The Washington herald., 1910-12-22
WALTER JOHNSON WILL
JOIN HOT SPRINGS COLONY
Big TwirIer Wants to Get Into Best of Condition
Outfielder Conway Signs-Other Gossip.
BY WILLIAM PEET.

Johnson, in a long letter TO the writer.
says that he has not touched a ball
since the season closed, and adds that
he will have TO work with the rest of
the boys in order 10 get into condition
The big fellow believes that II he spends
ten days or so at the Springs before the
time to report at Atlanta in March he
will be able to get into the 'pink." as
the ball players say. by the opening OF
the American League season
IL will be remembered that last winter
johnson pitched two games a week for
a semi-professional club on the Pacific
Coast, and did not show UP at Norfolk
at all. reporting in Washington about
April l.
The writer telegraphed McAleer last
night asking him if he would grant
JohnsOns request to spend a few days
at Hot Springs. and the reply came back
that Johnson could certainly go if he
wanted TO.
Johnson has not signed his contract
as Yet. but in his letter says there will
be no hitch about the matter when the
time comes. He also declares that he
intends 10 get a good start. and pre-
diets the season of 1911 viii be his ban
ner one
Charley Conway. the outfeder drafted
from the Youngstown club, who will be
given trial with the Nationals next
spring. is the second member OF Nc
Aleers family 10 get into line Con-
way 5 signed contract is now in the
hands Of the local boss, as the following
dispatch from Youngstown shows:
Charley Conway received his contract
from the Washington club officials yes
terday and lost no time in affixing his
signature and returning the parchment
The terms are satisfactory 10 Charley,
all except the clauses which prohibit
the playing of basketball and hockey
Conway was interested in both these
games with a vengeance, but since the
edict places these sports under the ban
he will forbear taking part in further
contests Of this kind.
Monte Cross, the phenomenal short
stop of the Athletics a few years ago,
and now manager of the Scranton team,
Was discussing the desire 10 increase
the batting. He has aa original opinion
TO offer. and one which is worthy of
considerable attention and thought
Monte says that there is but one salts
factory manner to help batting. Bring
the pitcher back To the 45-fOot mark
In other words, bring him back to the
same distance away from the plate as in
the days of 1880. Monte says that to
place the pitcher further away is all a
mistake. Here's the reason for this
paradOXical statement: Monte says that
the twirler cannot get the break TO his
he
he IS close 20 the plate The farther
away he is placed the better the break
To his curves, is the manner in which
Monte sizes up the situation. Here
chance for geOmetricians to come
through and decide If such a thing is
possible and is correct If that be so,
then bring the pitcher back. But Lord
help anybody who gets Walter Johnson,
Coombs or Ed Walsh only forty-five feet
away. Most of them won't see the pill
Possibly the day will come when pro-
fessional baseball teams of the big
leagues viii be in charge of a competent
athletic trainer, who will bring out the
latent speed and efficiency of the men
by constant coaching and supervision.
Possibly-but not bly-unless the
mental attitude OF the baseball player
of to-day toward his job and other con-
ditions are materially changed. Coaches
in colleges get results for one reason
the men are absorbed by the endeavor
30 shine in one little specially on one
little occasion. This intense interest and
undivided attention. together with an in
ordinate desire to succeed, all work with
the trainer 10 attain one little end-the
best that's in the athlete The condition
Is bound to net results.
But take the baseball player He lacks
the college mans enthusiasm for his
task; he, has many other things to de-
VelOp besides speed, and he cannot at
any time AFFORD To put d razor edge
on his condition. because it's a demon
strated fact that he would go stale long
before six months has elapsed.
Nearly all players in the game to-day
have as much technical knowledge of
running as suffices for baseball pur-
poses. II they specialized in sprinting
they might graduate out of the game
instead of into it, Many speed mer-
chants have been in baseball, but few
have remained long that have not been
splendidy equipped otherwise.
And as far as helping out good men
but slow. Wen believe In a Mike Murphy
for baseball when some trainer enables
Gabby Street TO beat out q sacrihce.
Perhaps it can be done; but did you
ever watch Gabby?
Elmer Bates, of the Cleveland Leader,
brings up an interesting point in base
ball. suggesting that major league clubs
might do well to place reserve" teams
in the field, as was tried with fair sue
cess by the National League some years
ago.
Below is what Bates says:
One Of the baseball innovations of his
tory-one that lived but for a single sea-
son-may some soon day besrevived as a
solution of the one big problem always
confronting the club owners. This prob
lem is the development of young players
that can instantly take the place of the
regulars who, from any cause whatever,
fall by the wayside.
1t was a good many years ago when
az winter meeting of the National
League IN New York. the club owners
decided to try the experiment of putting
a second team in each city. Reserve
teams" they were called They were
made up of the extra men on the pay
rolls-eXactly the same class Of players
that now sit idly on the bench with
nothing to do and with no chance TO de-
Velop.
These reserve teams played at home
when the regular teams were out on the
road. and went out on the road when
the regular teams were at home They
didn't attract tremendous crowds. of
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