Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-23
PITCHER GUY JOHNSON NEXT
NATIONAL TOBE SHIPPED AWAY
Youngster Has Talent, But Will Be Fully
Developed Under Good Teaching
With Syracuse Club.

\ 'iit oliIt pOSllioH lie can SniIe III. LOT lie
can play either short or second, and
things may happen which will necessitate
an entire change of the makeup of the
infield
Griffith hopes to get a correct line on
! MS inhelders. and the best possible COM
olnatlon during the series of exhibition
games which is scheduled on the Wash
lngton grounds before the season opens
He proposes to play knight and Foster in
several places. SO to have some IDEA
as to where they fit in best, so that the
| regular infield will not be permanently
| made up until the season opens and per-
haps some time after that.
| These young pitchers keep one guessing.
| Until yesterday there was hardly one OF
them with an arm fit to show anything,
| but two surprises were sprung during the
practice Friday. Buck Becker. who has
been constantly complaining of lame
whip, stepped on the rubber and for fit
teen minutes or so gave a splendid eX-
| hiblton. He had control and speed, and
seems TO have been taught splendid
curve ball by Jack Ryan. who has taken
him in hand. He broke two curves over
the plate when Griffith called halt on
| that sort of delivery for fear of setting
his arm back. Buck was in great form,
and if there any intention to send
| him to some minor league club, that has
at least been temporarily halted. for If the
curve he showed is a permanent acqusi-
| ton he is sure TO be lot of help to the
which made Becker a doubtful quantity
last fall. 1t develops that the reason for
this was that he did not get the break on
it that he should have had to make him
effective because he threw it with side
arm motion instead of overland. Jack
Ryan has taught him the trick. and the
difference it makes is most remarkable.
Becker, with n good curve ball. Is very
apt to upset all calculations and make
classy southpaw for the team.
There is no question that the teams
chances would be materially increased If
Griffith had a reliable lcft-handed pitcher.
\ Southpaw is a great help when sand
wiched in between a couple of right
handlers. and what is more there are al
ways some teams in n circuit VINO labor
under the impression that they can't hit
a left-hander, and against such teams
even an ordinary performer is apt to do
well. 1t seems fair guess that Griffith
will hold on to one of the two left-nand-
ers he has here. Either Boehling or
Becker will be retained. and it remains
for one of them to Guido the other in
order to hold the place. Boehling. for
youngster who has had no professional
experience. looks most promising. Like
Becker, he has good control and fields
have the advantage In that he has the
size which is expected for twirler.
Were it not for the warning Griffith
SHOUTS whenever lie sees lltul 1T IL thci Q
would be some danger of both Henry
and Ainsmith throwing their arms away.
This pair is blessed with wonderful ball
propellers, and there is nothing they en-
joy more than to shoot the ball about the
field with the speed of bullet. But it is
figured that every arm has just about so
many throws stored away in 1t, and the
more care that is taken against exhaust
ing the supply the better. Griffith has to
caution both of his young catchers about
throwing unnecessarily. When an arm
starts on the down grade it virtually puts
a ball player out OF business. They sell
dom return to their natural form, ana II
would be a calamity to have either OF
the Young catchers injure their throw
ing apparatus. There is no occasion to
guard Williams against this folly: He Is
a careful trainer, and has not let his arm
out at any time since he has been here,
realizing that the opening of the season
is still three weeks off.
When it comes to getting a ball away
quickly for a throw there are few play
ers in Eddie Fosters class. He shoots
the ball across the diamond without any
apparent motion and there is a lot OF
speed on il. He sort Of snaps it with
wrist movement which is hard for the
eye to detect In coming in on Il hunted
or slow ball he seems able to throw to
first without moving his arm more than
an inch which makes him valuable man
around third base. where many hits OF
this character have to be handled.
ular infield. so called because it has been
playing these positions against the Yam
nigans, is becoming more spectacular
every day. AS the players gradually
| round into form this infeld practice be-
| comes faster and faster. Griffith gives
| them about twenty minutes of it every
! time the team is on tn field. He is a
splendid infield hitter. and he has his
| charges worn out by the time they fin
| ish. He has the knack of hitting on all
| sides of them, makes them cover lot
| of ground and make throws from all po-
| sistons. fast infeld workout when
used in the preliminary practice before
the game has a smothering effect on an
| opposing team. Let one team go out and
| give q fielding exhibition that draws APP
plause from the crowd and il has an ef-
! feet on the other team. In always
| claimed for the old Baltimore teams that
| they Won their games by reason of the
| Showing they made in practice. Jen-
ninSs. ReitZ, McGraw and Doyle used to
give fifteen minute exhibition before
| every game which made them look IN
/ beatabe.
| the Nationals and he insists that this is
the first spring since he has been with
| the team that he conscientiOusly believes
it will make good showing in the race.
| Clyde is really enthusiastic about the
| teams prospects and any one familiar
| with his conservative disposition will
realize the sincerity of his remarks.
/ What Milan figures on most to boost
! the team in the race is not only the gen.
| eral Improvement, but the added strength
! to the pitching staff. 'Cashion is going to
| be a great pitcher this season." said
IT TCT TT A VII