The Washington times., 1935-08-22


~Fk Miller the open.
It has been very much so
since this newspaper last
month commented on the
lack of alertness which the
1885 Griffmen had shown on
any occasions, together
with Griff's reactions to such
playing.
The washington club presi'
dent has no use for dumb base
ball any more than the late
Knute Rockne could tolerate
slovenly football.
Griff has seen so many in.
stances of sluggish baseball
this season that he is naturally
giving the matter Of next sea-
sons manager no little thought.
Players have time and again
pulled stupid baseball pranKs
either without instruction as to
the proper thing to do, or IN
direct violation of competent
instruction. For how much, II
any. of this Harris is held re-
sponsible only Griff knows.
One or the Other
However, there has been but
one fine for bad playing,
whereas the instances Of anna
teur playing have been so fre-
quent that one must conclude
there were no instructions given,
else fines would have followed
failure to carry them out.
One player who pulled a glar'
ing boner by offering at the
first pitched ball in the ninth
inning with the winning run on
base and a brand new pitcher
in the box, hitting into double
play and ending the game with
q loss for Washington-is now
on the market.
But, such were the players
the ball club has given Bucky
Harris with which to work, and
since Griff last winter, on two
occasions, publicly stated that
Harris would not be responsible
for the 1885 Griffs in that it was
a Griffith team Harris was
being handed, it is difficult to
see how Griff can now be enter
tanning any thoughts of side
tracking Harris.
Many Ways Out
But, other things which have
materialized in the course OF a
season, may change Grift's
viewpoints. He can yet let
Harris out, not because his club
Is on the verge of finishing sew
enth, but for extraneous rea.
sons, best known to Griff.
For instance, Griff didn't let
DOME Bush out as manager for
anything that had to do with
the club It was Donie's inter-
est in horse racing that tern1i-
mated his reign as local man.
ager.
Neither did Griff let Walter
johnson out because of the po-
Sition the club occupied during
the various seasons Barney
piloted Washington. Barney
went hence because he had no
patience with green young
pitchers who, unlike Johnson,
couldn't pitch major league ball
when they arrived in the big
league.
Cronin wasn't let go because
he finished seventh last year.
There were other reasons.
Ways Around Bush
GriffD can trump up a dozen
different causes to change
managers next year which
might be totally unrelated to a
Seventh-place team.
Now, should Griff discontinue
Harris as manager, there's one
reason that the Old Fox will not
invoke. It has to do with dis
gruntled, disloyal ball players
who pretend they can't work for
Harris.
That attitude is poison to
Griff. He claims those players
are under contract to him to
do tteir best, regardless of who
manages. Stiff fines and sus-
pensions are Griff's medicine
for such players. of which there
are unquestionably no few on
the Washington club in view Of
the several open enmities which
exist.
Players who lay down because
they don't like a manager are
like cinders in Griff's eyes.
He has his own manner Of
dealing with these birds, and it
isn't trading them to the club
to which they would like to go.
It is waiting until their con.
tracts go forth the following
winter when substantial cuts
are invoked-"take 'em or stay
out of baseball"
Griff doesn't trifle when he
meteS out his revenge.