The Washington times., 1920-08-01
BY LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

CLEVELAND, Ohio, Aug. 1.-The
poor, tattered, limping Griffmen
open four-game series here today
l.! and unless the moon turns to green
cheese by Wednesday night, they
should be knocked out of the first
division to which they have been
clinging SO desperately for the past
ten days. While they are tussling
with the cocky, confident leaders Of
the league, the St. Louis Brownies
'will be lining up against Connie
Mack's Athletics. Inasmuch as the
Browns are but a stride or so be-
hind the Griffs they should over
come this margin before the next
four days have gone. Then the two
contenders for first division honors
can continue their battle all to them
selves for the remainder of the week
at st. Louis.
President Griffith is having great
trouble in Strengthening his team.
For the work at hand he is lining up
promising assortment OF players for
next season, but he seems unable to
get any much needed athletes who can
step right in and go to work to keep
Washington in the first division. The
outfit preparing to face the Indians
today is weak in almost every posi-
tion.
Shaw. Erickson, and Zachary form
the pitching staff Courtney is un-
reliable. Acosta is an experiment.
johnson is not yet ready to perform
Schacht is at Rochester. n. V, taking
course OF sprouts for his game back.
Judge limps around with strained
tendon in his right thigh.
Ellerbe .favors his weak knee at
every move. thus slowing him up.
O'Neili is still unable to grasp
bat. Charity is the only backstop
capable of putting up good exhibit
ton behind the plate. II injured he
will have to give way to Picinich,
whose feet and head are not in con-
junction.
ROTH DOES LITTLE.
Out in rightfeld Bobby Roth is
doing little or nothing. He may pick
up here especially in the field. He
can play the ball off that rightfeld
wall as well As anybody in the
league. Also there is some hope for
an Improvement in his hitting.
IN last Tuesdays double-h eader
here Roth got six hits and was the
loud noise. Up in four pinches he
made good in three, which is fair
enough. But he slumped again in De-
troit, causing one to wonder why he
was kept in fourth place in batting
order.
In the first Tiger game Roth came
up three times with Griffs on the
bases. Once he famed and twice he
expired on weak grounders. He had
no chances in the second game. but
in the third no less than three op-
portunities looked him in the cyH.
He perished weakly twice, and the
other time he beat out a slow one to
the box. His two hits that day
availed the team nothing.
Roth had four chances to break UP
Fridays game against Doc Ayers.
Twice he forced the runner ahead OF
him and twice he died on puny
srounders to the infeld. In yester
days nnal game in Detroit he had
two chances to do something and fliv-
vered each time. His single led in the
fourth.
FIELDING IS WEAK.
Unless Roth is on the bases his
value TO the team is decidedly linn
tied. Unless he has chances to run,
thereby making runs possible, his
nelding will never entitle him to a
place on a winning team.
Shanks or Harris, judged from their
timely biting, should be hitting after
Rice, but with Judge in and out OF
the lineup every few days George
McBride's task OF picking the best
batting order has not been easy.
Shanks ills Judges place as lead off
man in good style, but he may be
dropped down when Judge returns
and replace Roth. .
Fred Thomas. obtained from rhn-
adclphis. will probably be in todsys
lineup against the Indians. II he can
do al well for Washington as he
always has when with the opposition.
the newcomer should prove exceed
inely valuable, especially now when
tho Grifrs are so sadly in need OF in
dflders abte TO run and throw