The Washington times., 1912-03-08
Youngsters Work Out on
Patch of Soggy
Grass.
GRIFFITH SATISFIED
, WITH SHORT SESSION
Says Zone Hour in Open Is
Worth Two in the
49, Gymnasium"
By SENATOR"


CHARLOTTESVILLE Va, March s.
The Nationals youngsters have had
their first outdoor work of 1912. cavort-
ing about on little patch of wet,
soggy grass under a lowering, gray
sky, following yesterdays beautiful sun.
The session was not long, but Manager
Griffith expressed himself as perfectly
satisfied with It.
One hour in the open air is worth
two under a roof" says Griffith, land
I want all these kids to get used to
the feel of the dirt under their feet.
Wen be playing practice games next
week YOU know. and they can't begin
outdoors any too soon"
Cy Rigler and his band of wOrkmen
had cleared the snow entirely from
Lambeth Field. but the frost last night
and the absence Of sun today made
the base paths, plate, and box very
soggy All the players were cautioned
against. standing around in tho mud
and told to keep on the turf as much
= as possible. One day of warm sun,
such as yesterday, will put the field in
- All that has been done indoors was
:, continued today on the turf, excepting
basketball and the practice with the
medicine ball. The pitchers all warmed
up with fair turns of speed and there
was some lively fielding practice, par
;tiCnlarly for Bill Cunningham and Ray
Morgan. These two were kept jumping
saround until their faces shone with
3perspiratiOn. Following the last work
out the squad was sent on stiff jog
saround the field and then hurried back
ste Fayerweather gymnasium for a
4shower and rub down.
Z "Husk" Cashion, the huge Carolina
curver of the Nationals, is developing
z a slow, may. mystifyinG bah. under the
K tutelage of Clark Calvert Griffith. which
is expected to set such renowned bats
lO and flo. I
Franklin Baker, and JOsephus Jackson
on their tummes reaching. for 1t.
When he tames this new species of
delivery and allies it with his already
well-knoWn fast freight" ball, there
will be no slugger in the league who
will be willing to wages more than a
thimbleful of soda that he will make a
merry bingle when the mastadoniC
mountaineer strOlls to the hillOCk for his
summer afternoons exercise.
Grit Giving EN- Points.
Manager Griffith is spending several
Of his high-prircd and precious mo-
Incnts each day initiating the yOungster
; into the art of hlnging this slow ball,
| this teasing rival of the fdr-famcd
! 1adeaway OF one c. MdthcwsOn, and
the lessons he will be one OF the best
! honored lads in all Washington, for he
will lie able to take those aboVc-named
hitters and soothe them to sleep right
; in broad daylight
My boy" said Grin, to Jay Carl yes
terday. as he showed him how to clutch
the pill, when YOU nave learned how
to put some stuff on his delivery, you
will be able to make records in the bOA.
With this slow ball and that speed of
yours-well. hate to think Of the awful
cut coming in the salaries of r. Cobb,
J. Baker, J. jackson, not to mention
p. Bodlc l.. Lajoe, and Y. Collins"
And then Griff smiled that smile of his
which resembles the look of dying
man.
Is Sitting Up Nights.
And therefore, and because Jay Carl
! CashlOn, most promising of all the
] youngsters on the roster of the Ma
tionals of 1912. is sitting up nights try
ing to get the right grip on the leather,
the grip which will boost his hgures
and lower those of the three terrible
tsrrors OF the American League.
For half an hour during each pTaC-
! tce period yesterday this giant son of
! Carolina hurled his speedy shoot, the
1 fast freight" and then this tantaliZing
invention of Clark Calvert. No, kind
3 people, he hasn't got it down to very
/ exact science AS yet, but he's improving,
he's improving. BY the time he appears
on the diamond within the concrete
{ coliseum he should be able to do some
: thing besides frightening those poor
: battcrs half to death with his uemcn-
: dQus energetic fast freight"
Z n "Dorf" Ansmith, catcher eXtraor-
7 binary, is spending all his time with
: Cashion, and If Griff allows his pitchers
: to choose their Cwn baCkstOpS this sea-
; son, as he has limited, +. Lawrence
. Phillips, the bugle-threated announcer
at Florida avenue, will bawi: "BatterieA
: for Washington, Cashion and Ain
J smith" whenever the Carolina CurYCr IS
picked out for the hillock hurting this
/ summer.
To Teach Johnson, Too.
: Inh
Manager Griffith will take him in Charge
and cndeavor to inculcate in him Il rabld
desire for delivering this same slow,
! tantaizlng deCeiVer. AS the fans will
( remember, johnson tried a makeshift
! slow ball last season which was not a
! success He WAS wholly out of position
when he got 1t away and only the dumb
( est batsmen were fooled by it. r. Cobb,
Baker, ct al, would step into It and
! ladle il for Il bingle whenever II APP
peared.
; However, when the "Kansas Cyclone"
! learns the gentle art of Ringing this lat
I est example of the ball that made GTift
! famous" few batSmen Will have the
; hardihood to set themselves for it.
! When Johnson learns how to contro
this slow ball and mixes It with his
Smoke ball"-wow. wow-lAzzie' bdl
There is some advantage in having
/ shrewd, crafty pitcher managing your
! club. Griffith Is already thlnklnE o.
| schemes for enhancing the efficiency OF
! Walter johnson. and one Of these Il
! 10 teach him the proper use Of thu
I bean ball" that awc-insplring thint
! that goes straight for the head of the
I hatsman. Many sluggers in the Amer
I lean League never fear Walter
smoke BALI because there is it'll,
! danger in being hit by it. However
Z This season the big Kansas CHECKER
, fanCicr is likely to bean" few o.
, these daring darlings when they lcas
: expect il, for Griffith intends to teaCi
, this business to his stellar twirler from
. the start
Walter johnson. even though Will
. Washington, not very strong cum.
! saws GriR. ought to he feared mOr
! nv the battCrs on other teams II ID,
I uses his head in controlling his fas
ball and learns how 10 throw SLOW