Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-10
BY J. ED GR1LLo.

Carl Cashion is being educated for the
first base position. While Manager Crit
fifth has by no means given up all hope
of having Cashion develop into a good
pitcher, he figures that he is too good a
hitter to be out Of the game, and he will
have him practice at first base every
day. He had the big fellow on the bag for
an hour and half yesterday. and Kid
Gleason Of the White Sox was instructfng
him how to change feet and reach for low
throws.
The position, of course, Is new to Cash
ion, and yet he showed that it would
not take long for him to become efficient
there. Working the big fellow at first
does not mean that he will give UP pitch
ing, but Griffith wants him to pick up all
he can about playing the bag SO that IL
he fails as a pitcher. he can be used
there. :
There Is no more natural hitter than
Cashion, and should he develop into
good fielder at first his presence on the
team would add material to it's batting
strength. 1t is, of course, not to be ex-
pected that Cashion will be able TO take
the position for some time, for he VIII re,
quire lot of work there before he Will
be able to make good, but there Is no
doubt that such a move would be OF heip
to the team.
In none Of the three games that chi
cago has played here have the Nationals
played up to the form they displayed
earlier In the season. Incidentally, II
might be said that Chicago mas SHOWN
to better advantage than any team tnae
has appeared here this spring. The team
is well balanced and is doing lot OF
hustling, and while it has many. good
breaks 1t has brought these to 1t by It's
persistent hard work. But washington
would not have won as many games De-
fore the Sox came here had 1T played no
better ball than 1t has since their arrival
An exhibition such as yesterday, Wnen
three bases on balls, base hit and
stolen base, fails to net a run. Is seldom
seen on a ball field, and would indicate
that there is something materially wrong.
There seems to be a lack or concerted
action without which no ball team can
win these days But all teams fall into
these slumps, and 1t remains to be seen
how long the Nationals are going to stay
in theirs.
Moeller's attempted steal of third with
two men out in the fifth, which ended an
inning that should have been productive.
would hardly be considered good base
ball. If nothing was intended but
straightaway steal 1t was a poor play,
and if the hit and run play was to be
put in vogue there should be an explana-
ton why Milan did not swing at. the ball.
There is a great Improvement in the
batting OF Jack knight. He seems
finally to have struck his stride and Is
sure to be of great value to the team
from this out. Switching knight to first
and playing Morgan at second Is not go
ing to weaken the team, providing Nor
gan play the position, for there is not
the slightest doubt about Knight being
capable first baseman. In the opinion of
many he is next to Chase in this respect.
Second base is new to Morgan, but there
is no reason why he should not learn to
play there with little experience, and
as he has shown himself to be a good
hitter the change may prove beneficial.
Dixie Walker seems to be in bad luck.
He pitched we'll enough yesterday to win
his game hands down, but the errors OF
omission and COMMISSION were such as not
to give him q chance. With good base ball
behind him Walker should have had
comfortable lead before half the game
was over and his undoing was due entire
ly to misplays behind him. Bob Groom
will try his hand against the White Sox
today. and 1t is more than likely that
Mogridge the left handler who pitched the
last three innings yesterday, will oppose
him.
It may be mere coincidence. but 1t
Is fact; nevertheless, that since the
starting time was changed from $3.50 to
o'clock the Nationals have not won
ball game.
If the four o'clock contingent wins in