Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-08

The fact that none of Grif11th's pitchers
has pitched a full game this spring has
caused some apprehension as to what
may happen when the season opens, ana
they will be called on to 60 the fun
route Manager Grifflth, however. is
sanguine that every one Of his pitchers
is fit as a fiddle and he says the regular
games will prove this. He contends that
the best way to train pitchers is to send
them four or FIVE innings only FOR the
first month or so Of the training season
and let them go the entire distance when
the season opens.
IT never saw a pitching staff in better
condition than ours Is right now, saio
Griffith. IT am not at all alarmed De-
cause none of them have pitched nine
innings. Every one of them has SHOWN
me that they could do so. for it will be
recalled that when they have gone f1ve
innings they have shown more in the NTH
than i'm the first I do expect the pitchers
to be little sore after pitching nine
innings, but that does not amount to
anything, and / would rather start the
season with the pitchers as they are now
than have them down too fine and unable
TO 60 through the season In their pest
form. I am not only pleased with the
Confident that We will have formidable
staff all season."
None of Grimth's pitchers has worked
harder than Carl Cashion; Ever since
the team has been home he has put In
fully an hour every morning trying 10
master a curve ball. Griffith, Groom ana
Hughes have taken him in charge, ana
Cashion has worked over plate which
Griffith has placed out in right field.
good curve ball is all Cashion lacks to
make him q successful pitcher. That he
will eventually master the delivery there
Is no doubt and he proposes to keep at
it until he does.
Cashion is slated to pitch part Of the
game against Brooklyn today, while
Groom. too. is to appear on the rubber.
Bill Dahlen's team arrived mere THIS
morning and Is reported to be IN gooo
today. the Nationals are sure to have
their hands full beating 1t. The game
will be called at $780,
walter johnson has been instructed to
pitch five innings against Richmond,
where the Yannigans play this afternoon.
1t Is more likely that Johnson will cut
lose against the Virginia leaguers, as ne
Is anxious to have one 1s,. good n worxout
Walker and Cashion will likely pitch the
other games against the champions:
Hughes is sure to be used on the nrst
trip. Griffith. who has known Hughes TOT
years. asserts that the veteran is in bet
ter shape this spring than he has ever
known him to be, and he predicts that
this will be the veterans banner year.
The Griflith-McGraw controversy anent
the failure Of Mathewson to pitch here
last Tuesday has reached the public
statement stage and In the following NC
Graw scores Griffith for having announced
that Mathewson would pitch here without
Mr.. j. "a -Grillo. Sporting Editor. The
Star. Washington, d. c.
Dssr s has sesn at 70 openly ee
the New York club and myself with bad
faith la not pitching Mathewson against
Johnson In Washington last Tuesday, l
desire to briefly set forth the facts IN THIS
matter.
Had there been no direct statement
from Grifiith / would have paid no at
tention to the criticism directed at me. as
I have always been his friend and have
no desire to aggravate the resentment Of
his patrons In this unfortunate contro-
versy. But I have decided objections TO
being made the goat" In an alfbi
AS a matter Of fact, Mr. Grifith picked
Mathewson As my pitcher Tor tuesday
without saying anything about 1t to me
until just before the game. / never gave
him to understand. either directly or in
directly. BY wire letter or conversation.
that I had any idea of pitching Mathew
son In either game. He evidently assumed
that I would use Mathewson upon his re-
quest and was incensed because l would
Had Grifnth wired me or any of the
newspaper correspondents with the team
he would not have committed this error.
A week ago l decided to open In WASH
ter shape than Mathewson. and ! GER
tainly would not have pitched Mathew
SON at Birmingham last Saturday had I
Intended to send him in Tuesday. ]
o.
spondents In Asheville az the probable
aominee for the first Washington game.
When we arrived In Washington !
found that the game had been played up
as a duel between Mathewson and john
son. Grifith called at the hotel. but
sid not see me there. He stated to other
members Of our. party that he hoped l
would pitch Matty at least a couple OF
innings. as he had advertised him and
expected big crowd. I believe he talk
I'd to Mathewson. but that Is inmaterial.
! am positive that Matty did not give
Griflith to understand that he would
pitch. Anyway. 1t makes no difference.
am the only manager the Giants have.
and I pick the batteries according to my
own Judgment Furthermore. ! never
have positively announced Mathewson to
pitch any game even when such an an
nouncement might increase attendance
at the Polo Grounds or elsewhere.
Griffith came to me after we took the
field for practice Tuesday and asked me
to pitch Matty at least a couple or IN
nings. I replied that Matty was not
ready and that had not intended to
work him. He appealed to me to do it
as a favor to his patrons. but / said
would not go against u own judgment.
and told him that did hot care to take
q chance with the opening Of the season
30 near.
He persisted and I told him to ask
Natty himself. IF he IL willing
said, he can 60 in. but certainly VIII
Il and went ahead as I had planned.
have been told that Griffith informed