Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-26
BY j. ED GRILLO.


Sixteen members of the Nationals have
signed their contracts for the season of
1913. In fact, every man on Griffith S
team to whom contract has been sub
mitted has returned it with signature at
fixed. Nineteen players are still out of
the fold but these have not been asked
to sign and won't be until after the first
of the year. Walter Johnson. of course,
did not sign a new contract. His old
three-year agreement still has year to
run. Foster. Mcbride, Moeller and Gan
dill got into the fold before they left for
their homes last fall, and most of the
youngsters secured since then have signed
up during the past few weeks.
Signing his players is not going to be a
difficult task for Griffith this winter. He
has satisfied his players and there will
be no arguments over the compensation
they are to receive. He expects to have
every. man in line long before the time for
reporting rolls around He is satisfied
tint there will be no hold-outs and that he
will not have to put in much time CORE
spending with d1sgruntled members OF
the team.
Il know what my players are worth to
me and l pay them accordingly" said he.
Amy time a player delivers the goods
he is entitled to a good salary, and that
is the basis l sign my men on. The fact
that a player has signed for a small sal
airy does not stand in the way of his hav-
ing it doubled If he shows me during the
season. l do not intend to tie a player
up at a small figure If he displays the
ability of a good ball player simply because
he has contract calling for certain
amount. / want every man on my team
to be satisfied. / want them to start the
season with their minds on their business
and not worrying because they feel that
they have not been paid enough Fair
treatment makes good ball players, and
the men who work for me will get 1t.
The fumor will not down that Pitts
burgh has a deal on whereby it hopes to
secure the services of Ed Konetchy. the
big first baseman of the Cardinals ana
one of the best ball players in the old
league Though Manager Higgins in
sists that he is going to stand pat with
the team which Bresnahan has turned
over to him, the impression is still out
that a deal will be made whereby
Konetchy will become a Pirate His ac-
QUESTION would make the Pittsburgh ciuo
an almost certain pennant winner.
Konetchy is not only a great first base
man. but he Is a hitter Of the highest
type and just the man who would Mt IN
that Pirate team. There seems to be
some doubt, however, as to where Bres-
affairs Strengthened out with the st. Louis
club. Bresnahan has no end of offers to
consider when he Is free agent, ana.
while Pittsburgh seemed to nave the IN
side track for while, 1t seems tnat
Cincinnati has come through with fiat
tering offer which Bresnahan is very apt
to accept.
Griffith has a scheme for the develop
ing of young ball players which, II put
scarcity of playing material. He con-
tends that too little time is devoted by
the major league clubs in the spring to
looking over young players and that
many are sent back to the minors "nen
they should have been retained. But
with about a month to get team in
shape the managers cannot give the time
they should to improving the youngsters
Griff thinks it would be a good plan to
have the youngsters on every American
League team report in the south early in
February Place them in different cities
in Texas, for instance, and then play out
a schedule Of thirty games or so. This
would give the managers chance 10 get
line on their young players and, Incl
dentally get them in shape for the reg
ular season He would have the young
sters report fully a month before the reg
ulars.
Charley Murphy has recently come for
ward with the opinion that Tyrus Ray
mond Cobb is not good judge OF
ball players ability. The question came
to the attention of the noted prohibition
list, who lately was boss of Frank
Chance, in connection with 'Red Cor
ridon.
Murphy allowed that Tyrus didn't
think much of Corridor as a player. but
said he didn't care because Ty wasn't
a good judge anyhow. The Peach. ac-
cording to the magnate. is SO great a
mates too clearly and consequently
undertakes them.
Outside Of the fact that no one ever
heard Tyrus aiming any blows at Cor
ridon as player, this sounds pretty
good. Ty is good ball player. mighty
what is the matter with the work of a
ball tosser.
The other side Of the affair. that
Murphy naturally fails to note. Is that
Cobb is quite as clear as to the merits Of
a man as he is as to his dement's. There
is no better judge in this respect than
the eminent Georgian. Even win
obvious faults he is lenient when he sees
chance that experience may correct
them.
When Bobbie veach arrived at Detroit
and began batting like fiend Ty was
perhaps his strongest admirer The fans
had seen leftfielder after leftfielder march
UP and look great only to blow. They
were skeptical. Veach looked good to
Ty, and his work next season will show
just where Cobb heads in as a judge.
One of the things that the Tiger star
liked about his new neighbor was the
fact that Veach hit at the right ball.
The chief fault he had to find was that
the youngster failed to get the best use
out Of his speed. and Ty proposed to