The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-11

20 win the 1921 banner. Today they
have played lot games, with AZ to go
Maintaining their present speed, and
they are about the steadiest team In
either big league, the Indians will fin
tah with ninety-four victories and
sixty defeats, averaging $40.
In order to reach this $40 mark. the
Indians must win twenty-eight Of
their forty-seven remaining contests.
That will give them ninety-four wins
and sixty defeats for the season.
The Indians have five more games
to play than have the Yankees. 1t
Is here that they have an advantage
over the Higgins troupe.
Facing the Yankees.
Maintaining their present pace In
the field, the Yankees will win eighty
eight games and lose sixty-six for the
season. giving them a percentage Of
.671. In order to do this, they must
win twenty-five of their remaining
forty-two games. Only the warmest
kind Of a squirt can put the Yanks on
even terms with the champions.
The Griffmen have forty-three
games yet to play. They have now
won fifty-nipe and lost fifty-two for
percentage Of .531. They have been
travelling all reason just little faster
than 800 They will probably con-
tinue this to the end.
To rush to the top, they must win
twenty-five and lose eight Of their re-
manning games. This would be at an
average Of .814.
Does any washingtonian gifted
with ordiary common sense believe
McBride's team capable Of such a
squirt Frankly, we don't.
Bob -LaMotte will get his real trial
with the Griffmen at last. He report
ed here last year and got into one
game, II memory faileth not. He has
got into half a dozen skirmishes this
year as a substitute for Blackie
O'Rourke Now he Is to be started at
the short field.
O'Rourke's painful pegging has
caused his downfall. He has done
well, considering this is the first year
in several that he has been able to
make the overland throw. A crooked
arm handicapped him until he visited
Bonesetter Reese last fall.
President Griffith, who picked
O'Rourke instead of winning pitcher
from the Toronto club last fall, be-
lieved that Blackie would hit up
around .275 in this league and, even
with his odd peg, make good as field
ing and throwing shortstop. However,
he sent him to Reese and O'Rourke
has been throwing in the orthodox
manner. though not with the same ef-
feet.
Starting slowly, O'Rourke has
steadily improved in his hitting. He
has the faculty of hitting when run
ners are on the bases and 1t is this
habit which has kept him in the line
up in the face of erratic fielding.
Taking throws at second and riding
the runners, ORourke has few equals
in either big league.
LaMotte Is Speedy.
Whether or not LaMotte will fill
the bill remains to be seer. For one
thing, he has about as much speed as
Sam Rice. He can cover all the
ground that Shanks can't in that d.
rection and will battle for some of
the hoppers that D,rris likes to race
after in the other direction.
LaMotte isa youngste- with d world
Of ambition and plenty OF courage.
President Griffith liked his stVie the
moment he saw him last season end
kept him in the hopes the lad would
add weight. LaMotte has been eat
ing regularly and consuming manv
milkshakes all season. Te Is bigger
than ever and without losing any Of
MS speed. his is Ills CiiduCt "
a steady Job for himself.
While about it. Manager Mcbride
might listen to the waits Of the fans
and send Hank Shanks to center field
and put Deeply Foss on third base.
He announces today that during the
enforced absence of Sam Rice, Milan
will play center and Earl Smith right
field. At no time since coming here
has Smith looked like u hitter. He
l. L. -. .t,1.t l,VN y,tt 1l,
ing.
Is Best Fielder.
Hank Shanks is the best outfielder
on the ball club. He outshincs Rice,
Milan. Miller, Smith and Rrower all
rolled into one. He has forgotten
more than they-excep.ing Milan =
have ever learned about playing for
batsmen.
Milan proved himself sizzling right
fielder during the winning streak of
the Griffs. Going back to center, his
old position, he has not made such a
good impression. With Shanks roam
ing around the middle garden, that sec
ton would be air-tight, and at third
base a youngster would be getting a
trial he sadly needs. Z,
There is no telling whether or not
Foss win be with the Griffs next year.
II he is released without a trial, a roar
will go up from the fans. Already they
have been bombarding us for explana-
lions why Tony Brottem was let out
to the possible champions of the Ma
tional League. We have no explana-
lions to offer, though we might sur
mise a number of things. But surmis-
ings might not be fair to the Washing
ton Club nor to its manager.
Hank Shanks, starting slowly, has
reached n point now where he is a first
class third basoman. His hitting, too,
has been heavy and timely. HIS earn
estness and dash are good assets in the
infield and Hank never makes any
bone plays. He has fairly earned HIS
regular job.
But the stubborn fact remains that
Rice's injury gives Manager Mcbride
an excellent opportunity of strength
ening his outfield and trying out Foss,
young third baseman, at one and the
same time. Whether he does so or not
bothers us not a whit, but Washington
fans are yelling for just such an ex.
pertinent. We don't care personally
what Manager Mcbride does with any
OF his hired men. It's up to him, not
m nat az