Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-17

play the game IN All up-to-udte Aos9i1o
He has some splendid. pitching material,
and a lot of fast, hard-hitting feiders,
who are sure to be heard from In the
coming campaign.
Shortstop Douglas of Virginia. who UNI
doubtedly is one of the most promising
PLAYERS in college base ball. will be out
of the game for month at least as re.
suit of the accident with which he met
during todays game In the very first
inning Douglass hit a grounder to
Hughes and in his sprint to first base
sprung a tendon in his leg and limpeo
of the field. Pop Lannigan, the varsity
trainer after examining Douglass, said
IT would take at least four weeks Tor the
injury to heal.
All paraphernala used by the players,
such as gloves, balls, bats, sweaters anu
who has been engaged by Manager Grit
fifth Compton is not only proud OF ms
job, but he is regular watchdog OF the
treasury, and it is impossible for any one
to get as much as an old Dah.
Moeller had a rather peculiar record at
the bat He was up five times, got TWO
two-baggers, struck out twice ana Went
out on an infield play once On ootn
occasions that he famed he did not oner
at the ball.
DR.. Edward Larkin, the club ply stefan,
made his appearance today TO LOOK Tue
PLAYERS over DR.. Larkin came unan,
nounced. This caused Griffith to send
Maths. one of his ailing fielders. 10
Washington yesterday morning 70 nave
him examined. The doctor ana ms pa
tient passed each other en- route, but the
examination will be made this morning.
Though still far from being at his best,
for the reason that he has had but Few
days work, Jack Flynn is showing up
figured
to have a chance at first base are as
founded at the splendid work he is doing.
Not only is Flynn hitting the ball, pu.
he is covering a big lot OF ground anu
showing a knowledge OF the positlon. ne
is particularly clever in helping a pitcher
catch a runner of first bag by being very
fast in getting the ball on the runner. In
today's game he hit the ball haru every
time up, and the first two trips 70 the
plate brought home brace OF singles.
There does not appear to be the slightest
doubt as to who will fill the 1lrst base
place opening day. Flynn is doing every
thing that is to be expected. and ne
seems to be improving with every day.
Milan has ambitions to be leader
among the American League stars. In
the opinion of many he was next to ConO
the best all-around base ball player In
the league last season, and Zeb does not
figure that be has risen as high as ne
can.
1t is much too early to get correct
line on the ability of the young pitchers.
All Of them are suffering with kinky
arms more or less, and not until a
couple Of weeks have passed Will they be
able to show their real value. But even
under present conditions several OF them
give Indications of making good. To date
but six of them have been allowed to
pitch in games-Cashion. Allen and
Walker Wednesday and Hughes, Akers
and Boehling today All of them have
done good work. but until Musser.
into game it is difficult to say just how
they size up. Joe Engel would have
worked before this had he not been SUI
fering with a lame arm, which. however,
is mending nicely now, and he will be
in there some day next week.
Walter Johnson's fame is far-reaching.
He is one of the few players in the game
are not interested in ball at all, but have
heard of his prowess. Any one travelling
with the Nationals finds he has to ac-
commodate several people every day by
pointing out Johnson to them. This proves
beyond question that Johnson is an at
traction in base ball. He has an indi-
vidual drawing power of which few ball
players can boast.
Even without figuring on Jack knight,
the infield which Griffith is now playing
is SO much better than any which the
Nationals have had in the last five years
that there is really no comparison. Not
only does the present quartet field well
and hit the ball. but it is much faster
than any the team has ever had. In
about another week, when the players
have been hardened and have worked the
soreness out Of their muscles. the infield
will be able to give practice exhibition
which will be interesting to watch. All
Of them are great throwers, and they
move over the ground with lot of
speed and handle ground balls cleanly.
Schaefer may never develop into sem
sational fielder. but. for all that. he Is
going to be an improvement in right field
over any fielder the team has had there
recently. The fact that he is fast on his
feet allows him to cover lot OF ground.
He is a sure catch Of the ordinary flies.
and when it comes to throwing he has
Schaefer should not hit as well as he
did last year, and II he does he will
make an ideal man for the position.
chance to display his sprinting procliv-
tiles, as both drives were not so far out
of reach of the fieiders that he could
loaf step of the way, and yet he made
| Ing to slide. Moeller has long stride
and goes over the ground much faster
| than a casual observer would suspect.
II weather such as prevailed today
keeps up during the remainder OF
| the teams stay here the Nationals
will come home in condition to play
their best ball. A couple of sessions
| a day on the ball field for the remainder
5. OF the stay here will put the players
three who are backward getting into
good form. This il what Griffith is
| hoping. for he wants to have his team
| make a good showing against the
National League teams who are sched-
| uled to play games in Washington early
| next month. These teams will all spend