The Washington herald., 1921-04-13

when the barrier goes up.
No Oyercoats Today.
II the season had begun two days
earlier the players and fans would
have frozen. But the fates are kind.
The mercury has been steadily jump
ing upward for theNpast forty-eight
hours. and the prediction for today
is continued fair and warmer. That
means ideal baseball weather. over
coats will be left at home, unless
something happens to the dope
Despite the encouraging state
ments of the Weather Man, Presi-
dent Grifhth took extra precautions
last night. He ordered the ground
covered with the big tarpaulin
that protects every inch OF the in
field. 1t will have to be raining
hard at starting time before there
can be any postponement.
The Griffmen will get their first
test against the Boston Red Sox.
who reached town yesterday after
noon under the care OF Manager
Hugh Duffy, their new leader. 1t
will be the official coming OUT
party OF both managers.
Manager Mac last night expressed
confidence in the team he has Sc
lected to open the season. II will
be the same that battled against the
New York Giants for seven games.
The men are in good shape, and
are anxious to get under way.
Starting Pitchers Uncertain.
Neither manager last night was
ready to make a definite announce
nent as to the pitcher who would
start the game. McBride's choice
lies between johnson. Erickson aQd
Zachary. II Barney is right he will
work. II not, the Swede or the
North Carolina collegian will get
the call. All of them are in good
condition.
Manager Duffy will start Sam
Jones. Bullet Joe Bush or Herb
Pennock. with Jones having the in
side track.
Contrary to expectations. the Bos-
tonians are not a hit discouraged
nyer the outlook. They have been
widely picked to finish In the cell
lar. but that doesn't worry them
a bit.
Red Sox Not Pessimistic.
Secretary Larry Graver last night
even went so far as to say that
they would have a great team when
Del Pratt reports. as he is expected
to do this week.
You can't beat McInnis. Pratt.
Scott and Witt in the infield," he
declares. Come to think of ii, they
are a hard bunch to beat. He is
also pleased with the outfield,
catching and pitching STATS. You
won't find any mournful guys in
the Boston party.
In the absence Of Pratt, who is
expected to join the team here be-
fore the series is over. Eddie Fos-
ter. the former National. will han
die second base. Eddie is destined
to be the teams utility man. In
the outfield Menosky. Hendrix and
John Collins. secured from the
White Sox. will hold forth. Behind
the bat Muddy Ruel. late of the
Yanks, or Walters will don the
mask. Not a bad lineup.
Duffy Has New stars.
In addition to Bush, Pennock and
Jones, Duffy has several other vets
who are expected to do good work
this year. Among them are Thor
mahlen. Allen Russell, Myers and
Karr
Several promising recruits have
also been retained this year by the
Boston manager. Clark Pettenger.
an inielder from London. Ont. is
declared to be the find" of the sea-
son. He can hit. run and field. and
is expected to develop into a real
star. Frank Talcott, who pitched
for Yale in 1919, is a promising
young moundsman. as is Neitzke.
who played the outfield for London,
Ont. last year. but is showing a
lot of stuff in the box.
One thing seems certain: The Mats
will have to play ball tot beat the
Beantown gang out in the first
series.
In addition to the twenty five
players and officials who are here
for the series, four Boston sport
scribes are on hand to report the
proceedings. They are Gus Rooney,
of the Traveller; Ed Cunningham, of
the Herald; Melville Webb, of the
Globe, and Paul Shannon, of the