Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-24
BY J. ED GRILLo.

N1rlDltl Tor tHo reporting VI liiC Az 81
squad at the training camp at Char
lottesville. Va. On this day all the
young pitchers on the local clubs list
and Catchers Henry and Ainsmith will
start training under the watchful eye
Of the Nationals chief.
About ten days later the entire team
will report at the Virginia camp. and
from then out until the season opens
work will be the order for the players
The date for the reporting Of the
young twirlers was set yesterday after
Manager Moore of the Virginia Uni
yersity team had paid Manager Griffith
q visit and conferredswfth him regard
ing the big leaguers' visit at CHAR
lottesyille Manager Moore reports the
intield which is sodded. in perfect con-
dition. and every care will be taken 10
give the players every available &C
commoda ton in the varsity gymna-
sum- where the players will dress and
battle Incidentally 1t was arranged to
have the Nationals play two exhibition
games against the varsity nine during
their stay there, the entire proceeds OF
which are to go to the collegians. Be
sides the two catchers mentioned, the
first squad To- report will consist OF
Pitchers Cashion, Becker, Guy john
SON Akers. MusSer and Afnsworth. IL
is the intention of Griffith to Work
these youngsters perslstently right TO
the start of the season. The seasoned
pitchers are not apt to be seen in any
of the exhibition games. for these are
to furnish work for the kids. and In
cidentally an opportunity to size them
up. Griffith figures that 1T is in these
just what he has to expect from his
recruit twirlers, and that by the time
the season opens he will have fairly
good line on their ability.
There are two advantages to have
the youngsters get in shape first" said
Griffith. I'm the first place, 1t gives
them an opportunity to work in the
exhibition games and show what they
have. thus giving me line on their
sures some good pitching for the regu-
lar players when they report, and
nothing helps the batting more than to
have players go against some goou
pitching right from the outset. / don't
expect to use any of the old pitchers
in the exhibition games. 1 don't care
If / don't win a single one OF them,
just SO they get ready when the season
opens. That is the object of the train
ing trip, anyway. This thing of wear
ing pitchers out before they are ready
to go the route merely to win few
games that count for nothing Is not
my way of doing. and it's the young
sters who will have to stand the brunt
of the early games.
AS was stated in these columns last
Sunday. the chances are very much
against Griffith being able to add any
more material to the lot he now has on
his list There never was any more than
a remote chance for him to make any
deals. and to date he has failed abso-
lutely TO corral any of the young sters
other major league clubs were willing to
let go. He still has hopes OF picking up
a voungster or two, but it is pretty
safe prediction that when the season
opens his squad will be made up from
the names on the list at this time.
The one chance Griffith probably had
TO make a deal was with New York.
which club is anxious to get rid of Jack
knight and would like to have Mcbride.
But Griff refused 10 be inveigled into
sucL swap. preferring to stand pat on
Mcbride, who. he believes, has few equals
and no superiors as a shortstop. True,
Knight would have strengthened the
teams batting, but he is not near the
:.eIder that is Mcbride. If Griff had beer
sue that he had a Shortstop who could
come anywhere near to filling Mcbride S
shoes he might have lent an ear TO Man
dger Wolverton's entreaties and placed
i<ni&ht on first base, where, it is pre-
diSted. he would be sure to shine. But
not having shortstop OF the Mcbride
variety, he dCes not propose TO weaken
so important position for the sake OF
taking chance on STRENGTHENING one
of less importance.
The fight on the local inield will be
for second and third bases. No one be
lieves that Spencer has a chance to beat
out Flynn at first, and Mcbride is a
certainty at short. The other most prob
able candidates for the two positions are
Cunningham, Foster and Morgan. and il
will be interesting struggle between
the three to see who can earn the posi-
ton regularly.
1t would OF course. be absurd for any
one 10 venture the prediction that the
team will finish higher next season thar
1t did last. and yet it may 1t naturally
all depends ON what Grii, gets out of his
bunch OF experiments. II he is lucky
enough 10 pick up a good ball player OF
two there IS hope-indeed, if they are
only mediocre the team will be no worse
off than it was last year, for he has no.
let any one go who of more thar
slight help 10 the aggregation.
Ii should be remembered in this con
nection that the next season will be thu
first in the history OF the Wa hingtor
team that q real and sincere effort ha.
been made TO build up club Of young
sters The first trial will neither dis
prove nor prove the wisdom OF this sys
TEN. II requires years 10 build up
shadow just what the outcome OF tn
initial effort Will be. That the move 1
in the right direction patrons of tn
game here seem 10 agree.
AS q rule only very small percentag,
of the young players who are tried out il
fast company make good. No one cal
tell what number of the dozen SO VIII,
are 10 be tried out will make good mex
spring That all remains TO he seen
But il . single player * developed il viii
be & move forward and encourage tn
system which Griffith has inaugurated
Of q * he
staff Ii was the brilliant work of Wal
fer Johnson last season which prevente
the Nationals from finishing below IN
T2rog-ns and should Griffith be fortuhat
enough 10 develop another pitcher of tn
Johnson type all calculations may be up
SET and the team may finish much hlShe
than any one can possibly hope for. 1t
all right to talk about mtters and speed
but both OF these important features ar
entirely wasted unless there is pitchin
OF "A high class. Only then does battin
an speed show TO advantage. Tor II re
auires but run or two under such cor
oitions 10 make victory possible
Kid Elberfeld's future has not Yet bee
decided. The option which the Chatts
nooga club held on Ezlberfeld expired Sc.
eraI days ago and yesterday came LEI
ter from the head of that club Stain
that II would be considered a favor If tn
option on Elberfeld was extended Ther
seems 10 be some doubt about the Kid
hip, Of which he has complained latel.
and the Chattanooga club wants TO satisf
itsoR a. to this before purchasing his n