The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-04
Mcbride HEARS
OF JIM COONEY
AS INFIELDER
President Griffith May cinch
Deal for Pitchers During Buff
faIo Meeting.
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER.

UuVCu 70 george Mcbr1Qe,f manager
ct the Washington Griffmen, and
reports from the city Schlitx made
famous say Mcbride may seek to
have President Griffith bid for the
infielder.
Manager Mcbride. who is wintering
IN Milwaukee. his home town, is said
to, be keeping his eyes open for any
players who might be of service to
the washington club. Knowing that
efforts were being made to land Jimmy
Caveney from San Francisco. only TO
have that Player go to Cincinnati, Nc
Bride may be- expected to consider
other likely shortstops. cconey lis
one Of them.
He Goes to Buffalo.
President Clark c. Griffith will
leave tonight for Buffalo. N. Y. to at
tend the annual meeting of the minor
leagues. and he may return with one
or two pitchers. He would like Her.
man Pfllette, but he may also obtain
Syl johnson. both of the Portland club
Cf the Pacific Coast League.
In order to complete the dea. for
either Of these Fingers. President
Griffith must obtain waivers on one
or two of his players. He hopes to
.
end. II the deal is cinched. the an
Douncement should come during the
week from that city.
To obtain ball players these days
rom the minor leagues. a club must
be prepared to turn over athletes
as well as coin of the realm. The
Washington club is well able to
do that. 1t has plenty of pitchers
who might go well enough in the
bushes. but who lack something to
stisk around in fast company 1t
ls probable that. to obtain Pillette
from Portland, President Griffith
may be asked to turn over pitchers.
He has them.
Yanks Want Erickson.
Olaf Erickson. who has already
performed in the Coast league. is
probably done as q member of the
Washington ball club. but the New
York Yankees have declined to
waive claim to him. thinking he
might be a winner with a team
of sluggers behind him. So far as
known. New York is the only club
In the league willing to take n
chance with Erickson. who has al
ready been q failure with Detroit.
Harry Courtney is another who
proved of small value to the Griff.
men last season. 1t Is doubtful IL
he win be any better next summer.
No club has refused waivers on
him and he may be sent to Port
land, IL President Griffith obtains
Pillette. This lefthander seems to
be in bad with the, fans at Georgia
avenue and II is not on record that
any unpopular pitcher ever became a
winner for any club In the, big
show.
President Griffith, who was
great pitcher himself in his big
league days. means to give Manager
the route. He has determined to
keep as nucleus for the 1922 staff
Walter Johnson, George Mosridge
and Jezebel Tecumseh Zachary. The
remainder are Jumped together, but
II IL a good bet that Mcbride will
have far different staff working
on the mound next spring from that
Of year ago. II
Club Is Protected.
While much has been said Of
Dangerous Dan" McGrew, the long
Texan. the Washington club is well
protected. II he fails to make good.
ne goes back to Houston. He comes
MP on option. u he makes good,
the Griffmen win nay for him. II
he doesn't, back he goes.
Almost too much has been said
Of this pitcher. He IS described as
being built along the lines of Bryan
Harris, the Mackman. 1t is ad-
mitted that he lacks experience and
that he was wild as crow for
half the 1921 season, but II is also
predicted that he will yet become
greater than Harris. who came up
TO the American league from the
same Texas circuit.
President Griffith makes no bones
Of saying that his 1921 punching staff
was about the worst he has had since
war times. 1t was worse then. II any
body wants to know, but there was
little excuse for its utter collapse last
year. Had Erickson and Courtney
come through, as expected, the Wash
ington club would have come mighty
close to winning the pennant. They
didn't and with johnson rounding into
condition late and achary not as for
midable as he was the year previous,
the Washington club had to battle
down the final week5 for place In the
first division.
'.Blaclxie' O'Rourkc In still here
taking daily treatments for his weak
throwing arm. He will probably con
tinue the treatment until Christmas
when he will go home. Every hope is
held out for him to report in the
spring with an arm capable of getting
the ball across the infield on a line,
something impossible last season.
O'Rourke Is an experienced, brainy
infieldcr. He is popular with the fans
and with his fellow players. He mas
demonstrated a lot of gameness since
Joining the Washington club and all
who know him are hoping he will be
equipped with an iron arm next
spring. In that case O'Rourke win
be the teams shortstop beyond all
shadow of doubt.
Sam Rice. the Griffs' fleet-footed out
fielder. who IL making his home In
washington this winter. has gone
down into the wilds Of Virginia around
Gainesville to hunt. He is the guest
of Turkey" Brewer, who admits he
10 the original Nimrod.