Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-18
BY J. ED GRILLO.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch TO Inc star
ATLANTA. Ga. March 1s.-At no time
since the Nationals have been training
was there a more convincing display or
evidence that the players are rounding
into their best form as the exh1oitlon
game of yesterday, which resulted in
tie score after nine innings OF battling,
score, > to >.
It was a real battle in every sense of
the word The pitchers worked as If 1t
were midseason and there were plenty of
snap in the play. Gray, Groom, Bussey
and Meyer did the work and every one
of them was effective. This is particular
" true of Gray and Bussey. This pair
showed more than has been seen here
this spring Gray allowed two hits i'll
five innings and Bussey like number in
four The latter fer the first time let him
self out He has been under cover with
a most deceptive spit ball. which he pro-
duced Yesterday and which baffled the
batsmen Groom and Meyer also did
we'll and all the pitchers used received
improved support compared to what 1t
has been.
II was a nice warm day and this did
much to loosen the players up. The resu-
lars as they lined up yesterday is the
same team which will meet the Atlahta
up which will be presented on opening
day barring the pitchers perhaps. Schae-
fer. too, is not to be played tooay. HIS
place being taken by Miller. But Henry
il is now certain will play hrst baSe' ioI
he is showing wonderful form there and
incidentally is hitting the ball hard
Harvey Bussey stands an excellent
chance of taking Doc Reisling's place on
the pitching staff. In fact. there is much
similarity between the pitching of the
former Danville star and that of Reisling.
Like his predecessor, Bussey knows now
to pitch. He may not have remarkable
speed yet more than Reisling, but he
knows the art. which. together with
cracking good splitter and a knuckle ball.
makes him hard man to hit what is
more, he has control. Yesterday was the
first time Bussey attempted to use the
spit ball and he made very favorable
impression with McAleer. He worked like
veteran. and he will but have to keep
up the clip to be assured of regular
position on the pitching staff.
McAleer made switch in the regulars
lineup. bringing Gessler and Schaefer
over to assist Milan in the outfield. In
the game against Atlanta, however. he
expects Miller to take Schaefer's place.
Miller is hitting the ball remarkably WELL
and McAleer is anxious to get a look at
him in a real ball game. Johnson is
carded to pitch part of the game. while
There is no longer the slightest doubt
as to who will start the season at first
base. that position virtually having been
assigned to John Henry, who is showing
up so well around the bag that there is
not mpch chance for either Somerlot or
Lelivelt to get chance there for while
Henry does no more look like the I'M
couth youth he was when he joined the
team than night resembles day. With
every days work he begins to look more
like finished player, and the prediction
that he will some day be one OF the stars
I'm that position is apt to be realized much
sooner than was expected. Not only is he
fielding most satisfactorily. but he has
an impressive position at the plate, and
is hitting the ball hard.
It is no easy matter to figure what Nc
Aleer proposes to do about left field.
One day he seems satisfied with the way
certain player has filled the position
and the next day he weakens on this in
dividual and tries some one else. When
he took Schaefer from the Colts yester-
day il seemed that he had decided TO
start the veteran there the regular
man. but before the game was over
Schaefer had been informed that he
would not have to play in Saturdays
game and that Miller would be tried
there. 1t is evident that McAleer has not
Yet found The man who fills the position
satisfactorily, and he will probably con-
tinue to experiment as long as he can.
II what Dolly Gray is showing in these
practice games is not a flash in the pan,
the Nationals will have the services of
mighty good lefthand<r this year. Gray
is showing more this spring than he has
at any time since he became member
OF the league. He is working more
smoothly. his arm seemingly having no
hitch in il. and he has control. plenty of
speed and his curve ball is breaking as
IL never did before. The fact that he
weighs twelve or fifteen pounds more
stead and. barring accident. he should
prove a real winner the coming season.
1t is doubtful II a change of position at
the plate has ever before been so quickly
mastered as Ainsmith has taken to his
new style of batting. From rather
doubtful hitter the Lawrence youngster
man on the team hits the ball harder,
and II seems to make no difference
whether there is a right or a left handler
working against him
Whether Tom Hughes will go to
Noun gstoWn to have his arm treated or
not depends entirely on hox the pitch
ing member feels after he has worked
against the Atlanta team Saturday.
Hughes has been taking things easy for
the past few days. I'm order to get his
arm rested. and if il comes out of the
game feeling good he will probably con-
Clude not to make the trip to BOneSetter
Reese. Hughes. uge many pitchers has
one OF those arms that never come
around quickly in the spring. but. mas
much as ne had perfect arm last sea-