The Washington herald., 1912-05-06
GRIFFC' TWIRLERS'
LACK or CONTROL
WEAKENS HITTING
Nationals Are Unable to Get
Proper Batting Practice
Is the Claim.
OTHER SPORTING ITEMS
b. .w1LLIAM PEET.

the players have rot been able 10 get lne
right kind Of batting practice in the
morning, due principally 70 the wildness
Of Griffs young twirlers-Cashion,E Engel.
Musser, and Boehling.
It Is claimed that when Cashion goes
into the box for batting practice the
players do not stand up and hit with
any degree of confidence for fear OF
getting sbeaned." J. Carl has 50 much
speed that he does not know what TO do
with II. Cashion himself is afraid to let
out for fear Of hitting one of his team
mates, and his morning workout re-
suits in. little good to either the pitcher
or the players.
The same holds true of Musser and
Engel. Boehling was another sharp
shooter, but he has been sent to Chat
tanOoEa for development. Engel, II viii
be remembered, hit Shanks in the head
with a speedy shoot two weeks ago, and,
like Musser. has a lot of stun, but the
frequent wild streeKs uncorked by these
two youngsters at various times has nat
uraIly worked a hardship on the other
players. for in practice nobody wants to
take a chance Of getting hit, although in
game IT is another matter.
There Is no question but that the Ma
tionals are q better hitting club than
they have thus far shown, and the wild
ness of Grih's youngsters during prac-
tice may or may not have something TO
do with the mediocre stickwork of the
players
Now that Jerry Akers has shown the
fans why he should be considered a big
and Paul Musser will be watched with
considerable interest.
With Jack Ryan here to help coach
ha rnyfII ka 10rT
before both Engel and Musser will be
ready to start a big league game.
Engel is learning rapidly. Physically
he measures up to big league timber, and
also possesses the required speed and
curves, lacking only experience. Double
headers will be on the menu before we
realize 1t, and then the youngsters will
come in handy. Both Engel and Musser
are being carefully groomed and given
plenty of work each day. Griff would
not have them on his bench unless he
feels confident that they will some day
be able to come across with the proper
stun.
In the case of Akers Saturday it was
apparent to everybody that the Dubuque
lad was ready for trial. Grfff's judg-
ment was right, and IL anything Jerry
did even better than was expected.
The same will hold true of Musser and
EngeL They will not start game un-
Ill Grtn believes they are ready.
Grin would like to add a good left
handed pitcher to his staf, and conse-
quently refused TO waive claim on Pitch
er Bill Bailey, Of the st. Louis Browns,
when waivers were asked on the twirler
last week. A dispatch from Detroit last
night stated that Detroit had purchased
Baileys release from the Browns.
Buck Becker is the only southpaw in
Grins stable. Buck has not as yet
started in a league game this season.
but will likely get his chance against
the White Sox during the coming series.
into the league last year against Chicago,
and beat the White Sox handily.
It will be up to Dixie Walker to stop
the Athletics In the City Of BrotherIy
Love to-day, and Walter johnson will
likely oppose the White Sox in the open
ing combat here Tuesday.
Billy weart, the clever baseball writer
On the Philadelphia Telegraph, pulls an
interesting story as follows:
Harry Davis. manager. Of the Cleve-
land club has, according to reports, been
caught on the same scheme which he
helped to work for the White Elephants
q few seasons ago. The Athletics got the
tip, presumably from Ira Thomas, that
Rossman, first baseman Of Detroit, was
weak on throwing the ball. They laid
their plans accordingly.
TN every game the scheme was to get
Rassrns- = -1rowing the ball Maek's
@ -ould dig around the bases
- usze an extra base whenever
49, tEeW- -t3lat Rossman would be the
1E 81 aa the throw. The trick
ze5 Ths athletics profted time and
-
1s cot Eiae to the plan, and In mid
aassnian was traded to st. Louis
-n JCpes.
comes Hughey Jennings time
fsc rsVense This season Cleveland had
prauisinE FounE first baseman named
80 h1rst J innings adopted the same
fzctsH thst thu Athletics did in chasing
R0EE1an hscR . the minors The Tigers
siuei their susck 50 as to make Horns
Norst Tires izo ball
iorEsh roved to be poor throw
er. As other clubs besides Detroit were
getting wise to the scheme, Manager
Davis had to bench Hornshurst and go
20 the bag himself The worlds cham
pions may introduce tricks, but they can
not COPYRIGHT them"
E6die Gagnier. the shortstop secured
from washington. has been placed on
the utility role Of the Indianapolis team,
giving way to o'Leary, the former II
ger. Just how long o'Leary will hold
down the position as regular for the
Indians, is unknown, as Gagnier has
been playing good bah ssnce the be-
ginning OF the season. The reason for
the change was not given out by Man
ager Burke, and It has caused q lot Of
talk among the fans OF the Indiana city
Burke seems to want to strengthen HIS
team entirely with major league cast
ois. To date he has secured Gagnier.
Westsrin. oLeary. Hunter. and In
gerton-
Tim Anrnane, Of the Boston Globe,
one of the most conservative and best
known baseball writers In the country,
who was with the Red Sox last week,
says that the washington club is 20 per
ceat stronger than last season. and that
It would not surprise him a bit to see
sbe Nationals finish IN the frst division.
Jack Flynn, the Nationsls' irst-saeker,
and CrriEan. The burIy Red sox catch
er. were both az Holy Cross College to-
rsther and were cronies during their
college days Both were busy Saturday
night talking over old times.
The winning pace set by the Jer1ey
city Skeeters reminds the fans Of the
Sast team Of Insects that Billy Murray