The Washington times., 1919-05-01

Aecording to complaints coming
ran washington fans to this desk.
fbs RashinEton club will have to
nBend Boma money and get needed
players, or support viii be lacking.
me eomplainants fail to point out
inst where these needed players are
20 be obtained, but they do insist
that, IL Connie Mack, Harry FraEee,
End John McGraw can get them, so
can the Washington club.
Relutrea Some Money.
10 buy ball players these days re-
Gnires some money. McGraw and
TRs1ee are known to have at their
service oodies and oodies Of it, while
Connie Mack, thanks to careful sell
ing at a high market, is not so poor
these days as he used to be-
The best argument in favor Of the
washington clubs putting up money
fer needed players right now is that,
from all signs seen to date, this is
great year TO gamble. The fans are wild
for baseball everywhere. A strong
ball club in Washington would un-
doubtedIy attract large crowds. No
body demands a pennant That is
ridiculous Only one club can win,
and victory is as much a matter of
good fortune as it is anything else.
The opening days throng. fol-
lowed by that monster mob last Sun
day, indicates the mental condition
Of Washingtonians. They are willing
TO pay money TO see baseball. But
the slovenly performance Of the
Grins Sunday spiked the crowds for
the remainder of the series although
two of the games were well worth
seeing.
Boosts Only Three.
Boston baseball writers travelling
With the Red Sox told me that, aside
from Sam Rice Joe Judge, and Eddie
Foster. and the pitching stan as
whole the Red SoK didn't see" the
Grihmen as a major league ball club.
II they are correct Manager Griffith
has a hard task on hand 10 keep his
club in the league.
Johnny Lavan's decision TO quit
baseball and resume his practice Of
medicine hits Grin q crack on the
wrist, for Grin expected him 10 re-
port, filing up the weakest place on
The inield.
Yielding at last 10 the yelIs OF the
Tight-field bugs. Manager Griffith
withdrew the ailing Janvrin yester-
day. substituting Joe Leonard. jan
vrin's weakness, following influenza
and pneumonia. prevented his cover
ing more than three square inches OF
ground in the field or OF hitting the
ball past the pitcher but il took six
big league games for him TO get a
rest.
May Buy Robertson.
Failing TO obtain Dave Robertson in
q three-coTnered trade. il is now an
nouuced that the Washington club
will attempt TO buy the Outhelder
} from the Giants. hoping TO satisfy
Barney Dreyfuss in some unexplained
way Barney had steadily refused TO
waive on the player because q catcher
was 20 go TO the Giants. and Barney
doesn't believe in helping McGraw
lny more than absolutely necessary.
Robertson's record with the Giants
shows him to be temperamental fel-
low who can murder right-hsnd
pitching. but who is not especially
strong against southpsws. As g
6eIder he is inclined 10 the spectacu.
lar. shoe-strinE type Of work in the
qarden On the bases he is exceed
ingIy fast.
But even with Robertson. the Griff.
men will still need a shortstop. There
isn't a player now on the clubs roster
capable. OF going right in and max
ing good Until one is obtained, the
fnfeld will not be strong enough tC
cope with the opposition being Offered
this season
Road Work May Help.
Eeing on the road for q mOntl
may prove of great assistance 10 tn
Griffs- They won't be performing