Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-24

players would be developed by spring and
add strength to their teams Griffith ar
CUES that the average youngster does not
get q chance to develop after he joins a
big league team unless he has SO much
natural ability that he can play regular
position. He would have this proposed
winter league for the purpose OF develop
ing youngsters 1t would hardly be
paying venture. but every cl b could con-
tribute its share to keeping II going. and
when the youngsters reported In the
spring they would not only be in good
shape, but they would know a lot OF base
ball.
The majority Of ball players are artih-
cial hitters. That is to say, they do not
| take a natural stand at the plate. but
1 they can hit to the best advantage. But
there are some natural hitters. and Carl
CaShion is one OF these. 1t just comes
natural to the big fellow to stand UP at
the plate properly and take his swing He
is undoubtedly one OF the best hitters
who has broken into the T. -jor leagues
in recent years, and 1t Is questionable IL
there will be a pitcher with as good an
average as he at the end - the coming
season. Cashion will be OF great help
| to himself whenever he pitches because
of his ability as a hitter. With most
| pitchers working the end OF the batting
order is never given serious consideration
| by the opposing team, but with Cashion
on the mound ii is different. He is a
dangerous man with the Tor he Is
| just as apt to break up a game with
long drive as any batter in the league.
There is no doubt that much of the sue
cess which the Athletics have attained
has been due to the fact that Connie
! Mack pitchers with few exceptions, ara
all hitters. Nothing helps team more
than TO have a pitcher who can be i.5-
ured on to hold his own with the bat.
It is not unlikely that Griffith will carry
Joe Engel through the season. The
youngster may not be ready to hold his
own in this company. but he has all the
earmarks of making pitcher, and Grif-
fifth figures that IT would be best to carry
him On the team where he could have
him under hts own supervision, than 10
turn him over to some minor league team,
where he might be abused. Engefs show
ing during the training period has been
handica pped by the fact that he has suf-
fered with a sore arm, from which he is
just recovering.
"There is little chance for a fellow 10
develop in the average minor league"
remarked Eddie Gagnier the other day.
Take the Western League, for instance.
We played with a ball that is not up to
the standard and under managers who
did not have the knack of teaching you
ANYTHING What little / know OF the
game l picked up myself. L have no
doubt that I would be a good hitter to-
dav If / had had some one TO correct my
faults The very first day that l step
ped up to the plate here. Griffith called
my attention to the fact that / was not
putting my body into my swing.
never realized that before and the re-
suit is that since adopting this method
I have been hitting the ball hard. III
some one had told me that two years ago
would have been a good hitter by now:
II is my Judgment that no player should
he Judged by what he shows in the
Western League, for the difference In
the ball used there and elsewhere is in
itself a great handicap.