Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-04
By J. ED GRILLo.
Special Dispatch to Tho star.

win ABOUT three lncHeS Oh SHOW oi Tux
ground and the thermometer many points
below the freezing mark. Charlottesville
does not present the ideal training
grounds this morning. Indications are
that the players will not be able to get
out on the field for several days. though
this does not interfere with their gettins
plenty of exercise in the gymnasium
where they had their first workout this
morning. Some of the Oldest citizens OF
this burg vow there never was such
weather before at this season of the year,
and they predict that when the break
comes, which should be soon. ii will be
like July in this section. Were it not for
the necessity of batting practice it might
be possible to get a ball team in shape
indoors, but batting practice is to be one
of the features of the teams stay here,
and. of course. this cannot be INDUCED
in beneficially indoors.
Training rules went into vogue at
Camp Griffith this morning. Orders were
given that all hands must be up at
in the morning. have breakfast at I:30
and then get ready to report at either
the gymnasium or field at 10 o'clock.
Work will be done until noon and in
the afternoon there may be another spin
after the Players get in fairly good shape.
No one is allowed to remain up after
IL at night when taps is sounded.
Card games. providing 1t is not poker. are
permissible. but the present lot OF re-
cruits seem to take more kindly to the
piano. Griffith brought a rather versa
tile eOlored lad down here with him. Be
sides being barber. tailor and all
around valet he can make the piano do
everything but talk. and he is kept busy
entertaining the payers.
Because there is every reason to believe
that the players will have to spend some
of their days here working in the gym.
Griff sent the entire outfit to local store
this morning to have them fitted for rub
ber-soied gym shoes. Besides being able
TO toss in the gym there is good run
ming track, and this. too will be utilized.
so that even il outdoor work Is out Of
the question for day or two the play
ers will have an opportunity to strength
en- their bellows.
There are two veteran pitchers in the
Nationals camp now. in addition to Tom
Hughes, who left with the team. Dixie
Walker surprised Manager Griffith by
letting in late last night. If looks count
for anything Dixie is In fine condition
and he will start working with the other
pitchers.
Favorable weather conditions are all
that is NEEDED TO make this the finest
training grounds in the country, and
even in the absence of this most essential
feature the chances are that a ball team
could get itself into better, shape. here
than most any other place because of the
splendid gymnasium which will afford the
players an opportunity to warm up for
an hour or SO every day, even though the
weather be stormy outside.
Of course. this weather proposition is
a hard one to solve. Manager Griffith
and his charges were greeted by young
blizzard when they stopped off the train
yesterday afternoon. though the college
players here have been working every
day out on Lambeth Field. But thanks
TO the enortAs NJ Umpire sRieler-, aase.
of the ball team the field IL in really re-
markable condition considering that win
ter Is not yet over.
Griffith was delighted when he inspected
1t yesterday. The inield and outfeld
are smooth as mirrors and remarkably
solid. considering that it rained and
showed here with few exceptions every
day. 1t Is doubtful If any other major
league team will have SO good a field
to practice upon. but. of course, there
will have to be much improvement in the
weather before this is to be enjoyed. The
entire field is sodded and it is the kind
which. because Of its thickness. acts as
would carpet on the floor. gym
nasium ninety feet long and about half
as wide furnishes ample room for the
pitchers TO work out on days when out
door work is out of the question.
The dwelling which Griffith leased and
furnished affords about every comfort
that bali player would wish for during
the training period. The rooms are long
and airy, while If the table is kept UP to
the standard set to date this will un-
doubtedly be by far the best spring trip
that a Washington team has ever taken
so far as comfort and facilities are con-
cerned.
There are to be no idle days here.
Whenever the players can't work out
doors there will be practice in the gym
nasium. This has been fitted with a net
which hangs down from all four walls, so
that il Is possible to bat or throw without
danger of injuring anything or any one.
Or course il would be better If the play
ers could get out on the field every day,
but Griffith does not think he is missing
anything by having TO work indoors for
the first week or SO. for the time cannot
he far off when the good weather will
set in. when there will be plenty of time
left for all the outdoor work necessary
To fit the players for the opening of the
season.
II would of course, like to see the sun
broliins down on us. but since we take
hardly any more chances on the weather
here than do the teams which are farther
south | don't see why We haven't much
the better OF 1t. because 1t Is possible fol
us TO work indoors" remarked Griffith
after he had carefully inspected every.
thing. in the way of grounds and gym.
nasium which the players will be allowed
to use I'VE will not lose day here
Every man will get chance to work
what II may. and when the good weather
comes We will be fit to start strenuous
work out In the OPEN.
Tom Hughes came down with tn,
youngsters. The veterans hand has en-
tirely healed. and while it Is still a trift
stun, he figures that after he uses it
while sit viii come around all right
Hughes is to have a slow and careful
preparation. Griffith will ask him to d.
nothing more this spring than to grad
ually get his arm in working order 81
that he will be ready when the season
opens. Griffith figures that Hughes will
be whole lot of help to his pitchin,
stan. There are few better pitchers t
put in when a batting rally is going Oh
than Hughes. and he will be used almos
exclusively for this sort of emergencies
Long Tom has wintered well. and Will,
the gray predominates in his hair h,
looks fit and strong. Incidentally Hughes
will assist Griffith in educating the youn;
pitchers. of which there will be quite
lot in the local camp. Like Griffith
Hughes has the reputation of pitchin,
most OF his game with his head, and h
may be able TO impart some of his ex
perience to the youngsters.
OF the Young pitchers. Guy Johnson i
the shortest in stature, yet he tips tn
beam at a mark which shows him to b
about as big man as any of his rivals
Johnson and all the other recruits ar
decidedly modest and are of an entirel
different type from the youngsters WHOM
McAleer took to Atlanta hast spring.
Akers and Williams hail from the sam
fown-Quincy, Ill.-and, naturally enough
have renewed their friendship since join