The Washington times., 1924-04-23

OSlOck, the nOuE Wnen the D0yS
into the left field bleachers. A
Whenever Connie has a team wo,
tories are all with him. They bell
Mayor w. Freeland Kendrick.
who brought General Butler here to
throw fits into the near-beer boys
and assorted bootleggers, is sched.
uled to fling out a new bail, start.
ing the American league campaign
OK 1924 in Philadelphia. In case the
AS come home in first place, the
mayor will be right on the job again
Tor the world series. He admits 1t.
The Griffmen are scheduled to op
pose the AS III four consecutive con.
tests here, beginning today. With
capacity throng today and another
on Saturday, Eddie Eynon should
have enough money to pay off the
athletes next week, Thursday. After
all. this is a bit important.
Walter johnson may be the Griff's
pitching selection tomorrow. II the
fact happens to set out, and the fans
read about 1t, there's. no telling but
what another good-sized throng will,
be inside the gates to see the grand
old man of the American league at.
tempt his shutout stunt Of the OPEN
ing day in Washington.
Johnson Is In better physical
condition ana pitching better ball
right now than he has for five
years. The big fellow says this is
70 be his last year under the main
tent, but there are players ON the
ball club who just don't believe
this. and say SO, too.
"I'm pulling for Walter to hang
up twenty-five victories this season."
says Manager Bucky Harris, land
will do all, in my power to help him
do this. Then want him to stay
with the club. Who knows, we might
cop a pennant before he really
hangs up his glove and forgets the
game in which he has been a ma
tional figure SO long.
How does the club look to you?
I'll admit the boys are all fighting
for everything and this is bound to
mean victories when folks least ex.
pect 1t.
but he'll be there before long. You
weather yet and Peck is a bit stiff
after that warm weather we had in
Florida before hitting the road. /
am confident that he will have
quite as good a year as he had in
1928.
II wouldn't be surprised II we
didn't really get going until we got
home and had some of our Wash.
ington spring weather, fine warm
days, just the right thing for the
veterans. A week Of real hot
weather would make veterans like
Peck Sprout overnight.
I'm making no prediction,
mark this, but I honestly think
we're going to have q big laugh
on some Of the baseball writer's
who have picked us to finish as
low as seventh. We're not q
seventh-place club. that's all, &C.
cOrding to my reckoning.
Everything is going to please
me. The pitching has been gen.
orally good. Mogridge had a
couple of bad innings in his two
starts, but didn't he show the real,
thing against the Yankees? George
is going to look better and better
the longer he works. I'm not wor-
rying about him at all. He's going
to win q lot Of games before the
summer has gone.
"Then look at Joe Martina,
There's a pitcher who has wasted
most Of his career by remaining in
the minors. He's going to be a. big
winner with the Washington club,
or never saw a pitcher in my life.
"Speece. is another sure to be a
winner. His control, especially for
a youngster just breaking in, is re-
n1arkable. Species showing is Just
one of my reasons for laughing at
tho experts who predicted US to
finish last
The enthusiasm Of Manager Har-
ris is catching. Already some of his
players are beginning to prove this
by their talk. Joe Judge is willing
to bet a nickel or eight cents that
the Griffs will finish at least in
players who love to play ball and
have got the winning germ in their
systems.
ball." remarks Roger Peckinpaaig1,
a veteran of veterans. 1.-THE club
picked to win a pennant sometimes
proves a fizzle. The club picked for
last place sometimes steps out and
breaks all records. Well, some of
the writer's have picked us for last
place. Maybe they'll be fooled"
Saturday. Immediately following
the game at Shibe Park, the Griffs
will hasten home. where they must
meet the biting Red Sox on Sunday
in the first Of four games. The
dope is that the Red Sox are NOV
ing fast right now and may prove
even tougher than the AS or the
Yankees.