Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-07
GRIFFITH SENDS SPENCER
AND SHEER TO MINORS

Continued from First Pase)
there would be vast improvement IN our
hitting before long"
There Is no let-up in tho Nationals
practice. Sunday L. not q day OF rest for
them. and orders were given yesterday
that every man report to the park this
morning. It Is needless to say that there
Is much growing among the players on
this account. but Griffith thinks that 1t
is not good policy to take q lay-o6 at this
season Of the year when the weather per-
mits work.
Dan Moeller IL ono Of the players who
- far from being in his batting form He
has hit but little this spring, but stands
up ct the plate impressively, and no
doubt win get into his stride one OF
these days, and hold up his end. Griffith
Is sure to start the season with Moeller
In left, for he has every confidence IN
show. to much better advantage when the
regular season opens than he has In the
exhibition games.
Jack Knight was called to his home In
Philadelphia yesterday morning because
ningham took his place at second base.
Cunny had q good day of 1t, much to the
delight Of the several hundred who ven
tured out to see Cornell get thumped, fof
Cunny has many well wishers among the
patrons Of the game here. and the crowda
are usually pleased when he Is hitting
the hall. Cunny got two singles and q
homo run yester,Ssy out Of four times al
the bat.
There Il no denying the fact that the
showing Of the Nationals in the games
they have played on the local grounos
during the past two weeks has not oeen
up to expectations. To large extent. nc
doubt, this has been due to the fact thai
the team has not been hitting. for team
which IL weak with the stick always
makes an unsatisfactory impression. But
its general playing has not been smootn
or given evidence OF much system beine
employed. and the work on the bases hae
plainly shown this. It Is. Of course. not
to be expected that team should be on
edge after q month or 80 OF training. II
usually takes some time 70 get 1t to work
ing properly. Physically the players ap-
Tar 'as that is concerned there il little OF
nothing lacking. but the teams play has
not been anywhere near what It VIII nave
to be II It intends to make Respectable
showing In the coming race.
It Ia. Of course, hard to get lot OF bal
players to put forth their best efforts In
exhibition games. No matter how ener-
getic they may be. they will not take the
chances or show the interest that they &c
In games which count. There may, there
fore be a wonderful difference in the Ma
tionals once the season gets under way.
The wedding out Of Sheer and Spencer
brings the total number OF players thai
Griffith Is now carrying down 10 amos,
has twenty-six players on his istCeieven
pitchers, six inflelders and six outhelders
Grinith has announced that he would
carry two extra In and outhelders. and
he is sure not TO carry more than abou.
now look Cunningham and Morgan VIII
be the two utility infielders during the
coming season, while 1t IL fair guess
that Shanlks and Clarence Walker VII
wait on the bench 1or something 70 nap
pen the regular outfielders.
Cornell presented the most nfeless col
lego team that has ever appeared mere.
The youngsters seemed to take no IN
terest in the game. and had they been q
coaching. AS general rule college teams
are LONG on pepper" Every ono OF the
college teams that has appeared here has
shoWn plenty Of spirit, but Cornell seems
an exception to this rule.
Foster walked the nrst three times
up, then struck out, and got a clean
hit the last time he faced the pitcher.
The Kid is rapidly learning the knack
Of playing third base, now that his arm
chance to grow accustomed to the
position. He made several clever plays
yesterday and when It comes to goine
close to the stand Tor foul fiies he
has few equals.
John Henry gives promise OF being
one Of the best catchers In the league
this season. The former Amnerst
single year, and there Will be Few
catchers who will be better receivers
or throwers during tho coming cam
blessed with . splendid catching stafi:
and there 10 hardly any danger OF
Street being missed. Ainsmith and
williams are classy catchers. and with
Henry to help them out there 10 q
strong possibility OF the Nationals
having q competent man benino the
weather conditions have been ideal
for training purposes here since tho
Nationals returned from Charlottes-
vile. But one game has been pre-
vented By rain, and three innings OF
that we're played Il happened 70 the
Few teams have had better luck In this
respect, and there IL no reason why
the players should not be In tfptop
condition.
A fairly good line on what shape the
seasoned pitchers on Grimth's stan
are In will be had In the nrst six
games which the team plays In PHIL
adelphi. and Ney York TIE latter part =
open the season q Philadelphle
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