The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-01

q
place. McBride's gang have found
somewhere besides the end of the (
Hope ever springs in the human
; breast. Therefore, and only there
fore. many Washingtonians are be-
ginning to let those pennant dreams
bother them again. Well and good,
1t won't hurt them. 1t will keep up
their pep and ambition. Maybe that's
what has got into the Griffs. The
boys. since coming home, have dis.
played all those qualities that make
for winning ball club. That's why
they have been winning.
The Washington club has two more
weeks to play at Georgia avenue.
This week the Tigers have two games
and then come the Cleveland Indians
for four. Next Sunday come the St.
Louis Browns for four contests, to be
followed by the Boston Red Sox for
two.
Nine Games Apart.
Nine games separate the Griffs
from the second place Yankees to-
day. This is quite too much a gap
for anything but a superhuman ball
games behind the leading Cleveland
Indians. And yet 1t Is well within
the realms of possibility for the
Griffs, by maintaining a steady win
ming gait, to come up to the two con-
tenders before the curtain falls. 1t
is possible. though hardly probable,
for them to finish in first or second
place,
The Griffs have some slight advan.
tage this season In that they COM
plete the campaign with a long home
stay In September. The drawback to
this, however. Is that New York win
also be playing at home and New
York is one Of the two teams battling
for the pennant.
AS soon as this home stay ends the
Griffs leap out to st. Louis for a round
of the Western circuit, playing three
games in each city. Returning to the
East New York and Philadelphia will
be visited before the final Georgia ave.
nue. stay.
Only Yankees Fail.
From September 10 to September rs
only the Yankees fail to visit the
Griffs' bailiwick and it is over that
stretch that George Mcbride will use
the whip and spur in every effort to
land his mount as close TO the leaders
as possible.
AS the teams approach the homo
stretch, which begins about Labor
Day, the Griffs are shaping up like
a good ball club. Since returning
home Harris and O'Rourke have set
tied into winning stride, while
Shanks and Judge are keeping up their
good work already seen.
Most remarkable ot all is the fine
playing OF Zeb Milan In right field.
The veteran captain is a kid again and
already his old friends are flocking to
his support. His fielding Is good, his
pegging unexpectedly strong and ac.
Curate and his hitting timely.
Bing Miller. for a newcomer in fast
company. is filling the bill. His sup
porters are legion. They like the big
fellows earnestness and speed in the
field and his timely clouting means
runs to the team. Therefore, he is
popular.
Two Are Powerful.
Only two of the pitchers are
powerful. That is the weak place
in McBride's gang. the mound corps.
Mogridge and johnson are the only
twirlers who stand an excellent
chance of finishing every game they
start, and even they are bothered
whenever a really hot day comes
along.
Nevertheless. as the season
approaches It's close. these. two star
Fingers should prove steadily VIC
torious and. supported by Zachary
and one of the others. should turn
In q fair number of winning games.
Washington Is raIlying to the sup
port of George Mcbride AMI the
Griffs. II genial George happens
TO land one or two good young pitch.
ers, and can get rid OF some OF those
now cluttering up tho bench, the
1879 outfit may be one OF the flag
contenders from the start
But it's not wait till next year
with Mcbride He IL out to land
his gang just as high as possible
this season and. with the team
Eoing along rs IL has every time
Il has played at homo. the Sep
tamber games here should easily keep
the team In third place, with a
chance Of doing even a little bit
better.