Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-24
RAIN AGAIN HOLDS
UP THE NATIONALS
REGULARS and Yanigans Chased
to the Gymnasium Before
Game Is Started.
TEAM LEAVES FOR
HOME NEXT TUESDAY
Griffith to Keep Everybody
Working Until Leaving Time.
Rixey May Join Locals.
BY J. ED GRILLO.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

CHARLOTTESVILLE. Va. March g.
What was to have been real test
for the regulars was prevented today,
when the game scheduled for this after
noon between them and the Colts was
prevented by cold, drizzling rain,
which started just about noon. 1t was
Grtfhth's intention to send Johnson and
Cashion in to pitch as if the pennant
depended on the result. They were
given orders to put on everything they
have in an effort to stop the regulars.
So that they might be at their best,
Griffith had them both stay in the
house this morning, not allowing either
to don a uniform. He figured that this
would probably be the last opportunity
he would have to let his regulars face
these two slabmen. and that it would
give fairly good line on the hitting
abilities of his players. But the weather
killed the program. and not a wheel
was turned during the afternoon, though
both squads had a good hour and
half workout this morning, under con-
ditions which were none too favorable,
for it was cold and damp.
1t is a pretty safe prediction that tho
Nationals will not be up against pitch
been doing on all days this summer.
There need be no disappointment be-
cause the regulars have suffered defeat
at the hands of the Colts in games here,
nor that they have failed to show
themselves great SluggerS. No team, re-
CARELESS of how we'll supplied it may be
with hitters, takes liberties with john
son, and as has been often stated before.
st is no easy matter to decide which
has the most stuff, Johnson or Cashion.
nj of he ki nd hat
pair has been serving up here is not
calculated to fatten the batting averages,
particularly not at this season of the
year, when the eye is still dim and the
that the failure of the regulars to
wallop the pitching of this pair does
in no way reflect on their ability as
hitters.
If the weather permits. there will be
q workout Monday and a game in the
afternoon, and another workout Tues
day. which will wind up the training
here 1t has not been definitely decided
on what train the team will leave here
for Washington. but it is most likely that
the players will arrive there about 1890
Tuesday night. Wednesday the exhibit
ton season opens, when Georgetown will
be taken into camp. and games of this
kind will continue with National League
and college teams until April o. when
the team will leave for Philadelphia
where il is to open the season April IL.
That is two weeks from next Thursday
Griffith is still in quest of a Ieft-handed
pitcher. His latest effort is to secure
Moran, the Washington and Lee pitcher
Griffith sent an emissary after the young
man this afternoon to find out how he
feels about the Nationals. Moran was
supposed TO have signed a Detroit con-
tract last fall, but never reported to
Jennings. This rurnor. however. could not
80
down the facts OF course. IL Moran
signed with Detroit. Griffith cannot touch
him, as he will remain the property of
that club.
Just what the status OF the Rixey case
Is no one seems to know. Griffith says
fhat he is going to see the young man
again before he leaves here and make
nm some splendid inducements to join
the team But he does not display very
much anxiety about the matter, as would
be expected IL there was a chance to Sc
cure a promising pitcher -browed
ru:nor has ii that Griffith and Rixey have
already come to an agreement. which,
however, is kept secret so as not to in
terfere with RiXeys playing on the COL
iege team during the remainder OF the
season Both Griffith and Rixey. how
ever deny this. but there is no DENYING
hat there are some peculiar circumstances
which warrant the belief. With the clos
ing OF the stay here about at hand Griffith
dition his team is in. He believes
that his players are in as good share
right now as any in either major league.
and that tho two weeks stay at home
viii have them right on edge Notwith-
standing the Indictment weather which has
prevailed this spring all over the country
the players have been able to get plenty
of work here. There has not been a
i see5 a aSg '9 ,a thsy have not
field in the gymnasium and the
result is that they are all in fairly
good condition. All they need is to have
tho finishing touches put on and that is
sure to come with the games which are
scheduled at home.
IT is good as settled that the team
will return here next spring. Griffith
ulty for the use of Lambeth Field next
spring, and he is negotiating for the
lease OF the house pending the decision
or the faculty on the field question. Dur
Iils nus twenty-five years of activity In
base ban Griffith vows that he has never
seen a better place TO train than here
and he is decidedly anxious TO he able &c
come here next spring.
Il am satisfied with the condition m,
players are in said he. we have has
very fine training. all things considered
and We're better off here than man,
teams who went To the far south.
haven tho slightest fear OF the team no
being ready when the bell taps The!
are constantly improving and with tw,
more weeks work before them feel rath
er confident OF the start we will get in tn
race. II Cashlon continues to show tn
Improvement that has marked his worl
this spring any team which faces the Ma
tionals this season will be assured o
having to face brace OF rafting goo,
pitchers in nearly every series
There is no doubt that Griffith will wor
the two consecutively. One of the tw
will pitch the first game of the series an
the other the second I'm this way there
n chance to get an advantage on the op
posing team and should both games b
il would have a diScouraging effeC
on the rivals. Cashion promises to he
sensational performer. He is so niue
better than he was and is still improving
with every workout that it would not b
at all surprising IL he ranked with Alex
' eCondnued on Second Page.)