Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-21
BY j. ED GRILLO.

BYJ. ED GRILLO.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHARLOTTESvILLE.N Va. March 21.-
Just why it is that the average pitching
recruit usually takes twice as long to get
himself ready to do good work as it does
a pitcher of experience is one of the
problems which every training camp fur
nishes 1t would be supposed that the
young fellows would be the first to show
their real form but such is not the case
on any occasion.
Grifiths recruits, barring Akers. are
all suffering with lame arms. and for
that reason are unable to take their
regular turns on the rubber, while every
one of his veterans has reached that
stage of his training where he could
pitch full ball game in a pinch without
any danger of injuring himself. 1t was
so last year. The old pitchers rounded
into form long before the youngsters
could raise their arms, and this spring is
virtually repetition of the last. During
the first few days, when the twlrlers
were working inside, the youngsters SEEM
ed to be at perfect ease when i'll action,
while the pitchers of experience merely
lobbed the ball to and fro. Now just the
reverse is the case for the regulars are
showing everything, while there are eX
pressions of pain on the faces of the kids
whenever they are asked to warm UP.
Griffith says that this is always the
case. and he gives this explanations:
When pitcher holds a position in
major league he has good arm or he
would not be there. Good arms are cas-
lily trained in the spring. if proper judg-
ment is used. These youngsters do not
know how To train themselves. They
start out by using all sorts of deliveries.
Ae.,1t
arms are so sore they can't move them,
while. on the other hand. the experienced
pitchers are using one motion only, and
gradually loosening the muscles and get
ting their arms in pitching condition
with most of the youngsters in such
condition that they can hardly throw it
Is. of course. Impossible to judge of their
ability, but on what has been shown
Akers and Boehling seem to stand the
best chance to make good with the team.
1t was a pleasure yesterday morning
to see Johnson. Cashion and Walker
work. Johnson and Cashion appeared TO
be as good as they will be at any time
during the season, though Walter did
not resort to curving. Cashion looks
better every time he goes to the slab.
No youngster ever improved faster than
he is doing, and Griffith's prediction that
he will be a capable running mate for
Walter Johnson seems certain to be real
lied CashiOn pitched three innings
did not allow a man to reach first base.
He had terrific speed, a change of pace
and control, which he lacked formerly.
Bill Lush. former big league fielder and
Yale coach, now manager of the Mon
treal team. which is TO train here when
The Nationals leave. was looking Cashion
over, and he remarked: There is the
finest piece of pitching machinery / have
ever gaZed upon If he don't set things
fire 1 will make a great mistake, in
deed
Dixie Walker, too. is showing good
form. Whatever il is that Griffith has
tied him down to i'm his contract is hav-
ing a wonderful effect on the Ala ba milan,
for he never took much interest in
his work or worked harder during a
training trip. Bob Groom is going along
slowly. He is one of those who is given
his own time to get ready. Being of
comparatively frail build, it does not do
to rush him. but he works hard of his
own accord and is daily getting better.
Billy Lush and Catcher Bridges OF the
Montreal team reported here yesterday.
while the other catchers and pitchers of
the team are expected today. Next We'd
nesday the entire team will report here
and they will stay here until April 10.
While here the players win occupy the
same house the Nationals have made
their home and will have the same
coHmodations.
Manager Griffith has already got rid
Of Mig Clarke. He has sold him to In
dianapolis in the American Association,
hut still has to get waivers on him be-
fore the deal is closed. and it is not
likely that any of the other clubs will
want to hold him up.
Griffith has also returned Ralph Maths
to the Richmond club. Maths reported
here unfit to do any training and there
was no way to get a lipe on him, and
besides. another year with Richmond
should do him lot of good.
There is lot of difference in Tom Long
this spring, compared with his showing
with the Nationals last fall Long is in
good health now and he is showing to
much better advantage. Not only is he
faster than he was last fall, but he is
hitting the ball hard, easily leading the
team with an average of .0S4, having
made seven hits in twelve times at bat.
There was a question to whether or
not Long had a strong enough arm to
hold his own in the company, for dur
ing his try-out last year he seemed to
be weak IN this respect, but this spring he
is throwing much better Long will. in
deed, have to be figured as a possibility,
for a boy that can hit and run as he
can always has chance to help any
team.
1t is really remarkable that a PLAYER
who has been IN the game as long as has
Schaefer should not give the slightest
indications OF slowing up. Germany has
the same speed as of yore, and he is not
Yet in as good condition as he will be
when he has put in couple of weeks