The Washington times., 1925-08-18

Tackle Cleveland, While Ath-
letics Try to outpoint ST.
Louis Browns
By LOUIS A. BOUCHER
CLEVELAND, Aug. 1s.-The

BY LOUIS AZ OOOUhGAs
CLEVELAND, Aug. 18.-The
worlds champion Washington
Griffmen, two full games behind
the leading Philadelphia Ath-
letics, begin their final tour of
the West here today, opening a
three-game series with the Cleve-
land Indians. Their rival con-
tenders are due to open series
against the Browns in st. Louis.
For two weeks the Griffs and
the Mackmen viii be battling
western clubs. For the season to
date the two contenders have an
edge in these intersectional games,
but neither can afford to hesitate
q second in their sizzling race for
the topmost honor. Every club
out here is girding itself to make
trouble for the Mackmen and the
champions. The fight is really
among the White Sox, Tigers and
Browns for two places in the first
division. All the first four clubs
will share in the world series
melon this season, which explains
the anxiety of all three to knock
off the two leaders and gain at
their expense.
Right here the Indians, after a
woeful start have finally settled
down to business. Behind Smith,
Uhle. Miller and Buckeye the. Indi-
ans are playing good ball and the
champions are not assured of any
easy thing winning games at Dunn
fled.
I'VE haven't done as wen as we
might" says Iris Speaker, but
we're making q strong finish and
II will take a lot OF baseball to
beat Us. IL our pitching is steady.
We're not giving away any games
these days."
Sherry Smith or George UhIe
Is expected to face the cEampi-
Ons today, with Walter johnson
on the hill for Washington. The
Griffs lost to both indian huFiers
IN Washington , week ago, Uhle
ahutting them out, and the out
look today Is not 50 cheerful.
Manager Bucky Harris is con.
eidering giving Goose Goelin q
brief rest while here. though at the
last moment he may alter his
plans and keep the former slug
ger I'm the lineup. Goslin is in
the throes of prolonged batting
slump and 1t Is believed that q
brief rest may cure him. He is
rusty from his futile exertions.
During the three weeks at home
ending with Sundays game, Goslin
took part in twenty games. He
went to bat seventy-three times.
scored ten runs and collected
twenty-five hits for a total OF
twenty-seven bases. In nine of
these twenty games he went hit
less.
Against Stoner, of Detroit, he got
two singles and q double, while he
poled a triple and three singles off
Ken Holloway, of the same club.
The only other pitcher treated
roughly by him was Sherry Smith
in that twelve-inning Sunday de.
feat, a double and two singles be.
ing the havest. Almsot half of
his hits came in three games.
There is a short right field here
and Joe Harris does very well iu
it. With Rice moving to center
and McNeely to left, as was done
when Goslin was suspended here a
month ago. 1t may be possible to
give the Wild Goose a much need.
ed rest without weakening the gen.
eral play of the team any. During
the home stay Goslin hit for q
mere .3O1, which is considerably
below his seasons average.
However. GosIin's heart is in
his work and he Is sure to make
q kick against being benched for
any reason and IL Is quite DOS.
stble that Bucky Harris will con-
tent himself with keeping lis
lineup intact and pulling for Cos
lin to snap out Of his Iethargy
around the plate.
Joe Judge still limps q little BIT
but is expected to be back on the
Job today. He likes to play rere
for Dunn Field seems made to
order for him. II he played half
the season here, Judge would have
: Up around 500.
The off day passed slowly for
most Of the champions. President
Clark Griffith headed q small
group in attendance upon the har.
ness races at North Randall, but
most of the players hung around
the hotel or took in the movies.
Secretary Eynon enjoyed the races
most as they were the first he had
seen in thirty years,
The off day is expected to prove
beneficial to the pitching staff.
Bucky Harris now will rotate
johnson. Ruether, Coveleskie and
Zachary in that order, holding
Marberry. Gregg and Russell for
relief duties" only. The little man.
sger believes that quartet, working
in turn from now on, will pitch
the Griffmen into their second
championship.
Aztecs Win One