Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-05

GRIFFITH SEEMS TO HAVE
FOUND RIGHT INFIELD
Foster, Mcbride, Knight and Flynn Sure to
Make Competent Combination-Engel
to Pitch Against Boston Today.

which has kept him out of the game for
the past few days was blessing in dis
guise. for it gave Griffith a chance to
get a fairly good line on Shanks. who,
even if he is not played regularly, is sure
10 be one of the teams utility outfielders.
That Boston team is far from being in
shape. This was proven by its weak
efforts at the bat yesterday. Kings
players have not faced much good pitch
ing this spring. and CashiOn and Hughes
did not have to exert themselves to win
the game. There are tfIirty-two players
here with the Braves, not including Char
ley C'Duke') Farrell. who will do some
scouting for the team this season. 1t
was Farrell who secured Ray Morgan for
the Nationals. and he predicts a great
future for the Baltimore lad.
"Griff may not find a place for Morgan
just now but the day Will come when
Morgan will be a great ball player said
he He was by far the best looking
younSster 1 saw last summer. and the
fact should not be overlooked that third
base is new 10 him -
With the opening of the championship
season still week away and good wealth
er continuing. the Nationals give promise
of starting the campaign in splendid con-
dition. Every one of the pitchers shown
recently gives evidence of being in good
form. while the general playing of the
team is improving with every game. That
the exhibition games played here have
been of the greatest benefit to the team
is very evident. 1t is working much more
smoothly now than it did a week ago. and
by the time the season opens it will come
pretty near to playing its best ball.
John king is not the catcher he was
a few years ago. He is still artist
behind the bat. but that throwing arm
which did SO much to make the Cubs
famous team no longer has the power it
hn6 linz &hr-s.yy Of
fort. whereas when he was at his best
there was but little motion when he had
occasion to throw to the bases.
Visiting players and mana gers are much
impressed with the work of Ainsmith and
Henry, who are already considered the
best pair of young catchers in either
major league. McGraw while he was
here. told several friends that Henry and
Ainsmith were the two best young catch
ers he had ever seen, and he predicted
that within the next year or so they
would have few equals.
What is most encouraging about this
pair is the fact that neither is afraid to
take chance They hold runners on
first and third perfectly. while their
throwing to second could hardly be i'm
proved upon.
Tom Hughes arm looks encouraging
He was a bit wild yesterday, probably be-
cause he has worked in but few games
this spring. but he had plenty of stuff
and his motion was free and easy. and he
did not act as if his arm was in any way
him. Griffith has a lot of con-
fidence In Hughes, and for this reason is
giving him plenty of time to get ready,
not expecting to use him in the regular
games, unless he is forced to, until the
hot weather sets in. Hughes believes
that his arm is better this spring than 1t
has been in years, and If this be true the
other pitchers on the team will have a
hard time making better showing than
he will. for Hughes has one advantage.
and that is that he knows the game and
has had plenty of experience.
The Nationals hitting is still far below
the standard. principally because neither
Milan nor Schaefer is hitting as he
should. When the top of a batting oruer
is in a slump 1t makes lot of difference
in ball team.
1t is. however, only a question of time
when this pair Will get to going. Schae-
fer has good streaks, but is not yet as