The Washington times., 1922-12-01


than a trial, nor will he accent an,
AS matter Of fact. President
Griffith thinks pretty well OF his
direct it himself. He Is convinced
that he can get more out Of the gang
himself than anyone else now above
the horizon.
The worthy president Of the Wash.
ington ball club knows that the de-
mands for a winning team here next
summer are already becoming insist.
ent. He knows that, II the fans are
70 string along with him, the team
will have to roll over and wake up
from the snooze 1t enjoyed all last
year. He also knows that he can
come mighty close to waking up the
boys and keeping them awake him.
self.
The 1922 Griffmen were a failure
for these reasons:
1--Ineffectual pitching from the
drst day to the last.
SLEEPY base running over the
oame period.
slack Of interest by several
high-priced players who did little or
nothing except to play safe day by
day.
+In-and-out outfielding, marked
BY weak or erratic throwing and
aumb work In playing for batsmen.
6-Total absence Of the winning
spirit.
Clark Griffith, who has handled
all sorts Of athletes in his long
career on tho diamond, knows
that he can change ut least three
Of these things by sitting ON the
bench. Just by doing that he
can keep the boys awake, improve
the brand Of playing for batsmen
and inspire the lads with the
winning spirit. He can do this
or else.
II have q good ball club" he
aid to US one day last summer.
n can't understand why some of
them play such rotten baseball.
President Griffith asked many
friends this same question. Neither
he nor they could understand why
. ball club, doped 20 make the fight
from the opening Of the campaign
90 fell apart that 1t became joke
inside Of the first month of the
season.
The Old Fox did much of his
ewn scouting last summer. seeking
players to bolster up his batteries
and his outffeld. He says himself
be has hopes. He doesn't go into
faptures over the outlook, but he
does admit that he has picked up
several lads who should make the
team next spring and stay with 1t
to the end.
I John Hollingsworth, a right.
handler. and Wally Warmoth, a
southpaw. are expected to make
the pitching grade. The former
did well with Minneapolis, the lat.
ter with Little Rock. warmoth
also had a satisfactory fall trial
which should stand him in good
etead- >s'' e.,
Delos Wade. from Minneapolis,
and George Fisher, from Sc.
Joseph In the Western League,
ere expected to. mako somebody
travel to hold Jobs In the out.
fleld. President Griffith says
both are fast, can hit, field and
throw, . combination seldom seen
In the Washington outfield last
2 -" SohtOys tuo nlunc0pOLl0
thirdsaeker; Ossis Bluege. who was
. brilliant player for Joe Cantii.
Jon after sitting on the Griffs'
bench half the year, and Bob La
Motto are the young infielders to
b watched.
Behind the bat BIZ Hargrave,
from the Eastern League: Pete
AApan. from Little Rock in the
eouthern Association. and Jim
Riley. from the Eastern Shore
league. but with better experience
Than that In his record. viii con.
Tend for the Jobs held last year by
Val Picinich and Dick Torres.
Players lacking the desire to
vim something beside . bi.monthly
pay check will be given the air by
Che new Washington manager.
They viii be prodded from the
start and those unable to stand
the spur win Be allowed to pass
from the scene unwept. unhonored
and unsung.
However, the annual sessions Of
the majors In New York may see
como sailing end trading on the
Sart, of other clubs and Griff will
~ there to sec that nothing worth.
thile gets away.
Predictions arc made that the
Yankees win be given the rumble.
Mo6be-and, then again. mobbe
not. The Yankees were good
A.