Evening star., 1912-04-12
BY J. ED GRILLo.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
PHILADELPHIA, April 12.-That exhi-
bition games do not give correct line on
a ball team was demonstrated by the
splendid exhibition the Nationals gave
against the Athletics yesterday. 1t was
the first time this spring that the team
really looked promising.
Every man was filled with interest. and
the impression created by its showing was
that the team was much stronger than it
has been in years. Its hitting, of course.
was weak, yet not any more so than that
of the champions. who simply got the
breaks in their batting On what Grif-
fith's team showed here yesterday there
is real hope in store for the followers of
the sport in Washington 1t was tough
game to lose. Johnson will not have
many easier ones to win this season. His
own error which was responsible for the
defeat. was made on play which he will
not miss again during the season. and,
: what is more, the Athletics were lucky to
scratch in a couple of hits on him which
gave them runs.
= But the fielding and general playing of
E the Nationals was so much superior to
anything they have shown this spring
that it would be hard to recognize the
team.
Even Griffith is encouraged. and that is
saying much, after losing game like
.1he one of yesterday. There are some
rough edges yet in our playing, but will
get rid of them if Ii takes me all year,
said he. My players have got to learn
40 think for themselves. Twice yesterday
the Athletics muffed fly balls with one of
our men on first and yet on neither Occa-
sion did We benefit thereby. We did not
hoyr ha cliO Incl a
j am convinced that We are going to
have good ball team. Now that the sea-
son is on the boys are showing their real
FORM
:: Griffith held meeting of his players
both mornings that he has been here
This is now one of the features of the
regular routine. Every morning at ~
o'clock the players gather in his room.
<1akes pointed out. These meetings are
-apt to be continued during the entire
: season.
:. Kid Elberfeld is once more member of
Sfhe Nationals. He has not Joined the
team as yet, and, in fact, may not, but his
signed contract is in Griffith's possession
and he is apt to make his appearance at
any time.
Ii seems that when Griffith sold Elber-
field to the Chattanooga club ii was with
the understanding that the deal would not
be binding unless ii. We're possible for
the club to get Elberfeld under contract
This. il seems, IL has been unable TO dc
and Elberfeld reverts back to the Wash
jngton club. Griffith has notified him
that he Will go on the pay roll Just as
soon as he reports in condition to play
ball. and not before.
= The whole matter is simply case oil
Elberfeld wanting to thwart Griffith in
making any deal involving him whereby
the Washington club can get a cash re-
turn for him. Elberfeld figures that he Is
entitled to his unconditional releas, sc
that he could sell himself to some club
but Griffith will not sanction any such
deal and he vows that Elberfeld will re-
port to the club to which he sells him OIL
lie viii stay out of base ball.
{. There must have been decidedly higf
sky yesterday, for there We're no less
than six fly balls muffed by the two
teams Collins muffed one from knight.
bat in the second. Barry muffed one
from F'lynns bat in the sixth, but got the
ball up in time to force out Moeller while
sOldring dropped one from Johnson's ba
time to force Ainsmith- Knight als<
muffed one on Collins in the fourth. which
however did not count for any thing.
Dixie Walker is slated TO face ethel
Bender or Morgan in the game today.
Silk O'Loughlin's judgment on ball
and strikes when Johnson was pitching
must have been away off. for even John
son. who is never known to protes
against an umpires ruling, repeatedly
protested against OLOughlin. Yesterda,
mas probably the first time this yea