Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-20
BY j. ED GRILLO.

Alva Williams. who last season proved
himself to be most valuable addition to
the Nationals catching staff. expects to
be Of even more help to the team during
Che coming season. ManaG er Griffith re-
ceived a letter from the big catcher this
morning telling of trip he made to
Bonesetter Reese at the close of last sea-
son and that the arm expert found that
one of the ligaments in his throwing arm
was out of place. 1t was readjusted and
Williams says that his arm is better now
than it has been in several years He
proposes TO make another visit to Youngs-
town before reporting here and expresses
confidence that he will be better able to
do his work next season than he did last.
Williams, by the way. is sure to be
caught much more often next season than
Re was last. when he was only used regu-
Early after Henry and Ainsmith had both
been incapacitated. The fact that he
proved himself a good hitter. leading the
Nationals in this respect. makes him
much too valuable man to have sitting
on the bench, and he is apt to do the
bulk of the work behind the bat next sea-
son on this account.
Grif's mail also brought news rom
CAL Cashion. The big fellow asks for
d half dozen balls. which he says he
needs 20 take the daily workout in which
he is indulging. Cashion realizes that
he is none too expert in the matter of
holding runners first base, and he is
putting in the entire winter trying to per-
feet himself in this respect. He says that
We has greatly improved, and that by
peNt season he will be able to protect his
Gttcher by making the base runners hug
the bag or be caught mapping.
CaShion evidently has heard of Griffith S
feat of killing deer in Montana with a
stone. and he suggests that all the dead
arm pitchers be sent to Grff'S ranch and
develop that remarkable speed.
Ray Morgan slipped into town vest r.
day from his home in Baltimore, signed a
contract for next season at an increa sed
figure got d chunk of advance money
and departed
IL Is not unlikely that Morgan Will be
one of the regulars next season. If he can
set such pace as he did during the win
ming streak of the Nationals last June he
will be one of the most valuable men ON
the team.
Ty Cobb. who Is looked upon as the
monarch OF all ball players and who seeks
the biggest salary ever given to a private
in base ball. had something to say on the
subject in New York the other day:
won't play for cent less than
S1J.og'." said Cobb.
u know it's big price" he continued
and much higher than stars like Dele
hanty. Buck Ewing, Arson. Curt Welcf
and other old-time celebrities received
bat base ball is "A much bigger proposition
than i'll those days. ard the owners OF
parks with d capacity running from 300,
TO 4O.CtO must expect to pay more money
10 their players than they did in the past
II don't believe I will be considered
vain If i say that ! am a valuable asse
10 the Detroit team / know that if m,
release was put on the market Presiden
NaVin would receive offers above III,
hfty-thOusand mark in few hours. Re
member, i am only tWenty-sx years ant
still in my prime. All things being equal
l should have ten years more of high
class playing in me- That is the reason
other clubs would bid heavily for m,
services. Knowing this. l propose I,
share in the money my presence on tn
Detroit team represents.
Crawford. my running mate in tn
outfield. also has legitimate grounds TO
asking for an increase. and I feel tina
he VIII get the advance. as we'll as my
self The Tiger outfield without Craw
ford and myself-well. you know hoy
modest am: Will let you finish It %
Steering into another course. the pitch
er batter Of the American League de
ciered that he still believed the Athletic
had the strongest team In base ball.
The Athletics didn't win the pennan
: last season." remarked Cobb, but sti
believe 1t Is the best team in the country
I wouldn't be bit surprised il 1t cam