Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-29
BY J. ED GRILLO.


Walter Johnson and Jerry Akers will
pitch against the Philies this afternoon.
while it is almos; certain that Alexander,
the sensation of last years National
League race, will pitch part of the game
for the visitors.
Unless it should rain some more this
afternoon the game is assured Mana ger
Griffith believes that the hard rain had
a beneficial effect on the playing field
and that there is no chance for the con-
dition of the grounds interfering with the
game.
Johnson is in good condition to pitch,
and if he hooks up with Alexander 1t is
going to be a pitchers battle. Akers
will make his first appearance on the
local grounds, and. incidentally, against
a major league team. He did some very
impressive work at Charlottesville. but
today's game will give a better line on
his ability than did any of the other ex-
hibition games. The game will be called
at $50.
1t must be apparent to every one who
has seen the Nationals in action that
the team Is far from working smoothly,
and incidentally there does not appear
to he the usual amount of ginger among
the rank and file. There have been en-
UTely lOO IIldnN TuTS WdSttu by StuDlu
work on the bases, and in the matter
of having men left the team has already
tablished a record.
or course, these exhibition games do
not count. and the object in playing is
| to give the men much-needed practice
| There will, however, have to be whole
! lot of Improvement in the general work
| of the team before the season opens if
| it expects to get anything resembling a
good start in the race
| in ho 70
| come Consistent practice will bring that
about and once the team gets to hitting
| better it will brace up in every other
way.
Saturday the regulars will go to Balti-
, more for game with the International
League team of that city. while the Yam
igans will stay at home to play the local
All Stars Ray Morgan will be played
at third for the regulars, because he
is a Baltimore boy, and his friends there
have requested of Manager Griffith that
they give him an opportunity to play be-
fore them.
The All-Stars, who are to play the Ma
tionals' second team at American League
Park Saturday afternoon, will line up as
second base; Morris. right field: Steele,
center field; Litz first base; Hurley or
Davis, third base Harris, shortstop
Lodge, catcher; Busher, Herrell or Sha-
I'm, pltcners
Aside from showing himself a good
pitcher, Walker displayed ability as a
ball player. He got two hits, thanks to
his fast work on the bases, and he ran
bases with judgment and speed.
Ball players should always be encour-
aged to take chances. but in doing SO
they should display. Judgment In the
ninth inning yesterday Foster pulled a
foolish play With, third and second oc-
cupied. two runs needed to win and none
out. Foster tried to score while Dixie
Walker was being thrown out at first.
with the result that a double play was
made and the rally which threatened to
take the game from the Philies ended.
Had Foster remained on third there
would have been but one out and Milan
and Schaefer would have come up next.
Jack Ryan, man of much experience.
was coaching at third at the time, and
he should have held Foster there.
Cashion needs to pitch a number Of
games against teams OF the strength OF
the PhiIlies before he will show to ad-
vantage. His performance yesterday was
a disappointment, in view or the fact that
he showed much improvement while
the team was at Charlottesville. Cashion
lacks control, and there is only one way
for him to get It, and that Is to give
him plenty Of opportunity to pitch. Every
thing went Wong with the big fellow yes
terday. There were several scratch hits
made of him. which started lot Of the
trouble, and he contributed to his own
defeat with throw over Hymns head
when he should have held the ball. But
exhibitions such as Cashion gave are to
be expected from a young pitcher who is
just learning the art. Cashion is intelli-
gent, game and hard working, and he
should overcome his weakness in a very
short time.
Disappointing as was the showing Of
Cashion. so encouraging was the work Of
Dixie Walker. Walker Is undoubtedly in
the best form just now that he has ever
been since he Joined the local team. He
proved this yesterday by his mastery per-
| Torrance against a team which fears no
pitcher. He worked beautifully against
! the visitors and did not allow them to
| score a run in the four innings he officiat-
| ed on the slab. His best performance was
! in the seventh, which he started by hit
| ting Luderus and PaSkert, followed with
a two-base hit. Then Walker got down to
business and struck out the next three