The Washington times., 1929-08-23
FINISH
EXPECTED
Of GR|FFS
BY Bob Thayer

y
iDETROIT, Aug. 23.-" The
present win streak of the
Washington club is due to its
improved pitching. p"
sManager Walter Johnson himself
Al the authority for this statement.
'srhe hitting and improved defen-
slve play has OF course, played IT'S
xArt," Walter admits, "but after all
it,s the pitching that counts most.
F'swhen we started our present trip
mir slabbing looked not so good.
Now its our strongest point.
s"With men like Myles Thomas and
sam Jones coming through, were
ready to give anybody tough
scrap"
IThonnas and Jones, Walter thinks
wsiu be the main springs of a fast
finish for his club. Both have made
rbod with a bang in recent starts
and seem ready to shoot their best
when Lloyd Brown deserted
his mates last might and re-
turned to Washington for treat
Inent there was, Of course, much
regret expressed.
sPrior to injuring his salaried left.
arm Brownie had pitched some GOOD
ban and was valuable man to nave
abound
"Earlier in the year" Manager
Jehnson explained while discussing
this subject, Browns departure
would have been calamity. he
a dough pitcher with plenty OF neart:
Fright now, though, we've got
little to squawk about. Win
singers like Marberry, Braxton,
JSnes, Thomas and Burke available
we ought to win a lot OF pan
games"
when the Griffs pulled out Of
Washington almost three weeks ago
J6nes was left behind. There was
doubt as to whether he would
recover from his sore arm autli.
ciently to join his club on its
present hop
Sad Sam fooled them all, how
ever, and hooked up with his mates
in Cleveland. Furthermore he was
pitched on the day he reported and
made good with a win, pitching
great ball until relieved by Marberry
with one man out in the eighth.
II feel like getting In there
and bearing down in plenty Of
games," Sam grinned after that
victory. whenever Walter
needs me I'll be all cooked to
shoot"
The case OF Thomas has been
even more gratifying. The little
Yankee was not rated very highly
III nm
club on waivers. Three full years
with the Yankees, folks figured.
out to- bring out the best in any
pitcher.
Myles was aware of this senti.
ment. Maybe it hurt him a bit but
he never admitted it,, Keeping hig
chin up he donnedr his. Washington
uniform and has since made good
with four wins while dropping three
decisions.
One of these games was a tough
one which the Red Sox grabbed.
Thomas. was accorded only two
starting shots during his last two
seasons with the Yankees. Yet his
four wins with the Griffs have
all been nine-inning struggles.
These two. tough. are deserving
of more praise than are their start.
ing mates, Marberry. Braxton and
Burke. Burke, while less success.
full than the other two, has lost
several tough games and is a much
better pitcher than his record indi.
Gates. Furthermore, he Is learning
and figures to develop into head
liner within the next couple of
years.
BraxtOn and Marberry. already
established singers. have deliv-
cred NO to their usual standard.
Between them they have to.
tailed 20 wins. and have saved
several more games.
While Braxton encountered rough
going early in the season, Marberry
has delivered consistently and is
counted among his leagues premier
boxmen.
And" says Walter Johnson. $50
long as these players bear up we'll
continue clicking. When a team
has confidence in it's pitchers the
rest isn't so tough.
Get a man to hold the opposing
batters, he says "and the other
club is licked three times out of
four. And so long as our big five
comes through we'H be in there
fighting.
"I1l go farther than that" Wal.
ter remarked in closing. Give us
the brand of singing we've been
getting along with a few breaks
and wen finish fourth. Yes. you
can quote me-"