The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-07-21
Few Griffnen
To Figure In
1938P|ans
BY FRANK BUCK" o'NEnL

The sale of Carl Fischer to the
Baltimore orioles by the Washing
ton Baseball Club marks the first
move in a program calculated to
build up the Griffs next year.
President Clark Griffith, in dis
cuSsing the move this morning
said that he had other deals in
the process Of negotiation that will
make the Griffs a stronger and
better team in 1888.
Eve are going to make all
deals as the opportunity pre-
sents itself" President Griffith
said today. 81 realize that the
Washington Club must be torn
apart and reasSembled. I'm 60
ing to do that at speed cOnsis-
tent with wisdom.
I'm the case Of Fischer, he
flashed for a while and then
faded out of the picture. He
seemed to lack competitive tenn
permanent.
Some Of the other boys seem
to lack something that goes with
winning teams. But things will
have to change or the faces in
the field and the names in the
lineup will change"
PAID FOR PITCHING
Griff naturally made no refer
ence in the case Of Fischer to the
Wordy war he had with Steve
O'Neill, the square-jawed Irishman
who directs the Cleveland Indians.
O'Neill challenged Fischer to fight
out in Cleveland, but Carl is paid
Tor pitching, or says he is paid
Tor pitching. In any event, he
went in and sat down on the rub
b1ng table and surrendered the
floor to the irate Irishman,
Fischer is not the only member
OF the Griffs who has declined is
sues Of various sorts this season.
There has been a lack of fight
and aggressiveneSs on the playing
field that at times was disgusting.
The SpiritleSs play of the men:
their stolid silence in the dressing
room after one-sided beatings,
their nonchalance on trains and
IN hotels all added to the picture
OF a team that was playing out
the season.
The mills of the Griffs and the
mills of the gods evidently have
come to the parting of the trail.
IN the past they both have ground
slowly. Now the Griffs may &C.
celerate their pace and sacrifice
flnenesS for results.
Built Around Melo
The outfield Of the future here
will be built around Melo Armada,
who takes second place to none in
defensive skill. He is improving
steadily as a hitter. The gay
caballero from the land of POGO
tempo will be a fixture here for
some time to come.
Simmons is fighting hard and
smuggling the ball, but AL has seen
the peak Of his glory as a player,
and now is on the sunset slope.
Stone is a real ball player, but is
not a whoop de doodle guy. Where
fore, he was left off the star squad
and Buddy Myer made the squad.
On the infield Buddy Lewis
looms as a fixture. Travis may
be retained; probably will. for he
can hit the ball. He is not a
good shortstop despite obstinate
insistence that he is as good as
the best. Maybe Travis will shift
to first base. and Kuhel will be
traded. Myer will be traded be-
yond doubt If the right deal can
be made. Buddy went back a long
way this season.
Miles Has Stuff
Walter Miles may not be the
greatest catcher in baseball, but
on the field or in a fight he is one
Of the gamest little guys in the
world. He tied into Jake Powell
in the fight at Yankee Stadium
when the others hung back. He Is
a hitter Of quality in the pinches,
even if he hits nothing better
than singles. He could use
whisk broom more effectively than
some Of those guys use a 38-ounce
bat.
Rick Terrell may or may not be
over the hill. He is a good catcher,
and like Carl Reynolds was, Rick
is q great spring hitter.
Our pitching staff consists Of
Prof. Monte Weaver aided by
Jimmy DeShong. Ferrell'S game
was all right, for he lost
after 10 rounds. But his previous
exhibitions Of nothing ball" pitch
ing were fearful, and in a sense,
wonderful. You wondered how a
major league pitcher could have
so little stuff on the ball.
There is where the team must be
built up. President Griffith has
not spent that reputed $3.50, 1000
received for Joe Cronin. There
must be some Of that dough avail
able to buy pitchers, and the time
has come to take the rubber band
off the bank roll. You can't get
pitchers sitting in the front office
looking at averages. Scouts are
needed, real, aggressive baseball
methods are needed, and if the
sale of Fischer is a forerunner Of
all of this, then this is a great day
for Washington fans.
Ra&haeda Ire CaAL