The Washington times., 1910-03-24
NATIONALS STRENGTH
STILL PROBLEMATICAL
Sudden Reversal During Practice Period Is Typical
Illustration of Teams Work-Early Conditioning
Plan Makes Hit With McAleer.
By THOMAS S. RICE.

again yesterday afternoon. the prac-
tce was extremely fast and clean
McAleer thinks that perhaps the sud
den streak Of midsummer weather has
infected the team with spring fever.
Mebbe so.
"Eere's my idea Of training the
Washington squad, and ! would not be
surprised 20 see IL adopted" said Nc
Aleer, as ne wiped the sweat Of honest
toll from his brow after that exasper-
ating workout yesterday. These field
ers all know their business. They'll
have slumps like this I'm the season and
YOU can't prevent 10, but they VIII be
back on the job in the next game
What we want is batting practice, and
that Is what ] am trying 60 give the
men. but the scheme Of having the bat
teries condition themselves month In
advance, As suggested Ia The Times,
makes a hit with me ] would send
all the battery candidates 10 West
Baden about February ], To- course Of
water and baths, then 1 would forward
them TO Hot Springs 70 EC- into tip top
shape by March IS. the date on which
| would have the rest Of the squad re-
port IN WashinB ton. The weather
there in the early spring is good enough
on the whole 10 allow all the fielding
practice We would need. Then I would
bring on those thoroughly prepared bat
itIltN ana TOT a SOHO NlNIlU MONiR
work the squad morning and afternoon
against the best pitching our twirlers
could produce. Thus, when The sched-
ule opened our men would he as ready
20 face the major slahmen as they Will
be this year IN the middle OF May
Which is all right as far as the bat
teTies are concerned but il Is not such
an easy matter TO whip team into
shape in its home town.
Funny thing about that furEO batting
Looks dead easy and every kid on
pack lot fights for chance 20 knock
'eu out. but the number or men VINO
can bat 10 the ticlderS properly iS not so
large Wade l[illifer. McAleer. and the
pitchers are the only members Of The
Washington squad this year who are ee-
pcrts IN this line Pitchers are usually
good fun@Oists because the managers
employ them lu that way, while the
feldcUS are getting in r-elT lirkS- Groom
is rather proud of his aiaptueSs iu this
specially and WLaCkS away Cnccrfully
as long as desired. Dixie Walker likes
10 because he thinks It q fine thing To
have the ie.ders dance ATTENDANCE on
his blows, while an admiTing small boy
stops the return throws and uDSeQuiouS-
.ly tosses Jhem 20 him. thereby saving
him All the trouble or moving anything
except his arms and shoulders.
Now II ;he Democrats viii only re-
fraiU from making speeches, The RepuD-
licars viii elect a Democratic House for
them
Ball players travel largely in pairs
Soon after a squad has be m assembled
they naturally fan into combinations
that often last for wears one OF the
best assorted pairs IN the Washington
bunch this year are Dolly Gray and
Bob Groom. Both came from the
Pacific Coast League last year as bush
leaEuerS trying 20 break In. Gray was
the star pitcher Of the Los Angeles
Club. which won the pennant on the
coast in lgN with a winning percentage
OF So for thirty-elght games. leading
the tWiTIers who worked all season
Groom was the best performer OF the
Portland, ore. team which finished
second that year his winning per
Centage was .651 for forty-four games.
and he was second 20 Gray among the
regulars. Allowing for the difference
In games pitched and the standing OF
the two teams, the two pitchers were
and Groom, riEht-hander. are con-
stantlv together They play pool by
themselves. also billiards. and nobody
has been able to decide which Is the
better on the tables both being first
class. They can wear each others
clothes. and do so. Each on his first
trial with washington pitched one in
ming only. and that inning was the
worst. except that by the other fellow.
In the clubs history that year. Both
braCed UP remarkably toward the end
Of the season. and both acquired the
reputation Of being future greats II
they could overcome wildness. They
will probably wind mp by courtinE the
same girl and lighting like Kilkenny
cats.
GezsIer and Unglau5 are roomins to-
gether this trip. Good thing 10 isn't
TngIaub and Schaefe'-the hotel would
never settle 20 rest.
"Fans often misunderstood a batter
because they do not know what was in
his mind nOaned Schaefer at lunch
today. when kidded about swinging at
balls over his head In morning prac-
tiCe- VERY often a player simply de-
teruines that he will swing AT the next
ball If IL costs a lawsuit. and when
this idea becomes fixed 10 is almost i'm
possible for him 20 rid himself Of H.
have swung At balls that hit I'm front OF
the plate, and al those that were two
feet over my cap on this principle. and
gotten the hoot 7 deserved, but the
same thing Will come up again in an
OF her game, and away YOU 20. one
thing i'm its favor Is that the batter Is
always confident Guder such CirCum-
stances, and that is why -Ou see these
sluEgers sometimes connect with a bad
shoot and knock Il a mile"