Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-12
BY J. ED GRILLo.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, March IL
1t is back to the gym for the Nationals.
Rain set in last night and is still coming
down, so that all chance for outdoor work
is once more eliminated Manager Grit
fifth divided hts forces into four squads
and each worked an hour In the gym to-
day. Just when outdoor practice can be
resumed is a question. There is no indi-
cation of clearing. and the field is ankle
deep in mud. AS result of the weather
the players are disgruntled lot. They do
not take kindly to indoor work, because
its effect on the muscles is much more
severe than is brought on by outdoor
work, and yet it is better than remaining
idle.
Kid Foster is the latest of the absen-
tees to report. and this leaves Schaefer
the only player who is not here. He Is
hourly expected to come in from Hot
Springs, when the camp will be complete.
Foster Is fifteen pounds over weight.
He looks like a well fed Brownie. and
will have to do lot of work to get into
playing condition. He says that he does
not have much trouble reducing and that
by the time the team gets home he will
be In condition to go the route.
That there are some good ball players
among the squad of youngsters now in
training here is growing more apparent
with every workout, and the chances are
that by the time the season opens Griffith
will be able to select team which will
be far stronger than any that has repre-
scented Washington in the American
League. All of these youngsters. of
course. will not make good. but there is a
sprinkling of material which is sure to
fill the holes which the wedding out by
Griffith created. Not only do these play
lrS<,ly tED - vNryf thAxy =,
selves in On impressive manner. There is
nothing o. the uncouth beginner to be de-
tected in the actions of any one Of them,
and while it Is not the intention to create
the impression that Griffith has picked up
nothing but stars time will show that
enough good selections were made to-
help the team.
It is. Of course, true that the players
rect line on their ability, but there Is al
ways something about good ball player
who attracts attention even when he Is
only warming up. These youngsters
handle themselves well. and seem to I'M
derstand what they are in uniform for.
Moeller. for instance, convinces one that
he Is above the ordinary after watching
him at the bat and running to first base.
His stride is that of a fast runner. and he
stands at the plate with lots of deter
mination and displays a swing which in
dicates that he knows how to bat. He is
agile, StTOnS anu HeeIlOOtcu, anu ali III all
has every appearance of the ball player.
Naturally, Moeller was the object OF all
eyes when he made his appearance on
the field yesterday. and many favorable
comments could be heard regarding him.
Jack Flynn is another who shows that
he has had experience. In practice he
handles himself splendidly around first
base. He covers a lot of ground. handles
all sorts of throws with grace and ease.
can peg himself and appears perfectly
familiar with the position. 1t was at
the bat where Flynn showed to the best
advantage, however. The pitching. OF
course, was not particularly deceptive;
the youngsters who faced him used moth
ing but a fast straight ball, but even
this bothered some Of the players. who
had not faced a pitcher in six months.
Flynn. however. seems to have winter
eye, for he did not seem to have the
slightest trouble landing on the sphere
and he drove two over the fence, one
over right and the other over left center
very long drive. Every time he hi,
the ball hard. and. while he lie, of course
badly in need of q lot of work to get
him into real playing condition. he has
all the earmarks of making the team @
splendid man at first base.
Spencer. who is one of Flynn's rivals
for the position, also made good inn
preston. He is left-hand hitter, not
as tall as Flynn. He hit nicely in prac.
tice. and as fielder could hardly have
been improved on. Like Flynn. he has
been out of uniform for months. and
did not extend himself, preferring to give
his muscles a chance TO harden before he
goes at top speed.
Scheer and Shank will not be able tC
practice with the team for several days
Trainer Martin had the two youngsters
examined by the varsity hospital physi-
clan. who pronounced them suffering from
tonsilits, and ordered them to remain
in their rooms for a day or 50. Matti.
has a stiff neck and sore throat. and
he, too, will have to remain idle until hi
is better. Griffith wanted to send Scheel
to the university hospital. but that insti
tuition is just now Osercrowded with
students suffering from an epidemic o
pink eye" Both youngsters are yer,
much discouraged by their misfortune
because both wanted to get an earl,
chance to show Grifith what they car
do.
The weather is still far from what /
should be for the purpose that the team
came here. 1t is damp and cold. an'
while the sun takes an occasional peep
1t seems to lack power and unless TIN
players keep in constant motion on tn