The Washington times., 1929-05-02
TRIP WEST
MAY pep
IT Up
BY Bob Thayer

NEW URN, May S.-I1dN'
ing Jared rather disastrously
in their games to date, the
Washington Griffmen tonight
will depart for the golden
West where they are to launch
their first invasion of the
= 1929 season.
Twelve games are scheduled with
the Western teams, the Cleveland
Indians being met in the first of
a three. game series Saturday.
Z Three game sets also are sched-
uled with the Detroit Tigers, Chi
cago White Sox and st. Louis
Browns before the Philadelphia
Athletics are encountered in the
home coming attraction at the
Georgia Avenue stadium May IT.
Travelling tomorrow, the Griffs
are to open against the Tribe the
following day, after which they will
dispose of their opponents in the
order named.
While conCeding a vast improve
ment in the Western clubs over
those representing that section a
year ago Manager Walter Johnson
Is firmly convinced that his comb1-
nation will get started during this
tour
We've got good team" he
contends, much too good, IN
fact, to remain in its present
position.
MAYBE a change of scenery will
do us good. I'm dead sure that
we're going to get started sooner
or later and cause plenty of trouble.
There's no reason why we can't
come back to Washington winner
May II.
I'm figuring on trying out LLOYD
Brown and Bob Burke as nire
inning pitchers during this stretch.
If either one of them gets started
in the right direction he's likely to
see plenty of work
We'll satisfied with the work OF
Ad Liska, his underhand threat,
johnson is anxious to get one OF
the two mentioned started as
means of off-setting the early
season reversals experienced by his
regulars.
IL know too much about Hadley'
Marberry. Braxton and Jones to
lose confidence in them, Walter
declares. 'At the same time II
Brown and Burke can win hall
games while the others are still
getting started, I'll certainly give
them plenty of work.
Brown showed me plenty of
stuff this spring and ! believe
he'll go good as a fuIEtlme
pitcher. He has plenty of stuff
but needs to warm up more
than he has in his relief turns
so far.
Burke. too, has improved a lot
and will bear close watching. I'm
ready to give them both the once
over and I hope that at least one
of them will come through.
This first Western trip will orlng
the Griffmen into play against some
visibly changed outfits Their most
picturesque series probably will re-
suit in the Detroit Tiger wrangle.
Bucky Harris, who five times
piloted the Washington club into
first division while winning two
American League Pennants and one
world championship, has worked
wonders with the Bengals who, de-
spite a 5000 percentage or there
abouts, are shaping up as a money
club.
Too, there are the st. Louis
Browns, considered an Outstand.
ing championship threat by such
authorities as Connie Mack and
Miller Higgins. while both the
Indians and White SOx are
qualified to offer some Stout
battling.
The Brown series may result in
continuation of the Goslin-Manush
batting feud which was waged until
the last day of the 1928 season.
Fighting it out for the American
Leagues hitting crown, these two
duelled furiously to a finish before
the stout-hearted Salem boy was
officially declared the winner by a
lone point.
Both have started their 1929
drives promisingly. Manush is con-
Meeting consistently and is con.
sidered one of the big guns in his
teams attack. while sGoslin, despite
his clubs shaky start, also Is hang
ing oAt base hits with his custom
ary viSor.
Sad Sam" Jones, the Woodsfield,
Ohio, curver, who used to shove 'em
across the Hugmen. will try his
luck against his former companions
today. Jones last year sank the
title holders four times and would
like nothing better than to follow
suit this season.
Miller Higgins mound choice. on
the other hand, is problematical.
With Waite Hoyt alone delivering
in a starting capacity, the midget
strategist is up against 1t for
pitching strength.
Neither Herb Pennock nor Cy
Moore, who hit the rock last year,
have rounded into their expected
form while George Pipgras is an.
other who not vet has lived up to
expectations.
pARTNFRSHIp nIcCnl VFnl