The Washington times., 1929-06-10
GR|FF SEES
PITCHERS
CLICKING
By Bob Thayer

By Bob Thayer
Convinced that Pitcher AID
Liska's return to form will be
the making of Manager
Walter Johnson's pitching
staff, President Clark G. Grit
fifth is today attempting to
laugh off a $4,000 long count.
delivered by Judge K. M.
Lands, baseball's big chief,
yesterday.
whats the use Of complaining?"
he asked when cornered last night.
ssThe commissioner has made his
decision, I thought my claim was
= lust one. but that's neither here
nor there. His words the law!
This ruling, revolving around the
case Of Pitcher Paul Mccullough,
was. given yesterday after President
Griffith and Scout Joe Engel had
been closeted in q hearing with
Lands at the New Willard Hotel.
President Oscar Smith and
Secretary John Mcmahon, both
representing the Toledo Club.
attorneys BY profession, were
also supported by the player,
Mccullough.
Basing his protest on physical
disability, Griffith was attempting
to regain the $4,000 paid Toledo,
OF the American Association, last
winter for McCullough's services.
Claiming to have posted $4,000
cash he later made good with the
equivalent Of the remaining $4,000
in the person of Third Baseman
Jackie Warner, formerly Of the De-
troit Tigers.
Weakened by influenza which pre-
vented his reporting for spring
training. Mccullough failed to show
up until recently when instructed
by Lands to proceed to Baltimore
for a physical examination. No
organic trouble being discovered
the commissioner declares that the
purchase is a legal one since the
player is in no way permanently
disabled.
Maintaining that Mccullough had
failed to respond to instructions to
report with the Washington club
and also that the player at one time
requested voluntary retirement,
President Griffith is frankly dis.
pleased with this turn Of affairs.
Having scored in Landis' decision
it now will be necessary for Nc.
Cullough to train at his own ex-
pense Until pronounced fit to work.
Signing his contract yesterday he
requested that he be placed on the
payroll Immediately, a motion that
was denied.
If waivers can be had, in the
meantime, it would not surprise
were the youngster sent to At
lanta when ready to pitch. Until
then he is at liberty to do as
he pleases.
With this detail off his mind
President Griffith found it neces-
Sary to grant Pitcher Sad Sam"
Jones Today vacation as a means
of resting his wrencled left side
before settling down and enjoying
life.
A true optimist, IL ever there was
one, the Old Fox was all smiles a
few hours after Liska had sub
nlarined the Cleveland Indians into
discard.
Say, that means a whole lot to
this club" he chirped while rehash-
ing the game. with four pitchers
like Braxton. Marberry. Hadley and
Liska working In turn and Jones
coming along later we ought to be
able to get somewhere.
I'm awfully glad to see Liska
coming back. When that bum ankle
put him out of commission and
Jones followed up with his wenched
side we were hard put for pitching.
Now things look lot better.
II figured that Llska would
make good as big leaguer
when looked him over in Min.
eRpOtis last year. ! don't think
j was far off. Hes got some.
thing else besides a trick de.
liver and that's a good noodle,
something you can't overlook"
Pausing momentarily to sign
voucher for something-or-the.oth
he continued instantaneously.
I'VE know what Hadley and
Braxton can do" he insisted, "and
let me tell you right now. Mar
berry is nine-inning pitcher who
can buck the best of them.
"Fred's learned lot about pitch
ing during the last two years, and
as long as we can spare him you'l
see him starting ball games. When
it's necessary for him to do relief,
of course, hen finish games just as
cheerfully."
The remarkable thing. though,
is that a baseball hardened man of
Griffith's experience can take his
bumps and keep smiling More
power to his type.