Evening star., 1933-11-12
RIVALS ARE G|RD|NG.
TO HARASS CHAMPS.
Six of Seven Foes to Give
His Outfit Hot Battle,
Griffith Thinks.
BY JOHN B. KELLER.


BY JOHN B. KELLER.
THEY took it on their chins
plenty when they ran into
l. the Giants in the recent
world series, but the Ma
tionals may expect even harsher
treatment when they undertake
the defense of their American
League championship next year
in the opinion Of their president,
Clark Griffith.
It's not that Griffith has no
faith in his clubs ability to repeat
in the struggle for the circuit lau-
rels. But he foreseeS a strength
ening Of opposing forces that will
make the pennant pursuit any
thing but the pleasant pastime it
was for his Nationals in the last
campaign
AS Grifhth looks ahead there will be
six very tough clubs in the field against
his outfit. OF the Nationals rivals the
preXy discounts the Browns only and
he doesn't do this without a lot OF
Louis uniform still makes him bit
squeamish.
NO doubt all the other clubs eX.
cepting the Browns will give us lot
of trouble next year" Grifhth gloonily
admits Those that begin picking up
expected to be even stronger for the
start Of the next campaign. The others
will be ready for better fight.
Eyes, sir, they'll be out to get our
ecalps right from the start and we'll
have to do plenty Of fighting to re-
peat. I believe we WILL" he declares
emphatically. but it'll be a grand
scrap"
~ RFFITH looks for the West to be
II more troublesome, much more,
than 1t was last year. While he
doesn't expect the Browns to cut much
Of figure in the race, the Washington
president says the Indians, the Tigers
and the White Sox will command great
respect.
I'VE took these clubs neatly last sea-
son, true, but they'll be loaded for bear
next year." Griffith fears Watch out
for that Cleveland club. 1t had a great
pitching staff that bothered us all the
time this past season. It'll have just
as great staff next year, and what's
worse for Us it'll be back in that old
bandbox park with its short right-fleld
fence.
"Cleveland's long fly hitters were
handicapped while playing in the big
municipal stadium. The outfielders
could lay back for 'em and had plenty
Of room to chase the drives. But with
these same hitters rapping the ball
against the high right field fence and
often sending 1t beyond the park, the
Indians will be much more dangerous
club.
Il expect the Tigers to be far better.
too. Especially If that keen-witted and
aggressive Mickey Cochrane goes out to
Detroit to manage them. believe he
VIII, too. Mickey not only would
strengthen the Tigers behind the bat, |
Q place where they long have needed |
strengthening. but he also would add |
much to their batting power. And the |
Tigers should have a lot of high-grade |
pitching next year. Their pitching staff |
was good the past season, but was !
handicapped by illness.
"THEN there,re the White Sox to
consider. They were no push
overs in the last campaign, and
u looks as though they are planning
TO become more powerful in the next
They'll be out to make some deals this
Winter. And Comiskey's club is one
that needs bolstering only in two or
three spots to make it one of the most
troublesome in the business.
With the Red Sox building I'D and
the reorganized outfit working under
the direction of Stanley Harris, one of
the keenest managers in the game, we
can expect much to worry about from
that quarter. The Athletics will make
trouble for every one. Mack has the
makings OF what I regard the best
young club In the game; and If he can
produce the pitching, look out for the
Shibe Park crowd.
And you can't overlook those Yam
kees. even II they did play in-and-out
ease nal the past season So long as
they have Gehrig and Ruth, Van Alta
ana Gomez and Chapman, the Yanks
VIII do things on the ball field to hurt
you.
Believe me, this American League
VIII be great organization next sea
son. One with flock of strong clubs
IN hgntng trim. have confidence in
our Washington club and believe it'll
get another pennant. But" finished
Grif1th, the club that wins the cham
pionship will be bumped around con-
siderably before the campaign ends"
CRIFFITH is doing little more at
" Washington club headquarters
now than building an exhibition
game schedule for next Spring. While
ne Is not ready to divulge what big
league teams the Nationals will meet
az the Biloxi training camp and other
points IN the South, he says the Giants
Will not be among them. If the New
xorKers are to be met again next year
u Will be In world series only, the
washington prexy insists.
Ine prexy soon will bear down heav-
Iy on the business of lining I'D what
deals he may attempt this Winter.
Little more than a month remains be-
fore the big leagues will gather in Chi
cago for their annual p0W-WoWS and
bartering brushes and Griffith wants
decks cleared for these sessions They
the last day given over to the two major
leagues meeting with Judge Lands
base ball commissioner.
Recently, Griffith has heard from
three OF his players. Buddy Myer,
sterling second sacker, has written that
he is recuperating nicely from his re-
cent appendicitis operation. Jack Rus
sell, star relief pitcher, dropped q. note
from Paris, Tex, to tell he had had his
tonsils removed and believed the oper-
alton would improve his health gen.
orally.
And Manager Joe Cronin in his last
letter from his San Francisco home said
he has been hiking about the hills and
playing much golf to keep his waistline
down and also finding time to look over
some Winter ball games. Joe Is scout
ing these all-season clubs on the West
Coast hopeful Of discovering some likely
talent for the Nationals.
GIRL BASKETERS ELECT