The Washington herald., 1920-12-25
PITCHING
MAY PROVE Chief
WORRY FOR CRIFF
Walter Johnson's Return
TO Form Will Mean
Much to Team.
By JACK NYE.

shopping and winding zip the H..
nanciaI affairs Of the BALI club for
, the year. Clark Griffith has been
"a busy man of late.
He hasn't had time to talk much
baseball aud probably will not let
the dear old public into his con-
fdence until after the first OF the
year.
Maybe Sir oliver Lodge could
give some valuable tips about the
trades Grif Is said to have up his
sleeve. but it's all a mystery to
US ordinary mortals.
It's no secret. however. that the
Nationals chieftain will indulge in
his annual winter practice of swap
ping horses after midstream has
been passed.
Griff doesn't mind admitting that
he's after a capable performer TO
take care of the third station.
That's a self-evident fact, anyway.
II is also whispered about. though
not with the sanction of the presi-
dent-manager, that Braggo Roth,
who has worn as many different
uniforms as any man in the league,
will make another change next
season Bobby was a pretty fair
performer last season He hit .29O
which was much better than the
mark attained by many rival out
fielders, but it appears that he does
not fit into Griff's scheme of play.
\ Much Hinges on Pitchers
: Granted that the Nationals will
-bpen the season with a new third
sacker and possibly a new out
fielder. there is still another prob
lem that confronts Prexy Griffith
Unless his 1920 hurlers show a re-
markable reversal of form, the go
ing next season is going to be
rather bumpy in spots
Much faith is being pinned in the
ability of Barney johnson to come
back. II the big slabber, who Is
now wintering on his farm at Cof-
feyville, Kass-, can hit his old stride
once more, he is good for more
than twenty games without extend
ing himself. Last season, in fact
was the first in a long time that
johnson failed to attain that mark.
Instead he won only eight out oil
eighteen battles.
But with all his troubles. John
son was the king-pin slabber Of the
Nationals He didn't top the stafi
in the won and lost column. but in
earned runs allowed per game there
was nobody who could touch him:
Griff's slabbers as a whole were
a distinct Disappointment Not one
of the men on whom the burden
was expected to rest won half his
games. except Al Schacht- Al took
part in twenty-five, games. but was
mostly a finisheb His total of wins
was six and his losses four.
a. Nd 1fxr-
teen defeats. Then came Johnson.
Erickson. Courtney and Shaw, I'm
kshing in order named, the last
named winning but eleven and los
.ing eighteen
" Bower May Help.
The decision TO develop the
pitching ability OF Frank Brewer
may give the slabbing department
some needed strength. but Frank
can hardly be expected 10 be a
brilliant star in his first season as
a pitcher in the big circuit.
No team can win without good
pitching and the work Of Griff's
boxmen will be watched with in
terest next spring. There is much
potential strength among them. II
johnson can whip them across as
of old and the rest show the ex-
pected Improvement the outlook
will not be at all somber.'
Mayhap the willy Griff is plan
ming to do some trading in this
department.. There was such a
rumor when the season ended last
fall. 1t hasn't been revived tc
date. but such a thing is not be-
yond the range as possibility.
There seems to be a conspiracy
afoot to trade off Griffs stars
right under his nose. They are
still at il in New York. Here's
what Monitor" has to say in the
New York World:
There are rumors that Joe
Judge, no SLOUGH of a first sacker
and a timely hitter, wants a change
land there have been reports that
he would go to either philadelphia
! or Chicago. If he should. Grifitt
would welcome Pipp. and it is said
that he will give up Bobby Roth
right fielder. in a deal. He has
Brewer. the International League
sluEger. to use in right. BroweI
proved a failure at first base-or al
least not up to the A. L. standard
Tt was predicted yesterday that
a three-cornered deal between New
York. Philadelphia and Washington
might be framed. by which Wash
ington would get, Dugan and an
other young player. New York would
get Roth, Philadelphia would get
Judge, anil Pipp would slip to the
Senators. This would seem to give
Philadelphia the worst of it. if Mack
really values Dugan as highly as
he said when Huggins tried to dc
business with him before"
Tain't So" said Mr. Griffith
when apprised of the latest report
Judge is going to play right
here" he continued. "and is going
to be an important cog in my ma
chine. Don't believe all you see
in print"
In the deal which brought Frank
O'Rourke to Washington from To-
ronto, the Nationals are obligated
to send the Leafs another infieIder
next season. 1t won't be Jimmy
O'Neill, Griff declared last night.
Either Ike Davis, who was farmed
out to Minneapolis a couple of sea-
sons ago. or Freddie Thomas will
be sent to Toronto to bind the bar
gain.
MRC MN DAPCnNj