New-York tribune., 1911-02-21
GIANTS FEEL OUT BALL
Also Do a Little Batting in First
Day of Practice.
M'GRAW WASTES NO TIME
Forsythe Shows His Mettle by
Driving Out First Home Run
of the Season.
tBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

Marlin. Tex. Feb. 2o-Although the
weather was not favorable for baseball
the Giants opened their training season
with two hours practice this afternoon.
The work was directed by John J. Nc
Graw. who, with wilbert Robinson set a
good pace for the youngsters
chilly wind from the north this NOM
ing put a stop to all thought OF regular
practice. although several Of the players
took a run Of several miles. Toward noon.
however. the weather moderated. and when
McGraw arrived he gave instructions TO the
players to report in uniform at the park a.
2 o'clock. That the manager is anxious TO
have the men in good condition for their
first game with Dallas on Saturday was
shown bv the fact that he made the last
stage Of his trip from San Antonio in san
automobile. He engaged n machine in
Waco this morning. and in spite of the
BAD weather and soft roads made the
twenty-five miles in about two hours ar
riving here before noon.
As soon as the players arrived at the
park short infeld practice was started.
McGraw first batted some slow ones 10
the men and then replaced Lush at short.
Fullerton was on third. johnson at second
and Cowdy and Forsythe performed at
first The manager did not put much speed
on his hits as the diamond is fast and in
the spring a player must get his eye ac-
customed 10 fast hits before he can judge
them for accurate fielding.
After half an hour of this McGraw
switched about and instructed Robinson
to warm up a PAIR of pitchers for batting
practice. Tesreau and Hendricks volun-
teered 70 toss up some straight ones and
the other pitchers remained in the outheld
chasing hits McGraw was the first man
20 bat and he banged hot one past
third base Later he went 10 the box him.
self and fooled some of the boys with d
slow ball.
Cv Forsythe carried off the batting hon
ors of the day when he hammered the oall
over the right field fence, which is quite
distance from the plate Forsythe had an
advantage over the others, as he has been
doing scne work down here for three
weeks. He made several long hits to rlght
and right centre during the afternoon
Gowdv. Hartley. Johnston and Lush IN
dulged in this practice for more than an
hour. None Of them had so sharp an eye
as Forsythe. however. and kept hitting at
the ball too soon.
There is no danger OF losing any balls
over the left and centre field fences thls
year. as Murphy, the ground keeper mas
put them back about a quarter OF mile.
A wallop over the right wall will be as
long as a hit into the right field STANDS at
the Polo Grounds and it's cinch that
Chief Meyers will not make tWenty-elGht
home runs this spring.
McGraw is pleased with the actions OF
Jack Johnston. the young Texas League
oLtfeder. Johnston is one Of those fast
little fellows. like DevOre, and can nuht
and run bases like a fash. He may he
carried as an extra outhelder, but perhaps
another year in a minor league would ne
best for his development. Hartley Is
trin-bunt catcher, with lot Of intelii-
gence.
Rustenhaven. Mcknight and jenkins got
in this afternoon too late 10 participate III
the practice After getting late start out
Of 81. Louis they missed connections in
Dallas last night. and consequently were
day late in arriving.