The Washington times., 1929-06-03
PILOT SAYS
TEAM IS
ON WAY
BY Bob Thayer

"We re on our way now and
It's going to take a lot to
stop us!'' So philosophers
Walter johnson, team director
of the Washington Griffmen.
Stoutly maintaining that his boys
were made Of better stuff when
they were Hopping cellarward
recently, the big Train" has put
on plenty Of steam since they have
snapped into winning stride.
"I've been in baseball too long
not to know the difference be-
tween failure and team that's
going bad" he insists. "Of course
Twas down in the mouth when we
failed to click earlier in the year
but / always felt that we'd get
started some day.
81 believe that warm weather
Is the big reason for our come
back. Our older heads are be-
ginning to thaw out under bet
ter climatic conditions while
our class is coming to the sur
face generally"
Walter is loud in his praise OF
two players who have recently con-
eributed a large portion to their
teams punch, Joe Cronin and
sam Rice. he believes. are big
factors in his clubs climb and are
in there to stick.
'Cronin is, of course, the b1ggest
surprise" he claims. 1--WE all knew
that Joe could step in there and give
q good accuont of himself but now
many, IL any, guessed that he'd
bloom out as a slugger this YEAR,
"It isn't the fact that Cron1n Is
hitting 'em hard and often, though,
that makes him 100 per cent Inn
proved hitter. It's his batting with
men on that's putting him across.
He's passed up very few chances to
drive runners in lately and Is be-
coming one of the most dangerous
men on our club.
There's little to say about Rice
that hasn't already been said. He's
hitting close to $50 now and 1t
wouldn't surprise me a bit If he
STAYED there, clocking that pill at q
mile a minute!"
johnson is confident that his
outfit has seen its worst days and
with Pitchers Liska and Jones
scheduled to return shortly, he pre-
diets that his gang will kick a fuss
In the American League race yet.
"Pd be foolish to claim any
thing while we're down in the
race" he explains, "but don't be
surprised if this team wins a
lot of games before the season 8
much older.
We've had our slump now and,
IL anything, we ought to be thank
full that it came as early as it did.
For one thing it gave us a chance
to settle on a regular combination,
at least that's the way our machine
looks right now.
"There's nothing permanent on
this club, understand Johnson
hastens to add. 1.-THE man who is
best suited for the job will be sent
into the lineup on minutes
notice. What I mean to get
across is that the bunch out there
right now looks mighty good and
when Bluege gets back in harness
therell be few clubs who'll have
anything on u.s."
Improved pitc ing, though,
promises to be Walters ace in the
hole when Liska and Jones start
shooting again.
''I'm planning to send Ad against
the Browns tomorrow" he declares.
''It may take Jones little bit longer
to come around, but with Liska,
Braxton, Jones and Marberry ready
to go we can wait for him awhile!'
Baseball men generally believe that
Sir Walter, after getting away to a
bad start. is due to have his inning
as a big league manager, and there s
little question but what the games
followers are pulling Fundamentally
for him to deliver.