Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-14
TEAM NOT APT TO
FINISH HIGHER UP
continued from First Page

Gus batters on the inield it was not a
difficult matter to win ball games with
out ever figuring on the outf1eld, and that
was decidedly far from weak
Just think what an array OF batters
Mack has playing on his infeld. There
is Baker, Collins and McInnes. any one
of whom is apt to break up a game any
time they face the pitcher, and while the
fourth man. Barry, does not loom up
among the sluggers in the averages, ne
is nevertheless a most formidable sucker
in the pinches, which comes near to max
ing him as valuable in this respect as
any one of the other three. And there Is
nothing brilliant about the outfeld. but
in Murphy. Oldring and Lord there is
Just batting strength enough to balance
the team we'll. Thomas and Lapp are
good catchers. and put into this complna,
ton two great pitchers like Bender ana
Coombs and it is not a difficult matter
10 win games and pennants.
The spring exhibition schedule will give
WASHINGTON patrons of the game the rare
opportunity of seeing four OF the Nation
al League teams pitted against the Ma
tionals. This is treat which fans in
other major league cities do not have an
opportunity to enjoy, and, incidentally.
not only will serve to give fairly good
line on the Nationals, but an opportunity
to judge the strength of four Of the teams
Of the rival league.
In one respect the spring training of
the Nationals is going to be more inter-
esting than ever before. because with few
exceptions there is going to be a contest
on for nearly every position At first,
for instance both Spencer and Flynn will
make a bid. while Morgan, Foster. Cum
bingham. Sheer. Scott and GAMER will be
fighting IL out for the jobs at second and
third. 1t has. of course. not yet been
decided whether GAMER will be asked to
report. for il is doubtful il Griffith con-
siders him of value enough to come on
here. In the Outfield. too, there will be
a lot of candidates, for besides Milan.
Moeller and Schaeffer, there will be
Walker. Long, Shank and Maths. all
anxious TO get a regular position in the
field. There will undoubtedly be some of
these players who will show at the out
set that. they haven't chance to break
into fast company. but for all that 1t is
going to keep Griffith busy trying to get
correct line on his youngsters.
inst how serious "a mistake may be
made in letting out a young pitcher be-
fore he has had a thorough trial was
proven In the case of Walter Johnson.
who, during the spring of 1906. Joined the
Los Angeles team Of the coast league.
Walter, Of course. was mere boy then.
and after being used in single exhibi-
tion game. in which he displayed but
little control. he was turned lose. not
Johnson drifted to various independent
teams and finally pitched for Weiser.
Idaho. where he made his remarkable
strike-out record, which attracted the at
tention OF big league managers. But
Johnson struck out many batters at
Weiser that no one believed he was
real pitcher 1t was figured that ne was
one Of those pitchers who was given an
inflated record for the mere sake of ad-
vert'sing the town. and for this reason
there was no great rush to sign him.
Even Joe Cantilion had no confidence in
the tip on johnson, and only because
~ - t..I - fY1p
him about the younester did he finally
send Blankenship out there to bring him
out Cantillon did this more to satisfy
his informant. probably in the hope of
proving tn him that he did not know a
pitcher when he saw one. than he had
any hope of picking up one of the great
est pitchers in the history of the game ).
Johnson. Of course. attracted lot of
against whom he pitched his first game
The fact that he had struck out on an
average OF nineteen men per game at
Weiser sort OF amused the old leaguers
and they were particularly anxious to
see him blow up AGAINST them, But he
had not pitched more than an inning
when Bill Donovan. who was watching
him closely remarked, We'll. I'll believe
az men he struck out in the bushes. The
wonder is that they ever fouled one on Oh
him"
4 biz likely looking fellow like Cashion
ought 10 make a pitcher. and the CLUB
can well AFFORD TO carry him along
white until he develops. Sometimes II
takes wears 70 get good work out of these
Young pitchers. but once they get the
knack OF twirling they are of great value.
so that ii Is we'll worth while taking
chance of waiting on them 10 develop
Cashion Is not the clumsy green mana
that was johnson when he reported here
Johnson had no idea OF how to field
hunt. Many OF the games he lost were
the result OF his inability IN this respect
Cashion is better ball player now man
vas Johnson when he joined the local
team. and with proper handling he may
develop into a really great pitcher. and,
in fact all around ball player. for ne
hitter