The Washington times., 1921-09-06

to this total before the curtain is Fl
paign, and on his retirement from t
that should stand untouched for a ge
mot only is Mogridge the best left
elfander in baseball, but 1 go farther
and say he is the best pitcher" said
Iris Speaker while here few weeks
ago He meant 1t. too.
AfGeorge Mogridge's work with the
washington club this year has been
easily the best OF all the pitchers put
together. This last includes johnson,
for the Kansan has been an in-and'
outer this year. He got away to a
slow start and never reached his real
form until the campaign was half over
= He Started Early.
Mogridge, on the other hand, got
away to a fine start. His pitching in
the cold, damp spring weather was
excellent. He lost games because Of
poor support, but 1t Is doubtful If
Mogridge has pitched three bad games
all season. At some stageS of the
race the long, levelheaded lefthander
might have swung the Griffs into first
place, had his supporters been able
or with the bat.
~ Manager Mcbride believed Mogridge
would not be at his best when the hot
days came along, but the southpaw
has done better than all the others
under blazing suns. He Is still the
best pitcher on the Washington ball
club and easily the best lefthander in
the American league.
,n Speaking Of johnson and Mogridge,
1ofie must conclude his praises for the
.Griffmen Of 1921. Bucky Harris has
not been the hitter expected. Frank
AO,Rourke's throwing put him on the
bench. Turkey Brewer has been
.bust." Earl Smith has done nothing
,Bing Miller's timely hitting has
marked him for honors now and then,
bit he has much to learn. Hank
Shanks is finishing in the 300 class
Tor 1.-The first time in his big league
Career, but he is not a good third
baseman, even though kept there all
year.
Jezebel Tecumseh Zachary, from
whom much was expected, failed to
come through, though he has worked
hard and given every last bit he
possessed. He is no gutter.
- No need to chatter of the other
pitchers. Measured up to major league
standards, they have come we'll under
the mark. Why waste time with them?
The acquisition of Donnie Bush has
driven Bob LaMotte out of the line.up
and a whole year has been wasted for
that young man.
A series of shrewd trades might help
Inc washington club considerably be.
lore the 1922 season begins, but II
any are contemplated, President Grit.
rth will have to be prepared to give
up something to get something. One
Doesn't bump into a Miller Higgins
every day who will pass over a George
Mogridge to obtain a Bobby Roth.
Last winter President Griffith
named six players he meant to retain
az all hazards. He stood ready to
trade any or all Of the others, but that
six must play in Washington. No
body wanted any of the others. At
.ieast nobody arranged any deals for
them and they have cluttered up the
washington bench ever since, worth
little or nothing to the Griffs and Ger.
tainiy OF no value to the rest Of the
leeEue.
There has been lot Of leaning upon
experienced players this year. Some
fans have grumbled that there was
too much, though that remains to be
shown. But the collection of players
now wearing Washington uniforms
canrot start the 1922 campaign with
any fair prospect of defeating New
York or Cleveland, the probable favor.
ties again next spring.
New Ones Might Help.
a. Judging from letters coming In to
this office. Washington fans are all
done for the 1921 campaign and are
now anxious to see some of the new
splayers in action. Manager Mcbride
Emay feel like battling for a first divi.
sion berth. That's natural. But the
fans hereabouts don't seem to worry
so much about that as they do con.
ycerning the players who may land
regular places in future seasons. They
want to see them.
Z President Griffith has been picking
up pitchers all summer for possible
delivery this month. Here and there
he has grabbed an outfielder or an
,infielder. He will be acting wisely if,
when these green lads report, they are
played in regular games. They may
never make the grade. But at least
something will be known Of them.
One fan, using a beautiful script,
tuggests that Pat Charity, Zeb Mi
Ian, DOME Bush and Hank Shanks
be benched when the team returns
TO Georgia avenue in favor OF new
and younger players. He would keep
johnson. Mogridge and Acosta out
lof the box.
CHARITY has been overworkcd,'
he says in his flowing fist. "why
mot use Torres and Picinich7 Milan
has played when SO lame he could
mot run. Shanks has done nobly all
year. Why not put Foss on third
sbase and see what he can do? Acosta
has pitched too much when "A big
slummox like Shaw loafeo IN the
bench. Bush Is a veteran with all
his career behind him. Why not use
haNotte? And when the new play.
l.ra report why NOT NAV them in
big league games? We fans don't
care wkerether the team finishes
Ahird or eighth so long as they
don't win the pennant. Shake 'ep
Mpy'
4 This IN the "shake."