Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-24
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

Morning practice. % far as the regular
rlavers Of the Washington team are con-
cerned has bccn tabooed by Griffith. the
ninaI workout peinS taken by the PLAYERS
his morning.
With tho coming - tho hot weather
Griffith realizes that he is not going 10 help
his PLAYERS hy having them work out
mornings. \ three-hour session in the
afternoon is about all that rail- player
can stand and be in shape 70 do good
work The phenomenal record made by
tic Nationals was on the road in cool
weather and without tho aid of morning
practice Playing ball in Washington dur
ing the hot months is bard on the play
c-s and there is no doubt that in former
Years mistakes were made by compelling
them 10 indulge in morning practice Grif-
ft'n realizes this fact. and proposes to use
= different system.
Incidentally he has requested his play
erS 10 leave the downtown hotels and To-
cate ont in the country where there are
cool breeZes at night
Eail players sweat out more than they
.sin by too much exertion in the heat
and when they are playing every day
The result is that they so stale just when
their best services are needed. and II Is
this that Griffith wants 10 guard against
What should prove most interesting
series and should he the best test the
opens here today when the Boston Red
son. leaders in the race. play the nrSt
game of four-same series. Eleven
games have been played with the Red
SoN and six OF them have been won ny
the Nationals. Ii is 81 course reason
able 10 suppose that the Boston a3grega-
tion is going better now than ii Was
early in the season. but this i also true
Of the Nationals. VINO are much I'M
proved team since they wee in Boston
last. To take ma joritS of these games
from Boston would place the Nationals
in a splendid position q Gain the lead
during the week.
iris Speaker seems intent on overshad-
owing Ty Cobb this season. The Boston
star is going at terrific gait 10 date
leading the league in hitting and piaNins
q most sensational game II the ieid
Speaker. more than any other individual
on the Boston team, deserves the credlt
for the teams present position III the
race. His work has been consistently
brilliant right from the start Of the sea
son. and even when the team was not
going good his work stood out.
In all the former genes That the Ma
tionals have played the Red SoN they
have not experienced any difhcu.ty IN
hitting their pitchers, aud IL was because
of the weakness of their own twirlers
that three Of the last four games were
lost in the Hub. Five Of the first seven
Games were captured b. 6rinta trloe'
and with their pitchers now going better
than ever the outlook is not at I'll dis
couraging.
Today's game will be called az go.
VI is doubtful If there IS faster or bet
ter infield in The american League than
the Nationals. The acquisition Of Gandil
has made a wonderful difference IN that
department. no. only from STANDPOINT
ef fielding. but also in the hitting. Nor
cams nexperience at second base is ap-
parent every nov and then. but il Is
also plain that lie is gradually improving.
while his stickwork more than makes up
for any deficiency he may show in the
field. That infield shows its strength i'll
its preliminary practice. which is by far
the fastest of any team IN the league
This practice is so impressive that on
foreign grounds il wins the applause of
the spectators and there IS no doubt that
ii has its effect on the opposing team
If Walter Johnson feels Well enough he
viii be worked against the Red Sox to-
DAY. and IL he is not used Barney Petty
viii he given an opportunity TO make his
debut in National uniform on the home
grounds. Just which of the SoN
pitchers will work has not been decided.
though il will likely be either Wood or
o'Brien. both OF whom have been rather
easy picking for the Nationals heretofore
this season.
Boston has a decidedly comfortable lead
in the race at this time. The Red Sox
arc five full games in front of Wash
iuGton. After the series here the SoN
hook up with New York again and len
tackle the Athletics a series. whis IS
apt TO he of much help to the loca il
Philadelphia can win from the lea.er
In the meantime Washington will hook
I'D with both the SoX and the cham
pions. and the outcome of these games
will mean much to the team. To make
"A better showing than an even break
would give the team great chance to
land top. for following these games
the rest of the route hooks easy. for New
York plays. here before the western teams
make their second invasion. and judged
on what they have shown they should
not be dangerous.
With morning practice eliminated the
Nationals should work under more favor
able conditioIH al home than they did