The Washington herald., 1920-03-29

just one mOnln ago the Nati(
the south Griff's proposition, at
white Elephant" but during the
thirty days of drilling he has un-
covered youngsters that may fill the
bill in rounding out a first division
club for the Capital City fans.
InaeId Problem.
The problem of the infield was
the biggest question which the Old
Fox was called upon to solve. Grit
nth believes that this part of his
troubles is settled. From the
form and speed that Stanley Harris
Is showing at the second sack, and
Jimmy O'Neil at short, Griff will
not be compelled to look any fur
ther for material, providing this
pair can keep up their won
derful stick-work. They are hitting
the pitching served up by the Gin
cinnati twirlers for a fare -thee-well,
but IL remains to be seen IL they
will be as successful against the
twisters which they will be COM
PEELED to face under the Ban b.
johnson tent.
The pitching problem, which also
looked anything but bright, is also
righting itself. Shaw and Johnson
are sure to be in the pink of form
when the gong sounds in Boston on
April IA. The poor showing the
smoke-ball king made last Friday
against the Moran-men was only
an off-day, as Barney is in bet
ter shape right now than he has
been during any recent spring drill.
Expect Big Season.
The big fellow is not the kind to
boast of his ability but he stated
the other day that he intended to
work his head of to make this the
best season OF his career. With
Erickson as the third veteran for
the mound, the Old Fox has only
to carve out two twirlers from his
long string of youngsters to make
up one Of the best staffs in the
league.
1t is a hard matter right now to
pick the best looking ones from
the crowd as the work of Zachary,
Courtney, Carlson and Schacht has
been of high order. Whether
these youngsters can stand up un-
der the bombardment of the willows
handed out by the American League
clubs remains to be seen, but the
Foxy Pilot is confident that this
quartet will come through with fly
ing colors. Should these youngsters
hold up then the Washington club
could boast of one of the best pitch
ing STATS in either league.
First Division Club.
With the catching department
now intact, and the outfield like one
of those queens taste" dishes, the
club as a whole rounds out now
like pennant contenders. although
the SO termed experts who are hit
ting the various camps down here
in Dixie are picking six clubs to be
in front of the Nationals when the
final curtain is run down.
Someone is in to be fooled. The
Nationals as they now line up are
a great deal better than four clubs
which i could name. Although it
is a foregone conclusion with many
of these writers that the Cleveland
Indians will romp in with the bunt-
ing. and that New York, Chicago,
Detroit and st. Louis will be the
contending runners-up, l want to
make a prediction here,~>that the
Nationals will be hot-footing right
in among this five next September.
ana DeSL OF ali, Iney Will De SUCK
ing somewhere close to the leading
clubs with a first division berth
clinched, although 1t may not be
the first or sAcond rung of the
ladder.
Await irwin Bill.
The day OF rest today after the
long grind of the past week was
a welcome one. Auto rides and a
tag-dance tonight were the bill of
fare.
The big double-header is to be
staged tomorrow. The Washington
club will hook up with Robbie's
Brooklyn Dodgers, while the Red
legs will try and pick on the New
York Yankees. With Babe Ruth and
Walter johnson in acticn along with
the world champions, the largest
crowd of the transforming trip will
no doubt watch the battles.
President Griffith received word
tonight. that Ban B. Johnson will
witness the games. All that is need
ed now to make the party a peace
jubilee is to have Miller Higgins
send Carl Mays to the mound. After
the battles the team will hop aboard
fha rattIer for Charleston s a.