Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-30
NATIONALS SHOW BETTER
FOR THAN LAST SPRING
Continued on Third Paee.)


one of the strongest teams in the Ameri-
can League this season After yester-
days game Knabe was asked what he
thought of the Nationals chances, and he
replied:
'.Griff has mighty good ball team
here. 1t is at least a hundred per cent
stronger than it was last year. There is
good spirit among the players. that l
can see, and there is a whole lot OF
ability That little fellow at third. Nc
Bride and Gandil are three great infield-
ers. | don't know of any better 1 am
not ready to pass an opinion on your
second basemen, for L nave NOT seen
enough of them. Your outfield is fast
and strong. and from what l have seen
of your pitchers you have nothing to
wish for i'm that respect Any team that
has pitcher like Johnson does not need
much more in the way of pitchers. II
nothing happens to him he can win a
pennant by himself when he has good
team behind him.
When Johnson quit after the fifth in
ming and Groom Went on the rubber the
Philadelphia players figured that BOD
would prove an easy mark. Having
faced the terrific speed of Johnson for
five innings. they figured that Groom's
offering would be decidedly easy. But IN
this they erred. Groom was just as ef-
fective as Johnson and, while he was
hits, and only allowed that number to
reach the bases. Groom, ike Johnson, is
in fine form and should have a splendid
season before him.
Acosta made his initial appearance on
the local grounds yesterday. Milan went
to the clubhouse after the seventh inning
and Acosta took his place. He was to bat.
but once and then had to face left
handed pitcher, but this did not worry
him in the least and he displayed his
remarkable batting eye by drawing
pass from Brennan. He was forced
moment later by Gandil and had but one
chance in the outfeld. catching a fly
from Miler's bat But the little fellows
position at the plate made a good i'm
preston with the fans. He showed his
nerve when after having two strikes on
him, he drew a pass.
Monday the Nationals will play the Car
dinals' Club team of Alexandria. Tuesday
the Catholic University will be taken on,
and later in the week Brooklyn VIII
come here for two games. while the New
York Giants are scheduled for April
and S. 1t is likely that Griffith VIII play
many of his Youngsters against the local
teams. though he does not propose to
let his regulars get very much rest.
Alya Williams is not going to have easy
sailing In the hitting line this season.
Last season he was head and shoulders
over both Henry and Ainsnith when 1t
came to hitting. but Ainsmith proposes
to run him u close second this year. There
is remarkable improvement in the stick
work of Ainsmith He has developed into
one of the most dangerous hitters on the
team.
The Nationals have made remarkable
record In the two games with the Phillies
in that they have not been charged with
an error. \ team which can go through
two games without making a misplay
is playiug gilt edged ball at any time. and
when ii accomplishes this feat at this
season of the year it is nothing short OF
remarkable. Early in the spring before
the players are at their best errors fire.
uuentIy occur and really excusdble,
but TO date there has not been IA misplay
on the local grounds in which any OF
Grflith's men have figured
Eddie Foster demonstrated his wonder
ful skin as a hatsrlar again Yesterday
In the third inning with Johnson ana
Moeller on bases he went through all the
motion of intending to sacrifice and nat
No sooner had The Phllies' third base
No sooner had the Philies third base
man set himself for bunt than Foster
pulled the ball past him on q line for a
clean single The Phillies' niield was
entirely uupropared for the play. Fos-
ter has no equai "hei II comes ~ MI.
ting the ball through any opening that
the opposing infcld may offer and it
makes no difference what side of the
diamond il may occur, either.
CLYDE Milan is hitting better this spring
than he has In several years. 1t was
months after the season started last year
before was In normal form with
the bat but this spring he has been hit
ting harder than ever. IT he can keep
up his present clip this season he Is sure
TO land ND among the leading batters
and incidentally he will be on the bases
much more often and thus better his
chances for establishing another base
stealing record.
Ray Morgan had the distinction of
leading his team with the bat yesterday,
getting three singles out of four times
up. Incidentally Ray played a SPLEEN
did game of ball at second base. He
has grown much more accustomed to
that position and II played regularly
there should become a first-class man in
the position
When the Cincinnati club secured AL
media and MarSonS q few seasons ago
the former was supposed to be the star
plsyer while MarSans was merely |
thrown in as good measure There may
he a repetition of this incident in the
ease of calyo and Acosta. Calvo was
the first signed and believed to be
the more experienced player and yet
little Acosta has attracted much more
attention since joining the team and
stand every bit good a chance to be-
come a regular as his countryman
Laioie's debut into fast company was az
gift 10 tho Philadelphia National