The Washington times., 1912-04-21
Nationals Reach Baltimore
at Noon and Rush to
Dinner Table.
GRIFFITH PUTS TEAM
AT BATTING PRACTICE
Mcbride, Milan, Knight, and
Schaefer Are Being
Given a Rest.
BY SENATOR"

ofAhllhOfkfk, ApT1l Sl.-lne NdtlOndlH
are confident to a man of defeating Jack
'Dunn's Baltimore Orioles today at Back
River Park. Jerry Akers, the "Du-
buque Demon and Buck" Becker,
pride of the Navy Yard, are likely TO
divide the mound duty between them,
and both lads say they are in form.
This means dire defeat for the Birds, as
the rest of the Nationals are certain to
show plenty of class in the field and
with the walloping rods.
The Nationals arrived here at noon,
repairing at once to the Herman for
dinner. That out of tho way. they were
whisked to Back River Park in motor
cars and began limbering up on the dia-
mond. The fans began pouring into the
park early and greatly enjoyed the
working-out exercises of the big
leaguers.
Manager Griffith laid peculiar stress
on the batting practice of his noble
young athletes and had them pounding
away for some time. He wants them
to become good sluggers and realizes
that the one way to learn to hit is to
hit. Reading about Ty Cobb never
made a slugger.
Today's game with the Orioles Is the
first exhibition game of the Nationals
this season, but 1t Is not expected to be
the last. Several games are likely to be
played outside of New York this year
Walter Johnson Is a great card In the
metropolis, and showing him for one
inning will be enough to satisfy the
fans.
Veterans Resting.
The lineup Of the Nationals today
savors slightly of the exhibition favor.
Mcbride, Milan, Knight, and Schaefer
taking a rest from the grind. Bill Cum
ningham is carded to hold down the
r midway cushion, Ray Morgan to prance
about the shortfield, Red Walker to
guard the middle pasture, and Tommy
Long the starboard section of the gar
den.
II don't see why any of us should
be suspended" said Manager Griffith
today to the writer. I'VE did nothing
except demand our rights. However,
neither Westervelt nor O'Loughlir
would listen to our complaints. They
seemed down on us from the start.
II don't believe in fighting the um-
pires, but l certainly do intend to
stand up for my rights on the field
1 WAS banished from the bench because
Ray Morgan was tossing up the bats
for luck, a common thing on any ball
field. 1t isn't the first time O'Loughlin
has seen 1t done.
81 want the Washington fans to know
that I'm not an umpire batter, and will
fine any one of my players who is one
But l also want them to know that I'm
not going to sit quietly by and see some
other team run away with the game
when am being cheated out of my Just
rights"
Tonight at 6:S5 the Nationals, with the
exceptions of Joe Boehling, Paul Mus,
ser. and Howard Shanks, will leave the
Monumental City on the Colonial Elk.
press, bound for Boston. Four games
are to be played with Jimmy McAleer's
rapaoious Red Sox, and then the Florida
avenue concrete coliseum will be the
scene of diamond daring for almost a
month.
Open Series.
Next Friday the Nationals will oper
q four-game series with the badly bat
tered New York Highlanders. The
Western clubs make their appearance
too, on this lengthy home stay, the
schedule being as follows:
New York-April &C. 81. 20, and 80.
Boston-May /, 2, 8, and 4.
Chlcago-May 7, s. 9, and 10.
Cleveland-May II, IS, IA, and Is.
St. Louis-May 16, II, IS, and 20.
Detroit-May 81, 20. and %.
A peculiar twist In the schedule sends
the Nationals to Philadelphia for one
game on May 6. There Is a postponed
game to be played off In Philly, but Il
will most likely be c1rded for the four
same stay of Griffth's Growlers. be-
ginning June 10.
The injury to Jack Coombs, yesterday
may mean bitter trouble for the Champ
ions. Chief Bender Is suffering from
rheumatism, and is worthless to thu
team. Only Harry Krause and Cy Nor
gan are ready, with Lefty Russell
Houck, Dave Danforth, and Brown
willing but green for the big show.
When he delivered that curve ball t
Dixie Walker, Coombs tore a muscle in
side his right leg, near the groin. DIR
Edward Larkin, the Nationals clul
physician. treated him, and predicted
that he might be out of the game 70
several weeks. Coombs accompanied
the Athletics to Philadelphia, and will