The Washington times., 1912-03-06
GRIFFITH PLANS
KEEPING TAB ON
. YOUNG TW|RLERS
Those Showing Any Promise
Will. Be Farmed to
Minors.
EXPECTS TO CARRY
EIGHT ALL SEASON
Boys Given Chance Yesterday to
Show Some of Their Speed,
- Minus Curves.
By SENATOR"


working out with the Nationals will be
allowed to escape from the clutches of
Manager Griffith If he shows the least
Sign of eventually becoming a good ma n
for the big league.
IF l see some young fellow who looks
to have the. proper physical build AMI
sufficient brains to develop into good
man in couple of years." said the
Nationals manager yesterday, after the
, squad had completed their days work,
'I'lI keep line On him. I'm willing to
carry u few young fellows with the
team all season, If they look as If they
might learn something from watching
| the other pitchers. No one will be
dropped entirely unless he fails TO show
any promise"
Keeps Promising Ones
AS a result of this attitude on the
part of Manager Griffith, the Nationals
will have large roster all season long,
several promising youngsters being
kept throughout. However, it is not
to be expected that Griffith will keep
all twelve pitchers now on the muster
rolls. Probably four will be let go and
the struggle here Is to keep out of the
unlucky four
Not until May 20, will the team have
TO cut down its playing strength and
Manager Griffith figures to learn
enough about the youngsters before
that time to make a correct decision in
the case OF each. 1t is very likely that
q pitching corps of at least eight men
will be kept, but if any of the other
four looks as if he would develop with
more experience, and another year on
his shoulders, he will be fastened to
81 of to mir Ilu
on one end and to the Southern build
ing in Washington on the other.
Copied Connie Mack.
In other words, Griffith plans to build
UP the, Washington club in much the
same manner that Connie Mack has
built three American League champions,
by never losing any young players who
are unripe for the big show, but who
may become worthy members of the
major circuit with a few years more
of work in the minors.
In both of Yesterdays workouts, Grf-
fifth paid particular attention to Paul
Musser. the rookie finger from Canton,
and Cotton" johnson, the amateur
tWirler from Nandalia, III. The man
agcr climbed into a uniform, put on a
catching mitt and caught these young
fellows until their arms were hanging
by their sides and the palms of his own
hands were puffed and swollen. 1t was
Cirif's first appearance Of 1872 in uni
form and he was kept very busy.
Musser unCorked a number of his
fast balls when ordered to pitch to
Glffith and the latter seemed rather
pleased with the exhibition. Young
johnson, the most baShful lad in the
entire camp, was particularly glad of
an opportunity to show something of
his class and he trotted out beautiful
windup and a world of sizzling speed
tho nitcbprS eXpent
Tom Hughes used far more speed in
their second days work than on their
first appearance. Joe Engel, the Wash
inGton wizard, kept Ansmith hopping
: around like a catbird, getting his fast
ones "ETusk" Cashion continued his
excellent showing of the day before,
and is really the best of the lot now in
training.
Doesn't Want Curves.
81 don't want any of YOU boys trying
curves yet" Griffith told the twirlers
before the practice opened. There is
plenty of time for you to do that when
we are outdoors and after you've got
lame arms Iin camp, and curve balls
will bring lame arms faster than any
thing ] know Of"
But there is no orGer against speed
and many of the boys uncorked their
fastest Jerry Akers worked like a Tro-
ian on the floor of the gymnasium and
then ran a mile around the track up
stairs, in an effort to take of that e&'
ira beef around his tummy. Joe Boeh'
ling, the Richmond BattleaX cut plug
performer, is suffering from a slightly
tender elbow, the result of practicinG
curves last week at his home in the
Virginia capital However, Mike Mar
tin is caring for the sore elbow, and ht
hopes to have BOehling doing his bes
in a day or so more.
Musser is a cautious lad, and dOesn
binSplf ''T going II
throw my arm out right at the start,
said he to the writer. II want to come
around gradually, and then, when I d.
begin to open up, I'll be able to mak'
a lasting impression
Private John" Allen, perhaps tn
Quietest boy in the bunch, Is ahothe
who is taking his time in rounding 10
He works deliberately and carefully
never OVERRIDING it, but sticking to it il
a palnstakinG, plodding manner tina
has attracted the attention OF Manage
Griffith Allen is a big fellow wn
looks to have the stuff.
Eager To Shine.
, Yestcrdav's workouts found the boy
ca.vr 10 make good showing. Th
entire trew dressed in fifteen minhtc
and soon were shooting their fast one
the lrUSIh Of FdYcrw"a:her gymnasium
.utn the Liz mits Of Henry. Ansmiti
NilIiams, tina Manager Griffith. Owe
p on Olu Slh" MOISdh anu Suii'iiS"'''
an,uTd themselves With a game Of tOs'
Griffith took the deliveries OF pixie
b. .',NNnlkCr. Musser, "PriVatc John" All"I
and -"Cuttuu" Johnson. Williams ma
III" two sOulhpaWs. Becker and IOGr
linz. Iashion ami F:nGel were drVin
. thciI cannOnball slants into the mitt {
Ainsmtth and .Nkrrs and Hughes kcl
MnSSa John" Henry busy.
@. Walker was the first to LC release
from the warming " md sent runnln
around :he wee track in the gym. I'll
,thers followed SntiI all the pitcher
were done aud il their shower batl
IN the basement. Then the three barl
Elops and Cunning ham and MOr@a
had thch, innings. GTiffth keRt thel
chasing bunls for almost three-quartcl
Of an hour. and WhCh he called a ha