The Washington herald., 1912-03-22
TRAINING CAMP NOTES.

Manager Grifith has not as yet
completed arrangements for coming back
here next spring. In the first
place. he wants to see for himself just
what condition his players are in when
the big league season starts and how the
Nationals compare physically with the
clubs who have trained farther South.
What Griff likes about the Chariottes-
vile arrangements more than anything
else is the big house for his players. He
said: THE idea of having my men all
together In a house is much better than
lodging them in a hotel. Ball players
are clannish. and soon form cliques.
They can get away with It in a hotel.
but when everybody Is together. and the
men are brought in such close contact,
there is little chance. 1t is Just like one
big happy family, the men become better
acquainted and everybody is treated
alike"
Paul Musser. the former Canton %. &
P. League) twirler. speaks a good word
for Red Ainsworth, the Youngstown
hurler whom Griffith turned back to
Youngstown without a trial "Ainsworth
has the makings OF a dandy pitcher"
says Musser, land would like to bet
that some big league club picks him up
before the season Closes
Tom Long. the Gadsden sprinter, is just
hitting his stride. In the game against
the Regulars Tuesday ne collected three
hits. and followed this up with a couple
more Wednesday morning. Longs re-
cent squirt has opened Griff's eyes and
set the manager thinking.
Leonard Chick and his partner, Dolan.
both from Washington, who are playing
short engagement at one of the Char
lottesville moving picture houses. called
on the boys Wednesday noon and gave
little impromptu entertainment that
was thoroughly enjoyed. Mr.. Chick sang
several of his famous song hits and Mr..
Dolan made the piano do everything but
talk. Messrs. Chick and Dolan were in
vited to call again.
Eddie Ainsmith has changed his style
of hitting. upon the advice of Germany
Schaefer, with Manager Grifith's fun
consent. Germany is the tutor and calls
1t Sam Crawfording the ball.
Ainsmith has such a powerful pair of
shoulders that II is believed he can put
plenty of smash behind the bat with very
little swing. He is being taught to stand
up to the plate with his legs wide apart,
like Crawford.
II Eddie could only wallop the ball as
Sam does-well!
Umpire Rigler likes the looks OF Carl
Cashion. Unless miss my guess, that
boy will win lot of ball games for Griff
this season." asserted the ump. The hard
work seems to agree with Cashion, and
he appears to have improved more than
any Of the other young twirlers.
During each practice session. morning
and afternoon, the little lgrandstnnd at
Lambeth Field is comfortably filed with
Virginia's students and Charlottesville
citizens, who enjoy watching the Nation
ais follow out Boss Grifith's instructions.
Everybody inquiries for Walter johnson.
They all seem to have heard of the
the drawing cards here as in every other
ball park the Nationals VISIT
Buck Becker looks as II he had taken
on little weight during the short time
the Nationals have been In Charlottes-
Vile. Just as soon as Becker's arm gets
acting right he will show Griffith a good
curve ball and plenty of smoke.
"Spartacus'' Walker, in addition to be-
ing ball player. is a telegraph operator.
He dropped into the Western Union office
in Charlottesville the other night and
during a conversation with Manager Rob-
inson said: Washington is calling you
on that wire over there"
The manager was greatly surprised.
That's right reckon you know some
thing about the Morse code"
Walker admitted that he could read
the wire and also send few hundred
words any time he didn't have a lame
arm.
'TelegraphinR doesn't pay quite as
much as major league baseball" admitted
Walker. That's why gave up pounding
brass in favor OF pounding out base hits.