The Washington herald., 1912-03-15
MANY SORE ARMS
INNATIONALS' CAMP
Salary Whips Are Showing
Effect OF Damp Weather.
Need "0ld SOL"
NO GAME YESTERDAY
BY WILLIAM PEET.

BY WILLIAM PEET.
Charlottesville, Va, March 1.-THE
gray dawn of the morning after found
ho musty dark brown taste in the mouths
OF our noble Nationals. but there was a
musty, rusty feeling about the joints
which required the services of Trainer
Mike Martin through most of the light
and dark hours.
Pitcher Joe Engel can't take of his
hat. His arm is like a bar OF iron from
shoulder TO elbow. Buck" Becker also
says that he suffers the miseries OF the
damned every time he tries to pitch.
Others on the club are complaining, and
unless old Sol comes out strong during
the next week many of the players will
show their best form when the exhibition
games in Washington start.
Manager Griffith intended to pull of a
practice game between the regulars and
Nannigans this afternoon, but on account
of the poor physical condition of many of
his players. decided to postpone the first
contest until tomorrow afternoon, when
8 five-inning battle is scheduled.
The defeat at the hands of the college
boys Wednesday is not taken seriously.
GrifI's henchmen declare that the next
time they are called upon to face the
wearers of the Orange and Blue they
Will show the fans in Washington a diff
ferent story.
It must be remembered that the Ma
tionals had not batted against curve-baH
Pitching until Wednesday. also that none
of the men were equipped with sliding
pads. and had no signals whatsoever 1t
is wonder the coIIegians did not roll
uF a bigger score. II the weather holds
good the next game will be played on
Saturday and Walter Johnson is sched-
uled TO pitch three inninggs. The big feI-
low is rapidly getting into shape, and is
anxious to try his luck against a reguar
team.
The Virginia students were particularly
jubilant over their victory and all day
today this game was the principal topic
nf conversation. Eppa RiXey and Short
stop Douglas were heroes and given the
glad hand OIL every occasion.
Instead Of trying to pull OF a practice
game to-day. Manager Griffith had the
boys out on Lambeth Field for two Ihard
sessions. morninG and afternoon. The
greater, part OF the work consisted in bat
ting. Pitchers Johnson. Hughes. Cashion.
ND Akers occupied the mound in the
PaU' Musser. Boehling, and Groom tried
Their luck.
Manager Griffith made a shift in his
first team, playing Eddie Foster at third
In place OF Lay Morgan The former
TtDSheq good except in throwing. as his
arm is still weak and he was afraid TO
take much of a chance at cutting 'em
ECroSs to first
John Allen. who pitched against Vir-
ginia Wednesday, did not get a chance
10 work in the box. as he. too. is suffering
from lame arm. and Griffith kept him
N the Outheli chasing flies.
Maths. the former Virginia Lacquer.
and Scheer. who last year played with
Youngstown, reported this morning for
the first time. Both are troubled with
throat ailments and could not do them
selves Justice
Scheer is Il Isft-hand hitter. and the
GrSt time he faced a pitcher took fifteen
he aithy swings before he even fouled off
a ball. Maths was not far behind. He
could not locate the sphere until he had
taken a dozen cracks at it.
Immediately after dinner tonight Man |
ager Griffith called the entire team to-
gether and gave them a talk which lasted
more than an hour. The local boss wants |
every player to be familiar with the
training rules. apd 10, know what is eX-
pected of big league player. The re- |
cruits and regulars alike left the star |
chamber session thoroughly impressed. |
They understand they are not down |
here on a picnic, and they are to take !
their work seriously.
Griffith to-day received a telegram from |
Catcher Mig Clarke. of the st. Louis |
Browns. which read as follows: Please
-nn
membered that Clarke was wished on
the local boss by President Hedges, Of
the Browns and that GrIfT refused to
take him after he had obtained Al Will
liams in the Street-Knight swap.
The chances are that Hedges has noti-
fled Clarke that he belongs to Washing
ton. Hence the players wire to Griff
i do not understand that Clarke be-
longs to me-" said the local boss to the |
writer. President Ban Johnson has
never officially notified me to this effect, I
and consequently / am telegraphing him
to find out where stand"
Grin had previously written Clarke
that he did not want him, and if Hedges
or johnson insisted upon turning him
over to Washington that he CGrifith)
would be forced TO send the catcher to
a minor league club.
The Nationals first team. as II lined
up to-day, was composed of the follow
ing: Henry and Ainsmith. catchers;
Flynn, first base: Cunningham. second
base; Foster. third base: Mcbride, short
stop; Moeller. left field; Milan, centre
field Schaefer. right field, and the
are that this bunch, in the order
will face Virginia Saturday. with
Walter johnson. Akers and Paul Musser
in the box.