The Washington times., 1923-02-14


perfect health again.
A year ago Johnson was accom-
panied to Tampa by his family.
Hardly had they arrived when Mrs.
johnson became seriously i'll. She
did not recover until long after the
season was under way. After a
week or so, the big pitcher him
self became ill, and, his own weak
ened condition, joined with his wor-
ffes over his wife, caused him to
lose most of the value of being at
Tampa.
President Griffith was hopeful of
having johnson in good fettle on
arriving at the training camp this
spring. Recently, stories came that
johnson was suffering from boils
and q series of heavy colds. The
Washington magnate wired him for
notification and was pleased at
prompt denials from Johnson.
According to the plans now conf
pleted by President Griffith, the
veteran hurler is expected to report
ct Tampa in time to begin training
on March 1. AS he is "a hard
worker, once he gets under way, he
would be ready to pitch in top form
BY the time the season starts on
April Is.
It Il no secret that johnson is
counted on more this season than
ne has been for at least four that
have gone before. He lis the sim
Gle seasoned right-handed pitcher
available for regular service dur.
ing the opening weeks Of the
CAMPAIGN.
IL, because of the illness of his
son, johnson is unable to open the
season in perfect condition, the
brunt Of the work will fall upon
less experienced shoulders and the
team will be the sufferer.
In chatting with baseball writer,
johnson had the following to say
OF the New York Yankees:
''The Yankees are like a ship
without a rudder. The players run
the ball club. You've heard this
before and it isn't just newspaper
talk. II they win the flag again
under the present management it
viii be because of the predominanoS
OF stars on their roster
johnson apparently liked Lefty
O'Doul. the southpaw the Yankees
sent to Boston, for he says, "ODoul
never received a fair trial with the
Yankees. I am convinced he can
pitch and I tried to get my boss to
grab him last year."
The Washington club had no
chance of getting O'Doul, even If
Clark Griffith wanted him. He
was sent to the, Yankees farm in
Boston and Frank Chance expects
to make a winning hurler out Of
him this year.
Nick F1atley, a cogent writer
@f baseball matters for the Boston
American, has a few bitter sweet
paragraphs in his paper concern
ing the recent trade between the
Griffmen and the Red SOx.
They're worth rea1ing.
THE Washington swap, which
brings Picinich, Goebel and Shanks
here, in exchange for Ruel and
Russell" says Nick, looks like an
spite the fact that we believe Law.
yer Muddy" to be one of the four
best backstops in the league.
'He's a better hitter, catcher
and thinker than the Picnic
party, but he didn't want to play
with Boston, and consequently was
rs useful as an expensive engine
that won't run.
"Young Mister Ruel and Owner
Frazee have been on the outs ever
since the athletic attorney came to
the club. In the first place Ruel
vas peeved at being torn -ruthlessly
from an outfit that just naturally
couldn't keep out of Worlds Series
profits. In the second, he had con-
tract troubles right off the reel,
didn't get along with his manager
any too well, and all in all was a
center Of trouble.
This year he was declared hold
out, perfectly willing to practice law
rather than play ball. OF course he
that he was anxious TO get away
from here. So now he has gone
Chance, at the winter meeting, told
as that whatever else he had, he
vas going to boss a gang that was
willing and anxious to make good.
Picinich is one of those athletes
who think that tomorrow never
will arrive. He has plenty Of
ability and if he can be forced to
take tine pastime seriously will be
q mighty GOOD catcher But ne
has too much money to believe
there's any such thing as re-
spOnsibility In life.
Somebody left him bunch OF
coin a few years ago, and being q
good natured, happy-go-Iucky sort
Of a bird, the world is a pretty
good place to him. We recall thai
his canary yellow racytype roadster
was one of the scenic glories o.
Western Florida last spring, while
the Senators were at Tampa.
"A young man who can stanC
the expense and bother of shippini
cars to Florida naturally doesn'
worry his head any too much abou
an annual baseball stipend. Tha
was his air, anyhow, and that il
why Griff let him go, beyond 4;
@oubt. Chance may be able to tall
turkey to the kid, and make hin