The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-05-07
.riffs Hit
Hard By
Losses

DEFEATS tell conCaglon mas rave
aged the faltering Griffmen, re-
ducing them from team Of fair
promise in the spring to a band
that bungles its opportunities
with maddening ineptness. Not
only do they contrive to lose
games, but misfortune coupled
with their other ills, has wrested
players from the lineup, victims
of accidents and illness. Their
pennant chance, slim at the be-
ginning, fades now to chemical
trace with little hope Of being
restored.
The Griffs lost their fourth
consecutive game yesterday, bow
ing to the Chicago White Sox.
That was bad enough, but Buddy
Myer went into sick bay before
the game, and in the fifth in
ming Zeke Bonura hit Eddie Linke
on the leg with a line drive that
literally knocked the rotund pitch.
er off the hill.
Linke will have the leg X-rayed
this morning. If it was not
broken by Bonura's blast that
crashed him so hard as to be
heard all over the field, Linke
may consider himself fortunate
indeed.
While on the subject of Linke,
the writer reiterateS that it is
high time he was relieved of the
conditions of his absurd contract.
Under the terms of the agree
ment signed by Linke, he is COM
PEELED to weigh not more than
100 pounds. If he does he for
feitS a days salary. Well, just
take a look at the kid. He is
salloW around his eyes, and he
loses his stuff after six innings.
Six-Inning Hurler
Linke, weighing EOS pounds last
year, won his last eight starts.
At 1873 he can't get anyone out
after six innings. He will tell
you that he isn't right, and any
argument that che is all right"
is just pure hokum. Forcing
Linke to pitch when he is weak
and under weight is just reach
ing out for a licking.
The Sox had four runs and
seven hits on Linke in the first
four innings. After the game
some of the Chicago players
asked where Linke's fast ball
had gone. I told them: I'm the
steam room making weight"
Some fun, eh kid?
Well, now we have two of the
tentative starting four pitchers
out of the lineup. Linke will not
be able to do much running
around for few days and White
hill is out for a week. Myer has
the flu and he's out.
If you analyze the past perform.
ances of the Griffs you must
reach one conclusion. The stuff
thrown by the pitchers can't carry
very much in power or deception.
Argue from now until then. and
you come right back to confront
the facts of the case. The fences
at Griffith Stadium have shivered
under the climax blows of enemy
teams.
Dozen Home Runs
A dozen home runs have been
made already at Griffith Stadium
this year, most of them by enemy
players. Only Cliff Bolton, Of the
Griffs, has hit the ball over the
fence. The fluke home run made
by the enemy was Billy Sullivan's
normal single on which Jake
Powell fell down. All last season
only "a homers were made in
Griffith Stadium. In the rain OF
doubles and triples that shook
the barriers and sprayed the ter
rain in all sectors, the enemy
profited most.
Misfortune never comes unat'
tended, and as the pitching fell
away, some of the best hitters
went into slumps. It is remark
able to see Cecil Travis fooled by
stuff you know he can hit. His
swing is nice to see, and he goes
through after the ball, but he
doesn't hit.
Jack Russell has been promoted
to the ranks of starting pitchers
He will work in the first game
against the Boston Red SoX. The
succession of pitchers in the series
with the Crimson Hose will be
Russell, Appleton and Deshong. II
. is likely that the Red Sox order
will be Fritz Ostermueller, Lefty
; Grove and Wesley Terrell.
A lotta fun, Ell kid?