Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-22
BY j. ED GRILLO.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

b y. ED Gk4LGO.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, March D.
The question of which players will be re-
tanned for utility infeld positions on the
Nationals is near decision. The fact that
negotiations are on to sell Gagnier to In
dianapolis virtually eliminates him from
consideration and makes Ray Morgan
loom up a splendid possibility. AS
matters now stand, Griffith has Flynn.
Cunningham Mcbride. Foster and Knight
to draw his regular infield from, and the
one of the five failing to get a steady
job will help Morgan to fill the utility
role.
If Griffith needed a seasoned infielder
there would be no chance for Gasnier to
leave the team. for he would fill the bill
| to perfection. But Griffith is looking to
the future. He does not believe that
player of Gagnier's experience will I'M
prove materially. He figures that he is
| as good now as he will ever be, and pre-
fers to carry players for utility purposes
who stand "a chance to improve, so that
some day they can hold down regular
job. If Gagnier had come here as an
unknown he would be the sensation Oh
the camp, for there never was better
fielder or hustler than he, and in the few
games he has played he has held up his
end with the bat. But he is hand capped
by reason Of the reputation that he is a
weak hitter, and nothing that he might
accomplish in these exhibition games
would change that opinion, where if he
had no past he would loom up as the ma
of the spring.
Just what Griffith intends to do about
selecting his utility outfielders is hard to
say, though it looks like a good guess
that Clarence Walker and Tom Long Will
again hold these positions.
Long is making an impression because
of his ability as d hitter and sprlnter ana
job but for the fact that his throwing
arm is lamentably weak. But he and
Walker seem to have something on the
other youngsters. Shanks has all the
fields beautifully, and shows good form at
the bat, but for some unaccountable rea-
son he has proven disappointment IN
that he has failed TO break into the base
hit column in any game he has played
here. Unless there is fall down on the
part of one of the regulars, Milan, Noel
Ter and Schaefer it is almost certain will
open the season playing the garden po-
sitions, but the two youngsters will be
kept on edge ready to break into the
game if there is the slightest slip-up.
Dan Moelier covers a lot of ground in
left field and has one of those strong
arms which makes it possible for him
to throw to either base quickly when
there is a play there. 1t will be no easy
matter for any base runner to take
extra base on Moeller on balls hit into
his territory. He is quick to get hold of
the ball and his arm is deadly. Moeller.
while he is hitting fairly well, is not yet
meeting the ball as he expects to later.
He has q perfect position at the plate
and swings gracefully without apparently
any effort. 1t is about toss-up as to
which is the faster between him and
though there a difference
in their strides.
1t would be natural to expect that about
one Of the last pitchers to round into
seen more service than any other twister
on the staff, and yet Long Tom is now
in about Is good condition as any of the
others, and much better than any Of the
youngsters. He worked in two innings
yesterday, and cut loose for fair, much
to the surprise of Griffith and his team
mates Last spring Tom could not raise
his arm until the real warm weather set
in, but this spring he is able to pitch
good ball whenever he is called upon.
| Perhaps the best inducement that Char
| lottesville offers a training camp is
! the fact that the college ball field dries
out faster than any other in the country.
players cannot go on the field the next
morning. 1t poured all Of Wednesday
night. and yet Thursday morning Crit
| fifth had his players out for practice. and
the grounds were fit to play a game on
| in the afternoon. This is a matter of
great Importance in the selection of a
| training ground, for under ordinary con-
ditions a team training here would miss
but few days because of unfitness Of the
grounds.
Little Allan Sheer undoubtedly has the
making of a good ball player, but ne is
not yet ripe for this company. He has
all the earmarks of making a hitter. but
| his fielding is still off color. because he
| has the bad habit of lighting the ball.
Another year in a fast minor league
| would do wonders for the youngster, and
might fit him for major league class by
next spring.
| Considering the fact that the regulars
are forced to go against high-class pitch
F, ing every day, they are hitting fairly
| well. There few pitchers in the
American League the equal of Johnson
and Cashion now that the latter has de-
veloped. and it furnishes splendid batting
practice to face this pair for several in
ningS each day.
| 1t is really remarkable how fast Cash
ion is improving. He looks little more
finished every time he works out, and If