week
when the Browns agreed to give the
Yankees $1.5oO. the waiver price. for
Pitcher Roy Sanders, a youngster re-
purchased from the Toledo CRIB last
fall, and who has had several trials
with the Yankees without showing
much.
Huston Raps Waiver Rule.
Whether the Yankees really were
willing to give up title to Sanders is
not known, but under the rule now in
force big league clubs are unable to
withdraw waivers and Col. Huston,
half owner Of the New York club, has
announced he is going to try to have
The rule by which waivers can't be
withdrawn isn't equitable. because it
works to the advantage Of the chronic
second division clubs, who are not will
ing to spend real money to build up
teams" says Huston. I'VE employ an
expensive scouting system. and in the
course Of year pick up some pretty
good prospects. We spend real money
for these players. but frequently can't
afford to carry them When we try to
let out such player to a minor league
club we usually find that some club
which doesn't believe in employing a
scouting system Of its own has put in
recall waivers. even II National
| League club refuses to waive We have
no other alternative than to lose the
player we discovered.
"It is my opinion that each club
should be permitted to develop its own
youngsters, and have a reserve Of EN-
bryonic talent on hand to fill the gaps
when the veterans no longer are able
, to deliver. But what use is there in
developing youngsters for second divi-
sion clubs? The present system means
that clubs with money will try to win
pennants with ready-made clubs"