The Washington herald., 1921-04-19
ny JACK NYE.

Mr. Clark Griffith still points with
pride to his patented waterproof
canvas. guaranteed to keep the floods
from OF his little ball field. but is
also in the market this mornicg Cor
something in the nature of an effs-
cient chill removG. To put it more
simply. he has been permanently
cured of water-on-the-pocketbook,
only to be panied with a touch of
the old-fashion ague. He consoles
himself. however. with the thought
that this is merely a passing all
ment.
Too many icicles in the air forced
the Griffmen and Athletics to refrain
from work yesterday, and also left
an aching void in Eddie EynoTs
strong box. In the midst of all the
gloom, however. Eddie happened 20
deliver himself of this thought:
what IL 1t had happened Sunday"
That cheered him quite bit.
Grins In second Place.
This spell of winter was pretty
general around the circuit and, With
J the Yankees also taking life easy.
Manager Mcbride can still lamp the
old standing of the clubs and see his
team proudly perched in second
place. The season is yet young but
Mac can always say he was in the
race at one stage of the game. His
purpose, however. is to be able to
say 1t all the way through.
With five games siready a matter
of history. our new manager has
reason to be we'll satisfied with the
showing of his team. They are liv-
ing up to expectations and, allowing
for gradual improvements as the
season gets under way. should live
up to the good things said about
them.
Hailed as a fast and hard hitting
team, the Griffs are living up to pre-
dictions in the early games. They
may be hitting over their stride. but
1t is gratifying to see the way they
are gathering in base hits.
Team Hits at BIS Pace.
In five games they have main
tanned a team batting average of
.31s. Visiting teams have been
badly outclassed in stick work. hav-
ing an average of but .259. which
speaks well for McBride's pitching.
Our Griffs have compiled a total
of 20 runs and So hits in five games,
including three doubles. three
triples and a couple of home runs
Enemy batters have scored IS runs
and hit safely a. times for one dou-
Bile, eight triples and no circuit
smashes. In three-sackers alone do
the locals trail.
The Griffs are evidently bent ON
getting of to a good start and ap-
pear to have profited by their stay
in Tampa. Even the pitchers who
failed to show class in the series
with the Giants are performing bet
ter than was expected.
Johnson. Erickson and Schacht.
these, three. and the greatest of
them is johnson, have turned in a
win apiece after travelling the full
nine innings The Big Train and
Zachary both failed on their first
starts.
Zach Expected to Help.
Despite Jezebel's blow" in his
first game. he Is looked upon as
one of the best bets on the eminence
and should turn in his full share of
wins. With Johnson again showing
form, Erickson looking exception
ally good, and Schacht in better
shape than he was last season, the
outlook might be far worse.
This quartet may carry the lions
share of the pitching burden. but
Mcbride is still hoping for results
from Courtney and Shaw The
southpaw is still unsteady. but
James Aloysius gave promise in
the last two innings he worked. II
Jim can reach his best form he
will make a lot of trouble for some
teams.
One Of the pleasing things about
the 1921 Griffs is the way the in
field is behaving itself Judge and
Harris seem determined to better
their work of last season, and
'B1ackie" O'Rourke is making good
with a vengeance at short. This
recruit from the Internafional