Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-22
EXPECTS JOHNSON
j TO Be FIRM PILOT
Looks for Toughest 0pposi.
ton From Yankees, Macks
and Browns.
BY WALTER TRUMBULL.


"AMPA, Fla, March 22.-"I have
an improved ball club and a
good manager" said Clark Grit
i fifth.
Grifith went on at length to
give his views regarding the ability of
johnson as a manager and the pros
poets Of the Washington club in this
years race for the American League
pennant.
Some persons think that Walter
johnson is too amiable to make man.
ager," he began. But they are all
wrong Walter doesn't buster, as some
of them do, but that doesn't mean that
he doesn't know his own mind He is
quiet, but he also is firm. The men
know that when johnson says some
thing he means 1t.
Il might have made johnson man
ager some time ago, but / didn't think
1t would be fair either to him or the
club. He was carrying plenty of load
as 1t was. I do not believe that great
star ever should be a manager during
his playing days. 1t doesn't work out.
It usually is much better to take a less
talented player and train him as a
leader.
Playing Managers Fading.
Moreover, the day of the playing
manager in the big leagues is about
over. A manager has to stand for a
lot of criticism. Every time the bat boy
makes mistake the manager is blamed.
There is no use giving the mob chance
to blame him for physical as we'll as
mental errors. And he gets better
view of the game as whole from the
bench.
"One thing wish to make clear is
that Walter johnson is manager OF the
Washington club" Griffith went on.
He alone will direct the players and
the style of play. He will be response
BILE for results. shall never interfere.
/ never have interfered with any man
ager of mine. I always am ready to
give any assistance I can, but only II
they ask it. I don't even sit near the
bench. I always watch games from
the left field stand.
when it comes to trading, selling or
buying players, feel that I have a
right to be consulted, because such
transactions involve property rights,
but my manager runs the team.
There is no doubt in my mind that
my club is stronger this season, both
in Unfolding and pitching. I was per-
fectly aware of the price was paying
for Myer 1t was high price, but !
was willing to gamble because needed
one man worse than did five. The
trade permitted an arrangement which
made the club more formidable and
gave 1t an added punch.
Hardest Hitting Club.
"I have the hardest hitting club in
the American League. Given equal
pitching, my team will outhit New
York's. Fans around the circuit don't
give enough credit to the Yankee
pitchers But Washington doesn't fear
the Yanks. We have three or four
pitchers who are pretty effective against
them.
"As I told you," continued the owner
Of the Senators, my team Is stronger.
Myer is fine ball player and his play
ing at third leaves Bluege free to go to
short Bluege is the best shortstop
the Washington club has had since
Peckinpaugh. Hayes is great fielding
second baseman and good hitter. Joe
Judge should be even better at first
than he has been.
lone big disappointment has been
the loss of Boss. When I bought him
he was Just out of college, fast as a
streak and he could hit. If anything
happened to Judge, I had great
youngster to put on first. Then Boss
had the flu and he never has got over
it. I don't know whether he will ever
play ball again. As result 1t has been
necessary to take Gooch, third base
man, and drill him as replacement
for first base. Among other inf1elders,
we have Stewart from Birmingham and