Evening star., 1919-04-08
THREE POSITIONS
! PUZZLE GRIFFITH
Short, Second and Left His
+. ProbIems-Yannigans De-
] feat Regulars, 10 too.
JOHNSON IN GREAT FORM
BY DENMAN THOMPSON.

is any one who can forecast how the
Nationals will line up when they take
the field against the Mackmen in the
Eopening clash of the title race, he is
better at prophesying than Clark
Griffith. with whom the decision will
rest for the manager frankly admits
he has no well defined convictions on
the subject at this time.
There is little question but that
Walter Johnson Will receive the
pitching assignment, as he has in
initial battles on ali but three occa-
sions in the eleven full seasons he
has been a member of the team. His
work yesterday in helping to hitch
the Yannigans to a ten-to-nothing
victory over the Regulars proving he
Is ready. 1t is likely Sam Agnew will
do the receiving. Judge at first.
Foster at third and Ze5 Milan and
Rice in the outfield are foregone con-
clusions, but the athletes who will
be nominated to perform at second,
short and in left cannot be named at
The present writing.
Without taking into account the
now even more remote than ever
Likelihood of getting Robertson and
assuming Mensokey is not available,
developments in the two weeks re-
manning before the curtain rises ma
turally will determine designation of
the positions, but as matters stand
now, several combinations must be
taken into calculation as possibili-
ties In the event Hal Janvrin is not
sufficiently recovered from his re-
cent illness to go the route by
that time il is possible the Regulars
will remain as constituted now, with
Shannon in left. Davis at short and
Shanks on second. This is unlikely.
however, for two reasons, neither of
which Concerns ShanES
If Janvrin is ready he may be seen
at second, where Griff wants to keep
him, with Davis at short and Shanks
or lefty Thompson in the garden. But
If a decision had TO be made now for
the makeup of the team the afternoon
of April % it is assured a majority OF
those who have seen what the boys
have done to date would place Joe
Leonard at second. shift Janvrin over
to short and send ShankS out to roam
in his favorite haunt near the jury
box. Leonard rapidly performs the
duties of a second baseman, position
entirely new to him, and the great ad-
vantage in experience he possesses
over Davis and Shannon at the plate
gives him the call over this pair.
Leonard is no weakling as a hitter
and. 1T Is not stretching things bit
to assert that right now he VIII get
more hits off lefthanded pitchers,
southpaw batsman though he is, than
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board hurlers.
Shortfield is no new position for
Janvrin, who has seen much service
there for the Red Sox. and Shanks
unexcelled ability as a. gardener Is
too well known to require comment.
The luster of Ike Davis natural
ability has been undimmed by the
tests he has been put to since the
intraclub games were inaugurated,
1rlfl a
size the fact. duly chronicled at the
outset. that he needs lost of polish,
and Just how well he may be expected
TO hit remains for the future 10 de-
terrnine Whether or not he IS able 10
win a berth from the jump-on Will
in no wise affect his status as per-
manent member OF the club. He IS on
the team to stay and though 1t snould
develop that he is unable to horn INTO
the lineup as a sure enough fesuldf
this season he Will he found sticking
around picking up pointers and get
ting the benefit of watching the
games from the bench, constant coach
ing and intensive drilling. Tnere Is no
argument on the score that DAVIS mas
a big league future and Grin nGures
that even if ii takes year TO make
a major league shortstop OF him the
club still must consider ltseiI eX-
tremely fortunate
1nA shannon mas mot SPAas
prowess hoped for from him in the
hitting department of the game IN
the eight games he has played In ne
has made only six hits, one TOT Two
bases. and since the pitching has I'M
proved has looked far from impress
sive not having connected for any
T. thing that rese mbled safety i'll the
last three contests. Yesterday. op-
posed by a brand of hurting such as
he is likely to encounter every DAY
a
he was helpless at bat. striking out
once and making weak infield taps
on his other three appearances.
Griff has announced definitely that
young Ellerbe will be sent to the
Bingharnton club when the Ma
tionals break camp Thursday. and it
may be that Flaherty will go with
him, as the Washington boy COM
planned yesterday of sore arm
which, unless recovered from. would
render him useless to the Griffmen in
the exhibition starting the latter part
OF this week.
The manager today said Horace
Milan may be sent elsewhere this
week. His intention to carry Shan
non until after the season gets under
way and tentative decision to ship
young Milan, who has made by far
the most favorable impression of the
two, is explained by the fact that he
whereas Shannon is newcomer on
whom. by the agreement made with
Jack Dunn when he was obtained, he
will have plenty of time to give
thorough inspection before the pur-
chase must be consummated.
II he were not banking on Harry
Thompson to help Harrer carry the
burden of the Nationals southpaw
pitching, Griffith could assign Thomp-
son to left field, put Shanks at short
and Janyrin at second and present rs
strong a front as it is now possible to
figure on. Thompson is expected to
materially fortify the slab corps.
however. and as no pitcher can do
garden duty and still be on edge for
box work. the pilot may be expected
TO send Thompson to the outfield only
as an emergency measure.
The Regulars never had a chance
with the Yannigans yesterday, re-
reiving the most ignominious setback
yet recorded in the practice games
this spring Johnson and Hovlik
were the principal reasons. Walter
worked the first four rounds without
being nicked for a single safety, and
he issued but one pass. Hovlik was
found for three hits. but was in dan
ger of being scored on only once
when Fosters single was followed by
"a double by Zeb Milan. There We're
two out at the time and Rice was un-
able to cash them
Thompson got rousing reception
from the Vans. who registered eight
times in the first two innings. b.
fore he got properly warmed up. He
held them safe in the third and fourth