The Washington herald., 1911-12-27
"ChOke Your Bats"
Says Boss Griffith
Nationals Manager Is Strong for Hitters Who
Use Short Sticks-May Haze Entire
House at Charlottesville.
BY WILLIAM PEET.

nth. of the Nationals, Yesterday.
Griff has decided ideas on batting. and
il is more than likely that the Nationals
will be given several of these for break
fast every day next spring.
1t must be remembered that Griff hit
more than 800 three years in the big
show, which is going some for a pitcher.
Ciriff worked in about forty games each
year.
Take a man who stands we'll up on
the plate and chOkes his bat" said Griff,
''and it takes a mighty good pitcher TO
keep him from hitting that old ball. !
know I found it hard to keep the short
stick wielders from connecting with the
ball Germany Schaefer and Kid Elber-
field are two of the best examples OF the
users Of short bats, and both are hard
men to fan out
Griff knows whereof he speaks. as he
j. known to have been one of the trickiest
tWirlers in the big leagues.
\ plan that may he followed by Grin
in the spring training trip of the Ma
tiOnals at charlottesville next year is tha'
of renting an entire house, composed "l
say, twenty rooms, and taking his oWr
chef and other help with the club, In
this way the men would have Dill ol
fare prepared by Griff. would be in their
rooms at a specified time. and would be
under the watchfuI eye of the Nationals
leader at all times. That this would be
q good idea goes without saying.
In speaking Of the plan yesterday, Grlff
remarked: IF | ever own ball Clut
it is my intention to buy small plot OF
land on the end of car line IN some
small town. erect a hotel that will take
care Of about fifty people. and have my
ball team train right there. and not play
many exhibition games until they are
back at their own home town. a bal
PLAYER needs plenty Of good, Wholesome
food. lot Of sleep. and exercise at the
beginning of each season, and the fOoC
some of these small town hotels shoot
out is very poor"
1t is understood that there is just the
house Grif is looking for at CharlOttes'
ville and il is moro than likely that the
Nationals will all he under one roof also
under the eyes OF Grif during the entire
training trip next spring.
Griffith is also a great believer in TAX
ing tirs from so-callnd scouts and tracing
them to the last You never can tel
where YOU will find real hall player
Speaking of Youngsters Griff remarked
they come 50 fast that one is shooting
up all the time. and YOU can find these
Youngsters in almost any old lot. A real
ball player generally sprouts up over
night. and makes good from the start
in the mig show. although some sit around
on the bench of a major league club a
while, see what they have to do, and
when they are sent hack to the minors
they do it. Then when they are called
back into the real league they make
good. as they have worked with that
object in view.
It is plain to he seen from the fore
going that n" live wire will eNade the
watrhful lamps of the Nationals boss
and that all So-raIled tips on hall players
will h" run to earth at the start
Griffith intends to stand pat on his
catching staff. and will keep all three OF
the receivers. "Gahhv'' Street has sev.
cral more years in the big league. while
from all ! hear Henry is a conner, anG
this lad .Ainsmith is good man to have
aroi:nd. No. there is nothing doing ir
the trading line in catchers with any
club in the league" remarked Gritt
when asked about trading Ainsmith OF
Henry.
In releasing Catcher Walter Blair tc
Rochester. Manager Wolverton. of the
Highlanders, makes il plain that he in
tends to use Ed Sweeney behind the bat
as much as possible next year. Williams
tty last fall will be retained. and Wolver-
TON will try to develop him in the spring
WolvertOn has not discussed his plans
for publication, but il seems certain that
he will depend largely upon these men in
1912: Pitchers. Ford, Caldwell. Fisher
and Warhon; CatChers. Sweeney and
Williams; infielderS, Chase. Gardner, Do
Ian. and Hartzcll. and outfelders. Dan
tells. Cree, and WOlter. If a trade for
Jack knight ~an he effected. a frst-class
infelder will he obtained: otherwise
Knight will continue to wear New
York uniform. WolvertOn says he has
irst-class material and is very hopeful
No matter how strong the Pfttsbure
scrihes may he plugging Marty O'Toole
II is we'll known to those on the inside
that the poor condition OF his pitching
arm IS causing a lot of gloom to the
Pirates management.
Ambrose Mcconnell was not thought
good enough for the White SOx and the
latter club sold him to Toronto. Now
three clubs are in the field for him. The
ups and downs of a ball player are
varied indeed.
Talk about a rolling stone gathering
no moss, take a glimpse at Harry VOL
verton, the Yankees manager. He has
been here, there. and everywhere, and
mas finally landed a big thing in a big
"ity.
All chance for successful new major
eague disappeared when the troubles Of
he American Association and the Inter.
national League were adjusted recently
Most of the men identified with the out.
laws. the United States League. were as.
sociated with former like ventures.
John T. Brush is safely established ir
his winter home in San Antonio and i.
now ready to listen to further discussion
9f the ticket-sCalplng scandal.