The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-03-31

at Galveston last SUNDAY HoEh4hB' piaS
ing in Houston that afternoon, and has
been continuously on the jump ever
since. and there are ten days more OF
this transforming before reaching
Washington next Wednesday week and
opening the American League season
there the next day.
Not only that but the American
League schedule requires Washington 10
20 on the road right away after play
ing the first home series. Still worse
the Eastern clubs go West in May TINS
year. our brave boys Will certainly be
the travelling kids.
Just how much good has been accom-
plished by this fly-by-night tour Is nara
10 say. for dope seldom counts In base
hall. Some teams which could hardly
l1it a free lunch have broken records Tor
smuggling IN spring exhibition games,
while il is not at all unusual for bush
leaeuers and college mines 10 trounce
remnant winners and make them look
foolish. We are hoping Washington is
in the latter class.
Hopes cost nothing and help you 10
take Il cheerful view Of the situation.
Batting Away On.
The main developments of the week
are that the entire squad is away on IN
batting, with Blanzenship, Schlafiy, and
AItizer doing most toward recovering
their eve for the ball; Altizer's success
as a speedy and strong-armed inner
fielder. who can throw Ike a rifle;
Hickman's rapid Improvement in all
branches of first base work; acquiring
Of better control Of Graham and the
prospect that he viii make good as
p pitcher in fast company, and the Ger
tafntv that Perrine is much better on
short throws to second and third than
on the longer passes from short TO Hrst-
This. Perrine problem is the one which
will require Manager CantillOn's closest
study. He is an Industrious. sCrappy.
enthusiastic little man, and a good ball
PLAYER. but with him il just now is a
case of the right church, but the
wrong pew" He is a second baseman.
and made his record in the minor
leagues in that capacity. George Lee
bau tried him at short in Kansas City
last year, but had 10 take him away
from there and put him at the middle
sack for the same reason that ne has
not made much of an impression with
Washington. His fatal tendency IS TO
make wild throws TO first on balls from
deep short. In handling quick force
real candy" and some Of his feats in
this line have been brilliant, but he has
poor control of underhand snaps across
the diamond.
Three for Second; None for Short.
Nil has played all over the diamond,
but was educated in baseball as sec
ond baseman Schlahy is also a second
r baseman pure and simple. and Wash
ington thus has three men for that sack
with no shortstop in sight. unless Altizer
returns 10 the inheld, in which case
Jones would appear again in center
which the sharDs figure. would probably
reduce the batting strength OF a team
which is already shy with the stick.
There are two more ways in which
the problem might be attacked. Schlaty
has an ambition TO play first. He might
try it with AItizer at short. Hickman
in center. Perrine at second. This is
a readjustment which would depend
upon how Schlahy broke into the ways
of first base after playing so long at
second. It might help the batting.
Another solution would be to make
Mi play short, for while he is not
star at that job he is not a dead one
by any means, and might be more accu-
rate than Perrine.
Cantillon seems 10 have all sorts Of
3 confidence in Perrine and to be deter
mined to give him every chance 10 make
good
With ali these questions to be answer
ed by the new manager, the practice
games offer advantages for careful
study and may yet prove of lasting
benefit to the team and the fans
Drilling on GTounders.
The batting ana fielding practice be-
fore the exhibition contests is by no
means a merry jest. Cantillon bats 10
the inheldeTs. and believes in exercising
a man in mis- failIngs. He sends bail
after ball TO Perrine at deep short, and
makes him whip to first every time. dc
has found that Nil has one or two lit
tie weaknesses in going after wide ones,
and has that patient athlete running
himself nearly to death. CantiIon
claims that any man who IS good
enough to come up to the major leagues
as an outhelder has learned all he VIII
ever require about catching flies, out
that most outhelders are decidedly weak
on grounders. <Giis is true, and is large
~ due to lack OF judgment in constant
y knocking skyscrapers to them in
warming up
The Washington manager goes to the
other extreme, and sends grass cutters
and low drives to the outheid. Many a
single has gene for d double or a triple
3 because a far gardener who could make
sensational catches like Walter Brodie
was all at sea on a sphere bounding eT-
raticallv toward him. and if Cantinon's
idea were followed by more minor league
managers there would be more finished
E fielders in the big leagues.
Hickman was told by the doctor
yesterday that he should be able TO
( play by next Tuesday. as his sprung
3 knee has been getting along nicely.
With him at first and Schlafly playing
; second again. the Capitalites should be
E much better prepared to meet the
Z strong teams which are to be played
: from now until the return 10 Washing
ton on April 10 Jones obtained relief
s from his boil today when il broke.
+ The constant pain is now over, but the
2 sore viii keep him on the sick list
the early part Of the week. Wilson is