Evening star., 1912-03-19
GRIFFITH'S PITCHERS TO
CUT LOOSE FROM THIS OUT
Warm Weather Is Rounding Out the Boys
and Everybody Will Now Go
at Top Speed.

pick the flaws, though it is extremely
doubtful If he will have any OCCASION to
make changes. That outfield with Milan,
Moeller and Schaefer looks better every
day, and while, of course, 1t is not prob
able that player of Knights ability will
be left on the bench, Griffith will not
break up winning combination it the
team Is going good as 1t is now made up.
1t is hard to believe that Eddie Foster
has never played third base before. To
see him in action, now that he Is round
ing into form, creates the impression that
he had played there for years. He is a
splendid fielder and thrower to begin
with. and, being fast on his feet, covers
a lot of ground and finds it easy to come
In for bunt hits. incidentally, the little
fellow is one of the best men on the
team at the bat for the reason that he
not only hits hard, but he is hard to
pitch to and can hit In either direction.
Ii nothing happens Foster will not be in
danger of having Knight take his place.
AS for Cunningham, at second, If he
of the most valuable men on the team.
He is fielding and hitting like fiend,
but. of course, he will have to show when
the big league clubs come along, though
to do so, because he is in fine condition
now. the lack of which caused him to
have his slump last year.
Griffith believes that before the season
opens Cashion will be a finished pitcher.
The big fellow still has some things to
learn. To begin with, he forgets to cover
first base on balls hit to his left and also
is little slow in backing up plays at
the bags or plate, something that pitch
ures that this will come to the youngster
in due time and that he will be one of
the greatest helps to the team during the
coming season.
1t would not be at all surprising to see
Tom Hughes have an excellent season.
The veteran is working out at pace he
has not shown in years, and his arm is
stronger than it was at any time last sea-
son. In fact there was not pitcher on
the staff last spring who was in form
when the season opened. Johnson was
sick, and Groom, Gray. Walker and
arms This spring there appear to be no
lame wings. or at least there won't be
by the time the team gets home. for what
soreness there was is rapidly being
worked out.
Give that second team of the Nationals
a good pitcher and It would be far
from easy picking for any ball team. 1t
is fast aggregation and showed today
that it could hit. OF course. 1t had little
to do in the field yesterday, but there is
no doubt of it's ability to field. Pitch
ing such as it had yesterday. however,
should win for most any sort OF team.
Manager Griffith this morning notified
his pitchers that from this out they are
to use curve balls or anything else they
have in their repertoire when pitching to
the batters in practice. One of the catch
ers always works behind the plate In their
practice, and from this out he will sign
for the various deliveries. Now that the
pitchers have had couple of weeks
training, Griffith figures that their arms
are strong enough to stand the strain OF
using everything they have. Further
more 1t will be fine practice for the bat
ters to face their sort of pitching. Grif-
fifth has absolutely no line on the curves
of his young pitchers. He has not al
lowed any of them to hook them any, and,
not get very far. But now that they are
given the liberty to use everything they
have it will be an easier matter to deter
mine just how good they are.
Alva Williams has peculiar distinction
in that in the seven years he has been
PLAYING professional ball, he has never
made a home run, though he is regarded
as a hard hitter. There have been in
Vulnerable three-baggers and doubles, and
perhaps some drives that were labeled
for the circuit. but were captured. but
never q home run.
Bill Cunningham is somewhat of wit.
he has 1t is that whenever he is struck
out he walks direct to the water barrel
on the bench and takes drink. Cunning
ham. who was listening to the tale. put
in: I'm glad | haven't that habit for
would have drunk the town dry last
year"
Clyde Milan has signed his contract
with the Washington club. After few
minutes talk with Manager Griffith last
night the star outfielder made satisfac-
tory arrangements on the salary question
and affixed his signature to contract.
1t is understood that the new contract
Milan has signed calls for big increase
in salary and makes him one of the high
est priced outfielders in the league.
It would not be a very interesting
story to tell how the Yannigans got all
their runs and why the collegians did not
get any, further than to suggest glance
at the score.