Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-13
CASHION'S WORK THIS SPRING
SHOWS BIG IMPROVEMENT
Husky Lad Is Developing a "Knuckle"
Ball Which Will Greatly Help
His Effectiveness.

feels certain that he will make the team,
and inasmuch as Griffith proposes to
carry couple of utility infielders. he has
| chance even if he fails to take Nc
Brides position away from him.
! Midget Foster lost no time getting
| down to work after he reported here. He
! was the first one in the gym yesterday
| morning and long before any of the other
players had donned their uniforms, he
| had made ten laps around the running
| track. Foster is considerably overweight
and Will have to reduce a few pounds,
! though Griffith was pleased with his ap-
| pearance, as he thinks that Foster has
| been too light in former seasons and that
with a few pounds additional weight he
| will be a better ball player.
That a ball player suffers much from
the reputation that is given him is
proven in the case of Jack Flynn. Ac-
cording to reports which emanated In
Pittsburgh. one might have been led to
believe that Flynn was broken down
old man. who could neither run. field or
hit. 1t was his slowness of foot that
special stress was being laid on in these
reports, and. in fact. this was given as a
reason for his failure with the Pirates.
But, fortunately, these stories could not
have been based on facts. In his work
outs Flynn is as agile and fast on his
feet as any player in the squad. If he
becomes the teams regular first baseman
he will be the fastest and best hitting
first baseman the Nationals have had.
barring Schaefer. in recent years. Flynn
is still young man, being scarcely over
twenty-five, and there is no reason why
he should have gone back, for he has
not been in the game long enough to have
deteriorated
1t is good betting proposition that the
team of 1912 will be the best Washington
has ever had to represent it in the Amer
lean League. 1t may not finish higher,
for there is no good line on the other
teams as yet, but it win have better
percentage at the end of the coming sea-
son than it could boast OF last year.
There is every reason for believing that
both the in and out fields will be better
fortified and that the pitching staff Will
be stronger. While, of course, it remains
to be proven, it seems to be the
general impression that the catchns
staff has not suffered by reason or the
for Street Unless Henry and Ainsmith
have both gone back, which is not IKE
", this pair, not to speak OF W1iilams'
who is a catcher of ability. ought 10 pe
able to take care of that end of the game
In every respect the team looks stronger
than it ever has before.
Yesterdays mail was principally Tor
Joe Engel. 1t was the youngsters Dlrtn-
day anniversary. and his many friends in
him. One whole sack was addressed to
him, and he had to stand for a whole lot
of good-natured kidding from the other
players.
Griffith never overlooks an opportunity
10 watch the pitchers of the Virginia
university team work out. Besides R1xey
there is a youngster named Goodhue VINO
has made quite an impression with the
Nationals boss. though he is by no
Ro, 70 my
Griffith intends to keep a line on these
Youngsters in the hope of picking up
star or two within the next year or so.
The first game of the season was to
have been played here today. but because
of the rain it had to be called on. 1t is
hoped to have contest Saturday with
the collegians. In this game Grlmtn Is
apt to use as many as four pitchers. as
he will not want one of them to go over
two innings.
Germany Schaefer completed Grifith's
squad here by his arrival last night. Inc
Dutchman is fit as a fiddle, and has not
lost any of his pepper. He is confident
that he will fill the right field place salts
factorily. and that his hitting Will be up
to last years standard. Il have been
practicing in the outfield, and | find that
am improving there AS for the hitting.
why, you know the old sport Is stlii one OF
the best in the business
II am hitting to all corners of the lot
this wear and harder than ever before.
And when it comes to throwing from the
outfield. why. there are few in my class.
/ hate myself in some respects. but when
it comes TO playing the old game why
yours truly is destined to remain IN
fast company for many years to come
The sun made it's appearance this morn
ing and there is a chance of the players
getting out on the field this afternoon,
though the sun will have to do yeo-
mans work to dry it out sufficiently to
make this possible.