The Washington times., 1934-08-25
FISHING REMAINS UNCERTAIN
GR|FFS To STOP
ROWE TODAY IF
THEY CAN
BY Frank Buck" O'Neill
Times Staff Writer


Schoolboy Rowe, with Is con
secutive victories to his credit, will
attempt today to tie the American
League record for consecutive vic
tories.
He hasn't beaten the Griffs this
season, nor has he finished the
two games he started against
them. On May 20, he was knocked
out of the box in three innings
and Just one month later to the
day he was hammered off the
mound in six innings.
In their last three starts with
Detroit the Griffs have made 3e
hits-an average of a dozen blows
per game, and teams will win
pretty consistently making IL hits
per game.
Weaver to Pitch
Professor Monte Weaver will.
try to prevent Rowe entering the
hall of baseball's immortals tc
join Smoky Joe Wood and Walter
Johnson who won Is straight
games each in 1912, and Robert
Moses Grove who turned the TRICK
in 1881. Rowe started his streak
on June IS when he beat the
Boston Red Sox II to 4, allowing
nine hits and striking out toul
hitterS. Rowe said:
"Boys, hope 1 win today.
If get past this game, l feel
confident that will go on
and beat Rube Marquard's and
Tim Keefe's records of 19
straight. Yes sir, it's make or
break for me today.
"Sure I'm confident. / think
I will win every time go out
to pitch. Every pitcher feels
that way or he wouldn't be in
the majors. But being con-
fident and winning your game
are two different things"
Probably every one, except the
Washington players, is roofing
for Rowe to pitch on to new
record. Not only has he estab
lished his greatness for the sea
son, but his pleasing personality
has won him a legion of friends
Hat Size Unchanged
Rowe wears the same size hal
he wore when he reported to the
Tigers last year, a silent, gangline
kid with a world of stuff and al
ability to hit a baseball as wei
as he could throw one.
The Weather Bureau has prom
ised clear skies and a gentle
southwest breeze for this after
noon, with a slight drop in tenn
perature. Rowe is hot Weathe!
pitcher, but if the men whost
business it is to read the skie'
and measure the winds are cor
rect in their predictions, condi
tions will be just right.
Mickey Cochrane promised
Rowe a victory yesterday after
noon before leaving the club
house. He said:
"We're set and going again.
1 hated to lose those first two
games, but if we had to lose,
I'm glad it wasn't behind the
SchOOlboy. Those II hits we
made are just a sign that the
Tigers are themselves again.
Rowe won't need any IL runs
to win, but we'll try to get him
20 just to make everything
sure"
RoWe's faith in his own ability,
and the confidence of Cochrane
are fine, but winning 16 straight
is feat that is beyond the call
of mere confidence.
Great Pitchers Fail
Look over the lists of the pitch
ers who never made such a
record. The list of the exalted
few shows no Christy Mathewson.
Big Ed walsh failed. So did
Rube Waddell and Chief Bender.
Carl Hubbell never compiled any
such record, nor has Vernon
Gefty) Gomez made the grade
SO far.
In winning his IS straight
games, Rowe pitched 1877 1-3 in
nings. He allowed Al runs, not
all of them earned. He allowed
100 hits, gave 80 bases on balls,
and struck out IA batters. He
pitched 103 scoreless innings.
Rowe has been in 81 games
while compiling his IS straight
victories. He started 13 of these
and relieved in 8. He won five
of his relief games and pitched to
no result in three of them. Of his
starts he failed to finish four
times. Twice, however, he was
taken out when the Tigers were
so far ahead that there could be
little doubt of their ability to carry
on and win. And if you are in
terested, Rowe pitched 10 consecu-
tive innings without giving a base
on blalS.
So here is the man who must
beat the Griffs to tie a record in
baseball. He figures to win, but,
remember, he hasn't beaten the
Griffs yet this season, and also
remember the axiom of Harry C.
Pulliam: "Take Nothing for
Granted in Baseball"
FovTOno0oHo%o1