The Washington times., 1929-08-16
DARING ON
PATHS HAS
EFFECT
BY Bob Thayer

CHICAGO, Aug. b.--Taklng
chancesmore than anything
: else has played its part in
the recent progress of the
Washington Griffmen, this
and an added hustle which
seems to have electrified the,
entire club.
Only few Weeks ago the Gfiffs
were a dull, conservative combina-
tion with no future. dismal pre-.
sent and hopeless past. Today
they are real fighters who promise
to make a spirited bid against tough
odds for first division finish.
Why this sudden transformation
In many answers could be given
but none seems more logical than
the obvious one--the boys have
finally taken q tumble to them.
selves and are playing the ball of
which they are capable,
Walter johnson, John McGraw,
three Connie Macks and seventeen
Joe McCarthys could not have IN.
stilled fire into the beaten men OIL
a month ago. Today these same
warriors have braeed and are riding
along smoothly on the crest OF q
real win Streak.
Players. who formerly were
reluctant to take any kind OF .
chance, are now showing daring
IN the bases, with the fall and
IN the field and are getting
away with the majority Of their
) efforts.
This is particularly true in the
matter OF base thefts and stretching
hits. Sammy Rice, for instance, has
shown all of his old cunning IN
making two bases grow where one
is exnected while the club, as q
whole, has improved perceptibly In
base stealing within the past two
Wesks.
TOO the art Of advancing runners
Wis the sacrifice bunt Is picking up
daily. Hitters who failed utterly In
their attempts to bunt earlier In
the wear are clicking constantly
now and more runs are being coined
as a result.
In other words the club that
formerly was complaining Of its
lack of breaks is fighting to make
them and consequently Is cashing
In handsomely.
Now that they have hit winning
clip many quiries are prevalent re-
garding the early season failure OF
the Griffmen. Scribes and fans
alike who have watched their recent
play are at a loss to understand
their unexpected comeback.
To these questions two replies can
be given. The most feasible Is that
they are just beginning to regain the
confidence that was jolted by those
early season thrashings administered
by the Athletics. And again 1t may
be that they have recuperated from
stalness ruling from their strenuous
spring training schedule.
The Athletic theory seems
most logical insofar as the
Griffmen bucked Connie Mack's
crowd when the champions to be
were in top stride, And being
flO0red repeatedly by one-run
margins didn't help any.
The Washington club which had
amazed with its excellent spring
record gradually seemed to lose the
cockiness 1t had shown in exhibi-
tions. And when these heart-break-
ing losses continued as the season
progressed it rapidly declined to
downright mediocrity.
Heads up play became thing OF
the past. Pitchers of known caliber
either lost their stuff or We're trip
ped by poor support. A punchless
batting order failed utterly to con-
meet with left-handers and was not
so hot against orthodox men.
In other words early June found
the Griffmen counted out of the
championship running and by July
they were generally consigned to
second division.
Now with the campaign rapidly
drawing to close and the race
settled thing they nevertheless have
regained some measure of their
prestige by coming through with a
worth while, though belated dis
play of speed.
Minus three early season re.
liables, pitchers Sam Jones and Ad
Liska and third baseman Ossie
Bluege, they have Strengthened
themselves out and look the part
of a winner.
And it's just as we'll that things
have happened this way. For,
after all, 1880 will bring along new
contracts, and strong finish might |
figure favorably In the salary con.
siderations of several players who
seemed due for healthy cuts.
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