Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-06
DOWNFALL OF SNOW BLOCKS
OUTDOOR WORK OF NATIONALS
Grif's Squad Will Have to Practice in
Gymnasium for at Least
Another Week.

would go after them. II you will change
your style as 1 suggest, I'll wager that
you will hold your own in hitting"
It is needless to say that Cunny said
he would make the change just as soon
as batting practice is taken up on the
field
Though Griffith has been out of the
several moons, there Is nothing wrong
with his pitching arm. which he says Is
as strong as ever, though he doubts his
ability to go long route.
1t is not at all unlikely that the Ma
! tionals' manager will occasionally. use
himself as a pinch pitcher next season.
He was always successful tw1rler In
the pinches and many game might be
saved If he stepped on the rubber at a
critical moment, because of his knowl-
edge of the art and has most deceptive
curve and slow ball. If Griffith had a
contract to pitch this year he would not
be taking a more careful preparation
than he is at the present time. He works
every bit as hard as his players and does
about everything they do. In fact, he is
always the first one on the floor and the
last one to leave 1t.
During the Nationals stay here Crit
fifth will have a careful look at Rixey, the
young L. OF ". pitcher. Umpire Rigler
told him that Rixey has the making Of a
thing in the games against the Nation
ais inducements will be made him to
leave school and join the team. Griffith
is decidedly anxious to add good left
handler to his string of pitchers. He has
Becker and Boehling, but both cannot be
considered anything more than expert
ments, and he feels that he would be
much better satisfied. IL he had a good
left-hander who. could be relied upon.
Pitcher Musser, 1T seems, resembles
Prof. Whitaker of the Virginia faculty
so closely that students in passing him
morning, professor The first few times
this happened Musser suspected some
one had put up job on him. but those
who know the professor insist that Mus
ser is his counterpart.
| No team was ever more comfortably
| housed during a training trip than are
the Nationals. The fact that they have
| house to themselves and can do as they
| please. adds much to their comfort. The
lounging room. which is a rather COM
modious one Is the popular spot. for here
| there is a piano and ample room for pitch
| and whist games. But the handy man
| of the house is one D. Eugene Taylor,
| tailor, musician, head overseer and
! everything else in a manner that places
him at theshead of the jack of all trades.
| All that is missing is the weather, but at
4
| ing the. bad spell than they would be
almost anywhere else, for under no con-
ditions need they remain idle.
! When Johnny Foster reports here next
4 week his assignment will be third base.
/ He and Morgan are to have that place
| to themselves during the training period,
/ thought it is more than likely that both
will have to give way to Jack knight
| when he reports. There is to be no sub
stitute apparently for Cunningham
Griffith does not want -Cunny- molested
nor worried by having 1t appear that he
is only on trial. He wants to give him
| every encouragement, and With this end
| in. view no one will be allowed to even
| practice at second base. Griffith has as
good as made up his mind to play knight
at third in the event that Flynn makes
good at first OF course, II he should
TAIL. and Griffith does not think he Will
then there will have to be shift, and 1t
will mean knight will go to first per-
manently, while most likely Foster or
Morgan win hold down third base
There is not pitcher in the squad who
uses a spit ball. Tom Hughes. who relied
ON the moistened delivery in former years.
4 has given IL up and none of the young
sters fool with it. Griffith is not in favor
of its USE and the chances are that few
l spit balls will be seen coming from any
Of the National twirlers during the COM
ing season.
] A lot i-of the players were discussing
Walter johnson the other evening. Tor
ball players recognize his wonderful abil-
!, lily, and they like to tell of his prowess.
1 During the discussion Alva Williams re-
marked that he always liked, to bat
r against johnson. because he was always
successful against him.
HE Is so true. and while he has most
wonderful speed the batter is not in dan
ger really liked to hit against him.
If had Johnson's speed. put in Grit
fifth, "there would not be a base hit
made of me during the season. What
batter wouldn't be affected IL Walter shot
couple OF fast ones close to their heads,
don't know of one that would not be a
little careful about how he stood up there.
for to be hit would be taking a long
| chance. It's all part OF the game to
/ brighten the batters. and Walter ought
! to do 1t. Batters are not afraid of him
and they step into his fast ball without
l. fear. but il he shot at their heads occa-