Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-15
BY J. ED aR1LLo.

While il seems TO be the general opin-
ion that Hot Springs. Ark. is the place
to get pitchers in shape for the early
spring games, yet, judged by the snow
ing of the local pitching staff last spring.
its stay there brought 1t little benefit.
Barring Bob Groom. every one of Nc
Aleer's pitchers went to Hst Springs early
in February, and when they reported at
Atlanta it was expected that they would
be in fine trim, but it will be remembered
that the work of the pitching staff in the
early games was rather off color. Even
Johnson could not win in the spring, and
the teams poor start in the race can
be directly attributed to this failing.
Other teams which did not send their
pitchers to any bathing resort seemed
to fare better. The Athletics, for in
stance, did not have the slightest trou-
BILE rounding their pitchers into form,
though they spent but single week at
a Virginia resort before going farther
south
Griffith had his pitchers at Hot Springs
last spring. and, like the Nationals stan,
they did not show much benefit during the
early stages of the campaign. They all
seem to be in perfect fettle Will they are
there but the change OF climate after
leaving seems to affect them. II this Is
the case it will probably be wise to have
the pitchers report here as early as pos
sible, so that they can become acclimated
before the season opens
Cunningham's failure last spring was
attributed to the course OF training
through which he was forced to go in
With the aid of rubber shirt Cunny
managed to take Off nearly twenty
pounds in ten days, and that virtually
ruined him for the time being The
youngster made the serious mistake OF
remaining absolutely idle all winter He
does not dissipate. and what weight ne
took on was of the solid kind, which was
hard to take off. But this fall 1t has
been different with Cunny. He has cut
down his meals to half what they We're
during the last off-season. and incidental
ly he is taking long walks daily Ad-
vices from his home are to the effect
that he Is down to playing weight now
and will stay there until he reports.
Cunny does not want to go through an
other stage of training such as he was
forced to take at Atlanta, and the
chances are that If he has to do only
light work next spring it will make
big difference in his playing
The efforts which are to be made ut
the coming meeting of the major leagues
To curta:l the drafting and purchasing
of players will prove a benefit to the
weak clubs I'm both circuits, IN that IL
will give them a better chance TO COM
pete with their stronger rivals. Ban
johnson favors a rule limiting eacn
major leagIe club in purchases and
drafts during a year. No only would
this prevent certain clubs fl ON corner1ng
the player market. but 1t would be bene-
fetal to the high-grade m. or leagues.
which are frequently torn to pieces by the
inroads major league clubs make on
them.
How quickly they come and go in the
world of sport. Two years ago Johnny
Evers of the Chicago Cubs was the most
widely advertised ball player in the ma
tional game. Club owners were Knocking
each other down offering him managerial
berths; theatrical managers shoWered him
with offers to go on the stage: publishers
bid fabulous figures for his literary eff
forts.
Touching Second" a tale of the dia-
mond green, is said to have netted Evers
and Hugh Fullerton $4,000. Evers was
credited with being the brains of the Cub
machine. His friends said he Won the
pennant for the Chicago club in 1905 by
the cleverest, piece of inside ball ever
pulled off on the diamond. All these
things happened two a. three years ago.