Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-11
PLAY FIRST GAME
OF SEASON THIS AFTERNOON
Georgia Collegians Will Try to Make
Professionals Hustle-Hold- Outs
Have Not Yet Signed.

ton of ball player who has seen years
| of service in the major leagues should
| count for much with the owner or man.
ager Of team, and yet there are decid-
eddy few instances where the players
picked by these individuals made good in
| fast company.
On what Walter johnson said about
Bill Hinrich last season there was every
reason to believe that the Washington
| club had picked up a most remarkable
pitcher. Johnson insisted that Hinrich
anything better pitcher. OF course. it
was very nice for johnson to display this
modesty. but his judgment evidently was
not of the best, for Hinrich was not even
a fair pitcher, and it is questionable If he
ever would have BEEN Bill Bradley spoke
in the most glowing terms of Andy Keefe,
| the Cleveland youngster There Is no
doubt that. with proper handling Keefe
green hand and out of his class, yet
Bradley thought he would go.
No one appreciates the advantage of
player who is thrown in with lot of
star players more than Clyde Milan
''Zeb" was member of the all-star
team last year and played in the outfeld
| these games that he learned that COM
pany can quite figure with players
| work.
why. those fellows never made a mis-
\
what would happen. and If ball was
hit that l could not reach / always felt
sure that one Of the others would get it.
1t was real pleasure to play with Cobb
and Speaker. and l guess most any one
would be hundred per cent better ball
| player with that pair playing behind him.
The change from center to left did not
bother me in the least. In fact, 1 think
/ l can play one about as we'll as the other,
because 1 am able to 60 to either side
| for a ball without feeling that I am
handicapped"
That Manager McAleer has little inten-
ton of using Jack Lelivelt in the out
| field this year is evidenced by the fact
| that Jack has not spent a single minute
Of practice in that position He is being
| under McAleer's personal supervision he
| is showing much improvement on the
bag With Henry it is different. He catches
every day for half an hour or more.
and puts in about the same amount of
| time at first base. McAleer realizes that
| he may have to call on Henry to catch
at any time. and he does not want him to
forget how. While it is most probable
catching this season. yet there is always
the chance Of injury upsetting plans. and
Henry Is the man who will fill the hole
under such conditions.
Bob Groom is being trained quite differ
emily from the rest of the players The
tall lad from Belleville is lighter this sea-
son than ever before. and Trainer Quirk
| Is trying to put a few pounds of flesh on
him. Groom is not allowed to do any
thing but pitch. Such thing as taking a
run around the park is forbidden, and he
Is encouraged to eat all he can. 1t is
Inquired that IL Groom could get q few
pounds on him he would be much bet
ter pitcher.
McAleer figures that his infield will hit
ho
last. The addition Of Cunningham, who
has all the earmarks Of a natural hitter,
Is going to make a big difference. and II
Lelivelt should be planted at first base
considerable batting strength will be
added. Elberfeld and Mcbride are sure
to go along at their natural gait, and
there Is chance of the Kid showing i'm
provements, for he intends to hit straight
away this year instead of trying to place
the ball continually.
| There is no way of getting a line on
what the outfeld will do with the stick,
| though It is a safe guess that it will do
much better than it did last season.
Mcbride and Cunningham are eventu-
| ally going to make a sensational pair
ing together splendidly and it is pleas
ure to watch them in practice. Both are
quick on their feet and cover a lot OF
| ground. and do not take much time in
getting the ball away from them. They
have been together long enough now to
understand each other and this is essen
tial with shortstop and second base
man.
J All applications for exhibition games in
neighboring towns are being turned down
| by Manager McAleer. 1t is not likely. in
fact. that the Nationals will play more
than three or four games with the Allan
ia team during their stay here, but there
will be game every day. nevertheless,
| between the Colts and the Vets.
With good weather continuing there Is
no reason why the team should not be
| in the best condition it has ever been
| for McAleer has selected most judi
cfous system of training his players Inc
| one workout a day and the playing of
| these games among themselves is going
to have every man on edge long before
| the team returns to its own grounds.
| 1t will not be an easy matter for the
| other American League clubs to send
| any of their promising players back to
| the minors when the training period is
over. Manager McAleer is going to
carefully scrutinize all waivers, without
which the players cannot be sent out
of the league. Every player who gives
promise especially outiielders. will be
| held up in the hope that he may be able
| to pick up a good man in this manner
1t was decided last fall to send Kahoe
! to various camps to look the youngsters
over. and he will likely leave Atlanta
shortly on a long trip to the camps
of the enemy.
| Ty Cobb, looking to be every bit of
| twenty pounds overweight, stopped off
here yesterday afternoon and called on