Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-13
BY j. ED GRILLO.
Spccial Dispatch to The Star

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHARLOTTESVILLE Va, March 13.
That the Nationals have a pitcher II
Carl Cashion who will make a capabl
running mate for Walter Johnson is the
opinion of Manager Griffith and In FAC
nearly every player on the team.
Cashion is a much-improved pitcher
over what he showed last fall. He ha
acquired a better motion, more speet
and. above all, gives evidence of having
far better control of the ball. Incl
dentalIy. Cashion has added considerable
stuff to the repertoire of deceivers. liz
has a knuckle ball now, change o.
pace and three curves, each of which l:
thrown in a different manner. One l:
an underhand curve, which he uses WIFI
a fast ball thrown in the same way. IheI
he has a wide side-arm curve ana !;
uuick-breaking curve, which he gains Wltf
an overland delivery. But 1t is the rae
that his control has vastly improved ina,
makes Cashion look more like a major
league pitcher than ever before Inc
work which he has done here has rounded
him into fairly good form, at least sooo
enough to make it possible to do lot o.
work when the team gets outside AGAIN
Griffith intends to use Cash1on SIea,
deal in pitching to batters, fgurlne ina,
this kind of work will be most penehcid
for the reason that it will get him &C,
customed to working off the rubber ano
incidentally help his control
Griffith never gets through admirins
Cashion, not only for his natural aDlllty
but his perfect physique ana aaHlraDie
disposition This knuckle ball winch
Cashion has been practicing and which
incidentally he is mastering will DO mucn
TO help his effectiveness. 1t is peculiar
deceptive delivery. the ball wavering ~
it's course and then suddenly shootins
downward. making it almost Impossible
for a batter to gauge it. This, together
with terrific speed, sharp curve. cnanse
of pace and control, it is inquired, VIII
make Cashion winner, and II TINS comes
true he and Johnson are promised very
busy season. for Griffith believes that
with two winning pitchers of the john
son kind he can hold weak team up
in the race and he is by no means con-
WINGED that his team is going to De
weak.
Howard Shank, the outfielder who was
secured from Youngstown. is one or the
Youngsters who stand an excelieht
chance of being carried through the sea-
son and developing into high-class pall
PLAYERS. Shank is but twenty-ohe year
old. and has not had a great deaf or
experience But Griffith likes his style
at bat, considers him one OF the pest
runners hs has ever seen. and as ne Is
wonderfully strong thrower ne sees no
reason why he should not in course OF
time develop into a player who can hold
down ii regular position. Shank mas all
the earnarks of ball player; in 1act;
nearly ali the youngsters make SO Sooo
an impression that they stand out IN
strong relief from the batch OF ROCKIES
McAleer took south last year
Having been convinced that the use OF
the knuckle ball is going to be OF heip
to fasnion. Walter Johnson mas now
take, so Dracticing the use OF TINS oe-
livery. ne already has it down fine. but
cannot control it as he should, put pIac-
tice VIII bring control. When Naiter
cuts loose a knuckle ball with his ter1mc
speed II plays all sorts OF pranks on It's
iournes toward the plate, and If he ever
gets control of it it will be next to I'M
possible to hit him. Walter Is getune
into shape rapidly. He is an lncessaht
worker, and, he reported comparative
~ light this spring it Will not tahe rhoIe
than couple of weeks to fit him for the
season.
John Camel, manager of the Rochester
team, from which Washington secured
Moeller. Foster and Spencer, paid the
camp a visit yesterday en- route TO mrs
training camp at Anderson. Ala. Can
eel stopped off here to see how MS ior-
mer charges We're coming on, ana ne
was pleased when informed that all OF
them had made a good impression.
Il am satisfied that Griffith has three
good PLAYERS in Moeller. Foster and Spen-
GER" said he. They will all make sood.
Moel,er l look to- be sensation IN the
American League. He is fast, and can
do everything that major league baii
player ought 10 do in ball game Fos-
ter can't be kept off of that infield. mark
that, He is too good fielder and hitter
to sit on the bench. | think 1t VIII
be found before the season is very Ola
that Washington secured the finds OF the
season in these three men,.
1t Is doubtful if there is another ball
team blessed with as many teetotalerS as
are the Nationals. There are no less than
ten members of the team who have never
tasted beer or liquor of any KIND, Wnlie
there are many who do not even smoke
Griffith has nothing to contend with IN
this respect, a better-behaVeu iot Oh
players would be hard to find
There is not the slightest reason for
worrying about the Nationals infield II
goes without saying that, no matter who
is placed on first, the position Will be IN
competent hands. for Griffith has SO large
an array of first baSemen to select from
that there is not a chance or his making
a mistake. Cunningham is to have every
chance TO prove his ability TO play sec
ond but even il he should fail there are
three or four iniielders who could be pu'
into his shoes. Knight or Foster. sheer
or Gagnier. for instance, could play there
If Cunny should fail. At third the situa
ton is similar. Knight, of course, Is tht
logical man for the place. but IL he mas
to be used elsewhere there are Morgan ant
Foster for that place, and either one Oh
them could filI the bill as well as 1t has
been done on the Nationals In recent
Years Even if Mcbride should fall dowr
il would not be calamity. though 1t is
conceded that he is one of the Creates
shortstops i'm the league. for there are al
least three among the intielders who arr
familiar with that position. At no tim,
in the history of the Washington clul
have the prospects for a we'll balanced
team been so bright this spring. TIL
seasoned material seems 10 have takel
new encouragement. and the youngster
as a whole look much better than an.
of those who were tried out in forme
years that there is really no comparison
The workouts in the gymnasium, whic
are of course, compulsory. may not b
the best kind of exercise for ball play
er, but IL enables the players to get up
good sweat twice a day, and that will d
much TO get them into playing trim. TIL
pitchers get an opportunity TO work OF
while tho other players either field bunt
or tire themselves out at basket bal
This basket ball game is a great exercise
Griffith has as many as twelve playing
at one time, and as every one Of them
constantly in motion it does not nee
much stretching of the imagination I
picture its effect on the players. Eve
though the weather has been the wor:
imaginable for the purpose. no one
the squad has had time drag heavy on n
hands. Ii has been a case of work ever
day, which shows in the general appear
ance of the players. The hardest thin