The Washington times., 1925-07-16
MEN
SKIDD|NG
BADLY
Manager Harris Is Desperate
J As One Thing After An
other Goes Wrong
LOUIS A. BOUCHER

By LOUIS A. DOUGnCn
DETROIT, July 49, The
creased skids are under the cham
pions of the world, the Griffmen.
Apparently only by the most
Herculean efforts on the part OF
Bucky Harris can the fighting
Griffs regain their former ag-
gressiveness and once more hit
that victorious stride that carried
them up ahead of the Philadelphia
Athletics during that long June
campaign.
In dropping their first game
here to the Jungle Cats, the Griffs
played sluggishly behind pitcher
too much inclined to generosity.
There was no life among the
champions, while all the time the
distant score board was telling of
the approach of the Mackmen,
who have hit a winning stride
again since leaving Cleveland.
Furious at seeing the Mackmen
steadily whiting down the lead Of
the champions, Bucky Harris sent
Joe Judge TO first base yesterday.
Trainer Martin wanted Judge to rest
a bit Iongre. but he cannot be
spared. He failed to hit safely. but
his work in the field was smoothly
accurate.
Roger Peekinpaugh may enter
the lineup today. though his in.
jured thumb is still sore. Like
Judge Peck is a vital necessity in
that infield. Scott. put a shadow
Of his former self, Is far below
rr1IS t. a &c
covering little or no ground and his
throwing is decidedly erratic. Fu:-
thermore, with him in the game.
double plays are few and far be-
tween. Hence Bucky Harris may
send Peck to the shortfield today
in hopes of stemming the tide that
Is setting in against the champions.
The worst Manager Harris ex-
pected in the West was an even
break I'm fourteen games. That is
well nigh impossible. To do that
the Griffs must win four of their
remaining five. Looking at the
team through the past week one
would be far more daring than
this writer to make such q pre-
dicti0n. On the other hand, play
ing as they have been, the Griffs
will be fortunate to take two Of
the coming five.
Last year the Griffmen made
their upward climb in August. They
are quite likely to face the same
thing this season, going home from
their second western tour in Sec
ond place and battling their way TO
the top, If they are to do so, during
August. If they succeed in such
a climb, they viii be near it by
playing majority Of their Septem-
Der games at home. but, judging
from their present form, they are
likely to face that fight to reach
the top rather than to keep it.
This writer scouts runners and
whispers that dissensions have
worst blow struck the team was
the illness of Walter johnson. His
absence broke up the pitching ro-
tation, a mark Of Bucky Harris
management. Then, with the pitch
ers going bad, some of the teams
best batsmen fell into a slump.
Rice and Goslin, depended upon
for much of the offense, suddenly
went to seed, popping up flies in
stead driving out vicious
doubles and triples.
Ossie Bluege's slump has con-
tinued the longest and his weak
hitting has evidently bothered him
in the field. He is now fighting
the ball instead of playing it
smoothly and gracefully as is his
usual custom.
With Peck out of the game, first
with an injured leg and now with
a bruised thumb, Scott has come
up time innumerable when hits
meant runs only to fall down bad
~. 1t is this combination of per-
fectly understandable circumstances
that has endangered the pennant
possibilities Of the Washington
Griffmen.
After pitching brilliantly through
the first half of the campaign
Dutch Ruether is beginning to
show signs Of wear and tear and it
il whispered that his best work is
behind him, that he will not again
reach the form he showed before
the fourth Of July. Certainly his
wildness is increasing and his
temper less pleasant. Possibly he
needs a rest, something impossible
unless some other pitcher can re-
place him.
COveIeskie's breakdown In st.
Louis is blamed almost wholly
upon excessive heat and tho lack
of sleep. II he is able to get
four days rest occasionally, he
should go through the campaign
and finish strong.
If Marberry were not SO neces-
sary as a relief hurler, he might be
used as starter, but Russell, Gregg
and Ogden have yet to show much
brilliancy in relief roles. Indeed,
all three have been of small use
to the regulars. Therefore, Mar
berry is still reckoned as a relief
pitcher.
Zachary is pitching in-and-out
RIWE SERcE WINSJ