Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-06
BY j. ED GR1LLo.

Special 'DlSpatcn 10 Inc STAR
ATLANTA, Ga, March 6.-What will
be the first workout Of the main squad
of the Nationals is slated for noon today,
when McAleer and his dozen or more
athletes will visit Ponce de Leon Park
for their initial warm-up.
The announcement that there would be
but single practice period day is re-
ceived with delight by the players.
especially those who have been taking
these spring trips for some years, and
look with horror on the first few weeks
of the training season. But the fact that
there will be but one practice does not
mean that the players are to have an
easy time.
1t is going to be a two-and- a-half to
three-hour grind every day that the
weather will permit, and three weeks or
this sort Of work should have the play
ers in playing fettle.
There was a change in the McAleer
plans this. morning. Instead of alternat-
ing the work between the morning and
afternoon, arrangements were made with
the manager Of the local club to have full
possession of the field from 1880 In the
morning until such time in the after
noon as it requires to tire out the play
ers, and II Is figured that this VIII he
about l o'clock. This gives the team the
benefit of the best hours of the day for
work. and yet plenty of time to rest up
in the afternoon and evening.
Outfelder Swain was waiting here when
McA1eer and his players arrived. He got
In Saturday night after spending five
days and five nights on the train. 1t
seems that there was some mix-up about
the way he was routed and the round
about way kept him travelling for nearly
week. The impression which was Gre
ated by descriptions of Swain sent east
la/1 % hall hat 4,
bersome fellow of tae Sox Seybold type.
but he is anything but that. While 1T is
true that he weighs in the neighborhood
of two hundred pounds Swain looks every
inch an athlete. He is built much after
the style of Congalton, who was with
Boston a little while back. He is an
agile acting fellow and his conversation
leads one to believe that he is far above
that if he is given fair trial he Will
make good with the Nationals, and he
does not feel that he will not be given
every opportunity.
McAleer has eleven men who will try
for the outfield positions. and only one
of these. Clyde Milan, has a cinch on his
Job; The others are Gessler' Leliyeit'
Schaefer Conroy and Swain.
The first one of the youngsters to De
given thorough trial is Warren Miller.
The Scranton boy has made such ia
son Of the confidence that he expresses
that he has decided to give him regular
place in left field on the regular team
during the practice here. He is to be kept
there until it is positively determined that
he will not do or is fit for the place.
Miller has really never had fair chance.
He was given trial year before last
during the fall games. but that was
when he was just breaking into the game.
Last spring he was let go before a game
was played But this spring it is to be
different. McAleer has decided to find
out just what Is in Miller ami he will be
Miller by the way resents the statement
made by Monte Cross, his manager of
last season. that he was not even high
that he and Cross could not get along
because the latter was constantly nag
gins at him, and yet he points to the
fact that he hit over 800 and led the
fielders, as evidence that he made good
under the most discouragjng circum
stances.
The one thing which Miller seemed to
| lack In his former trials here, spirit and
| He no longer expresses preference for
a minor league job to a major league
berth and he believes that he can make
! good. 1t is the change that has come
| over Miller with the experience he had
| at Scranton last season that makes him
| look to have better chance than ever
before.
| The presence on the team of all these
young fellows trying for jobs is going to
| have the effect Of making the old fellows
hustle this spring. There are a few OF
the veterans who, because of their show
| ing last spring. are hanging on to major
| league company by their eyelashes, and
! they realize that these young fellows will
press them hard for their jobs. so 1t is
going to be case of hard work this
spring. This is condition which Man
ager McAleer has yearned for. as he be-
on the team in the spring. SO that those
| players who are doubtful about their jobs
| will make special effort.
| According to Charley Street, Red
Doom. the manager of the Philias. will
! he made to realize before the season is
very old that he did not hand Clark
! { rirfith the worst of ii Whef; he traued
him Pitcher McQuillen. Street worked
| out with McQuillen while he was at Hot
| Springs and he marvelS at the ability of
| the Cincinnati pitcher. He is the | est
pitcher next TO johnson that ] have ever
| caught" said he. HE is in perfect con-
i diton and will win a large majority OF
| his games this summer Mac realizes that
/ he must hustle this year 10 stay in fast
| company, and he is not only taking great
care Of himself. but he is in perfect con
dition. and his arm was in midseason
+; form when ! was there. DOOM will have
| to take back all he said about McQuiilen;
/ that is cinch.
| Street also believes that Jiges Dono-
|