Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-12
GRIFF WON'T MAKE TRADES;
WILL DEVELOP YOUNGSTERS
Nationals New Manager Makes Plain His
Policies-Wil Be Here Shortly to
Take Charge.

of the month TO take charge of affairs
There is much for Griffith to do and there
may be some pleasing developments be-
fore he gets ready to start his squad on
its training trip. About the first thing
Of any importance that GriH will have to
do IS to select a training place. Next
comes the signing of the players, all of
which he will personally attend to. Grif-
fifth is sure TO attend the league meeting
in New York next month. il for no other
purpose than to famiiiarize himself with
conditions in the American League, which
he left two years ago.
There are no doubt a Grea: many play
ers the Washington list who may
never report here. In several instances
these players were secured not with the
intention of having them break into fast
company next spring, but to give the
club string on them for the future.
Not until Griffith takes up permanent
headquarters here the latter part OF this
month will anything be done with refer
ence to choosing training ground for
the Nationals. That Griffith has had
an eye on Chattanooga is true but he has
not closed for that place. nor is 1t at all
certain that he will Griffith says that
he will not do anything with reference
to choosing a training place until he
comes here. That he does not intend to
be in the south very long IL he decides TO
go there, is shown by the fact that he
has already arranged exhibition games
here late in March with some of the Ma
tional League teams. He may decide to
remain at home, though he is sure to
send his pitchers and some Of the play
ers to Hot Springs. Ark, early in the
spring to get them ready.
What Griffith says about Jack Flynn.
the first basenan secured from Kansas
City after Pittsburgh let him out, does not
come as a surprise to those familiar with
Flynn's ability. TO those who saw Flynn
play with Pittsburgh 1t has always been
!. surprise that he was allowed to get out
Of that league. These same folks predict
that Flynn will have no hard time max
ing first base W.th tile Nationals. The
fact that he is good fielder and a clean
up hitter makes him ideal man for the
local team Griffith has every reason to
respect Flynn, for in one season he won
four games from his team with long
drives, which always came in the latter
part of the game when Griff1th's team
was leading.
But first base should not be source of
worry to Griffith He has three men for
this position in Schaefer, Flynn and Spen-
of filling the bill. lie is also fortified at
short but he will have 10 do a lot Of ex-
perimenting to find the right kind OF ma
terial for third and second On what they
showed last fall Morgan and Cunningham
look most like the pair for these positions,
hut, of course, there will be whole herd
Of infielders reporting here in the spring
and it viii be W 10 Griffin TO make his
own selections. The outtield, il reports
are 10 be believ ed is not so bad off, for
the reason that Moeller is touted TO make
good, and there is no question about
Milan. 1t therefore remains to pick but
one more man for that department.
Most important, Of course. is the pitch
ing staff, in which Johnson leads, but it
IS the general impression that Griffith
will be able to impart his knowledge Of
the pitching art to some Of the other
;wirlers and make them winners.
Just how Griffith feels a.out the mat
ter is moi known. but he is not apt to
take any players south tina; he has
nope of using during the regular season.
All clubs carry some of this material
south Tor the purpose Of using the play
crs in the practice games, and Griffith
may follow this plan.
Gagnier the shortstop secured By the
Nationals from the Lincoln club of the
Western League. is by no means
younGsier He has had two tastes of
iast company. but TO his credit IL must
be said that ne was hardly given fair
ported 10 Chicago. In the Western Gag
Lnier played hiSh-clasS fielding game,
and for once in his career surprised every
one by his remarkable hitting, but il
was the first season of his career that
he displayed any prowess in this re-
spect. il is not at all likely that he
will set things afire against major league
tWirlng.
Mike Martin. the Nationals new train
err who will take Joe Quirk's place here,
is already in the city and will make
this his permanent home. Martin. who
is well versed I'm base ball, believes that
Griff will build MP IL winner here. Bar
ring Mitchell and Mclean, Griffith de-
veloped every man on the Cincinnati
team, and its mighty good team now
that it is going right said Martin. land
I'll bet that Grtf will get a good team
here too. before he gets through