The Washington times., 1920-07-16

would have won two games or those
six anyway. AS II was. he lost the
one game he started.
The Griffs have met with poor luck
this season. In the frst place their
pitching fell far below expectations,
This was due partly to accident
seen in the cases of Johnson ana
Shaw-and partly to the failure OF
Harry Courtney to start in whero ne
left of in 1919.
On their first Western trip they
were without the services OF Joe
Judge until they hit Detroit. This
hurt them, too, for Joe was injured In
New York when batting around $50.
He has yet to recover that wonderful
batting eye, he was displaying at that
time.
HARRIS IS SICK.
Then came the illness to Stanley
Harris, who Is perhaps the best new
player in this league this year. When
he got out Of the game the smooth
working infield became a thing OF the
past.
Nevertheless the team kept its lead
up, though this seemed impossible
some days. Here and there some par
ticular player seemed sitting back on
his launches. but as a team the gang
stayed in the game, doing its best.
Weak pitching hurt against the In
dams, 1t saved Speakers leaders five
of their six games here.
The campaign is half over now. The
Griffs are almost sure to finish in the
first division, but unless miracle
happens, they are out Of the pennant
hunt Their battle now is to finish
as high as possible in order to get
as large a cut of the worlds series
melon as possible.
Mechanically 1t Is possible Tor
them to win the pennant. They are
not too far behind for that But the
Indians and Yankees. not to mention
abe White Sox, must run into long
losing streaks to permit the Grins to
rise into first place. And this Is not
expected.
FANS ARE PEEvED.
President Griffith guessed wrong
yesterday. He called the game on
long before he could learn dehnitely
whether or not rain would interfere
with the performance. 1t was one OF
those guesses that went wrong.
Around game time the cars carried
hundreds of fans out to the ball park.
There they found the gates closed.
with signs for a double-heade today,
but that didn't help them any. In
many cases men had made special ar
rangements to see Johnson face the
White Sox. Those fans sure did howl
to the heavens
The policy of, the Washington club
all season to date has been to play. II
possible. The fans have been trained
to go to the ball yard. unless rain was
falling. For a full hour before yes
terday's contest no rain fell and the
fans, humping into something new,
were peeved; and rightly peeved. too.
Prexy Griffith evidently made
serious error yesterday. -.
OLD FOX EXPLAINS.
President Griffith today explained
the postponement of yesterdays game
as follows: ,..
THE showers during the night be-
fore had slowed UP the diamond
lot. l was out there all morning,
working to get the place In shape.
During the morning a slight shower
came UP and didn't help. Then when
the hard shower came around noon,
it seemed hopeless. At o'clock, with
little prospect Of clearing, l called 1t
off.
Guessing the weather is no one
mans lob. I've been in this business
for years, and have failed about
as often as anybody else to dope out
what the skies will do. Had l known
that at $50 the sun would have been
shining for an hour or so, l wouio