Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-15
show something Just as soon as they are
in playing condition


When it comes to covering ground
around first base. Hal Chase will be the
only one to have anything on Jack
get ground balls and is not OF the sta
tionary kind of first baseman, a fact
which is going to help the team not a
little. The time when a team could use
any one at first base who could catch
thrown ball has long since passed. That
position calls for as much agility and
speed now as any other. Intielders like
to throw to Flynn, because, being tall.
he can stretch in all directions and get
the poor throws, a fact which helps to
give the other infielders confidence, for
when they are hurried on a play they
need not stop to aim to throw to first
Kid Foster is an exact counterpart of
Kid Elberfeld, his stand at the plate re-
minding one of the Tobasco Kid, while he
handles himself in the field much like
the veteran, though of course he is much
faster. For a man who is not accus-
toned to third base, Foster seems to play
the position remarkably we'll in practice.
He has a beautiful throw. is fast to get
after the ball and has the reputation of
possessing a splendid pair of hands. But
Foster has filled out a whole lot since ne
played in Washington with the New
York team. He was mere boy then
and in few years has widened out
whole lot
Almost from the very first day that the
players repotred here Henry and Ain
smith threw as If they had been in train
ing all winter. Since the practice has
been held on Lambeth field they are
throwing like rifle shots, showing con-
clusively that they are in good form.
Aiva Williams is working along differ
ent line. He has not thrown a ball hard
since he reported because his arm is still
weak. and he is not taking any chances
with it. Williams figures that If he goes
along slowly for a couple of weeks he
will be able to do some tall pegsing all
season without endangering his arm.
Not since Bob Groom has been a men,
Der of the team has he worked as hard
or looked better than he does this spring.
The elongated twirler is determined to
get himself in superb condition this
spring, because he, like Walker, hopes
to- make this his banner year since
the proper method to pursue lis to get
himself in the best possible physical con-
dftion.
Even when the pitching is only dished
up to furnish something for the batters
to hit out, there is no trouble picking the
good hitters from the poor. One would
believe that If the pitchers let UP or
| used nothing but straight balls, that
almost any player could hit them. but
always stand out regardless of what the
| pitching may be.
Griffith did not arrange a game be-
tween the veterans and colts yesterday
because the players who took part in
Wednesdays game were stiff and sore,
and Griff figures that it would be bet
| ter to have them workout than play a
game, because the workouts keep them in
action constantly, while there are lot
j oP mr. which
| do not help ball players at this season
of the year. There are a lot of dis
. gruntled players in camp as result Of
that defeat Wednesday. and they threat
en- to absolutely annihilate the cOllegians
when they tackle them tomorrow
Walter johnson is a remarkable pitcher
| in more respects than one. The average
pitcher after being in training day or
SO in the spring complains Of a sti1, sore
arm, but not Walter. No one ever hears
him make any reference to his arm, and
when he warns up he looks ready to pitch
| a game OF ball. And Johnson works as
hard as the next one. When he Is not
pitching he is chasing flies in the outfield
| or having some one hit bunts at him, an
exercise which is considered most siren
uOus.
! Clyde Milan figures that this is going to
be the best year OF his career, and ne
gives logical reasons for this opinion.
| 'Zeb" figures that because of the general
Strengthening of the team he will have
more opportunities to show to advantage.
| For instance. he figures that he will score
| many more runs this year than he did
| last, for while he gets on often, under
| old conditions he scored but seldom, be-
| cause his teammates were unable to
| bring him in. This year he thinks he
sees a change for the better. TN come
pretty near to scoring $50 runs this year.
said he. II scored 100 last year, and
don't know how many times l was left
| when, had / been with q better hitting
| team. would have been home. Now 1t
strikes me that we are going to. have
| some players batting behind me this year
| who will bring me home more often than
| has been the case, and I figure that this
| improved condition is going to make a lot
| Of difference in all our playing"
1t is doubtful IL there is player in the
American League who can hit fungoes
| like Carl Cashion.e He gave an exhibit
| ton this morning and on several occa-
| sions hit the ball over the center field
| fence atLambeth Field. the distance from
the home plate to that fence being at
| least 80 feet farther than the fence on
| the Nationals ground.
Left-handed pitchers win have no ter
| rors for the Nationals the coming season,
| at least not II there Is anything in the
| theory that left-handed batters are handi-
| capped when facing a southpaw. for
Milan will be the only lefthander to face