Evening star., 1913-12-07


ferred to. and III that time he has built
80 quite a reputation a fielder,
though his batting has not been up
= the required standard. 1t is with a
view Of bettering his teams offensive
strength that Griffith has been on a
quiet search for a hard hitting fielder
ever since the season closed. He tried
tile American League clubs, but failed
10 make any progress He signed
several untried youngsters from the
bushes and last. but not least. is going
to make effort To have one of the
rival League clubs come to his rescue.
R"poTfs have 1T that nearly all the
National League clubs are in the mar
kei Tor deals. some OF which are eX-
pected To be consummated al the meet
ing which opens in New York Tues
day Griffith will be there for the pur-
pose OF trying TO secure a fielder who
viii be an Improvement over the ma
terial he now has on hand.
The recent breach between the Gin
clnnati club owners and Joe Tinker
has brought out a lot of charges which
make III appear that President Herr
mann of that club has been guilty of
interfering with the manager of his
team
Clark Griffith held that position for
three years and he sees fit to come to
the defense of Hermann.
II am, OF course. not cOnyerSant with
conditions in Cincinnati since | left
there, but l feel il my duty to say that
during the time that i was in charge
Of that team l was never interfered
with. remarked Griffith yesterday.
Mr.. Hermann turned the team over
10 me when | took charge and he not
even as much suggested anything that
j should do with the. players. i was in
absolute charge and l never had any
complaint coming with reference TO any
interference. When i went out TO my
ranch during the winter Hermann
would ask me 10 leave instructions
with him 10 what | might want done
with reference TO the players and he
never did anything which | had not
advised.
My experience with the Cincinnati
team was most pleasant. ] was the
hess of the team and when | decided
10 quit there | did not have any COM
plant TO make regarding my treat
ment by the club officials. 1. of course,
don't know what happened during the
Tinker regime but during my admins
tration there was not the slightest in
reference
Just how extensive an exhibition sched-
ule Manager Griffith will have arranged
for the local grounds next spring will not
= decided until il is definitely known
when the season opens Griffith has
dated up several National League clubs
Ior games here in March. the theory
that the season would open about April
To- Since then. however. he has leared
that the opening would probably be post
poned until April II, and this will neces-
state d change III all arrangements and
the spring schedule
The Georgetown varsity team IS sched-
uied to open the Season here March ..
and the Phiiiies are booked for three
games March ~, >. and -. Then
Brooklyn comes for a series of games. to
he followed by the Giants.
II the regular season opens April II it
may be necessary TO make some changes
IL the exhibition dates, for Griffith does
not want 10 play more than about twelve
Sanes before the season opens.
one Of tne greatest handicaps the
Nationals la bored under last season was
the Illness which kept Eddie oster out
OF the lineup. Foster unauestion-
ably one Of the brightest lights on
Griffith's team during the campaign OF
1872 IL was due to his brilliant work
that the team managed 10 upset all ex-
pectations and finished second in the
race. There would have been chance
for the Nationals to do even better in
the last race had il not been that Foster
was lncapacitated during the entire
early part Of the race When he got
back into the line-up he was far from
the player he had been the season be-
fore.
But there is no reason why he should
ter Is particularly anxious 10 regain his
form. and with this in view he is TAX
ing the best of of himself in order
70 be III the best possible physical con-
clifton In the spring. Foster has already
started an easy siege oi training in =
tucal gymnasium and IS certain that
when he reports at Charlottesville he
will be In better form than he has been
any previous spring since coming here.
over in Pittsburgh they say that Hans
Wagner is slated Tor the first base job
with the Pirates. Fred Clarke has come
TO the conclusion that Hans days al
short field are about over. but that ne
where he Will have a lot OF ground
10 cover, less throwing 10 do and should
SIN be abe 20 hit.
II Is for the purpose of shifting Nag
ner 10 first that Clarke is decided.
ANXIOUS TO secure Joe Tinker from Gin
Tinndu. but IL is questionable If such .
deal can De arranged for the reason tha
pittsburgh has no infield material I,
trade and Cincinnati must have infieid-
ers IN exchange for its former manager
Notwithstanding the fact that Griffitf
viii have three four Young infielder:
70 pick from next spring the chance.
are that the Nationals inner defense vii
he the same IL has been FOR severa
seasons Foster. Mcbride Morgan an6
Gandil will again iii these positions resu
larry. while couple of youngsters viii
be carried 10 fill the utility rolls
IL is no easy matter to improve on thai
inileld- II played brilliant ball last sea
son. as the records show. and while il
Is not the strongest hitting quartet il