Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-22
GR|FF IS VERY
MUCH PLEASED
Improvement in Players and
Good Condition Cause Him
to Be Optimistic.
EXPECTS TEAM TO BE
PLAYING GREAT BALL
When 1t Comes Here for Series
of Exhibition Games.
Other Gossip.
BY j. ED GRILLO.

Special Dispatch TO The Star
CHARLOTTESVILLE Va, March 90.
Clark Griffith is pleased with the out
look for the present season. He is max
ing no claims, but there is a knowing
twinkle in his eye when the chances of
the Nationals are under discussion. 1t
is Griffith system not to give the other
fellows credit for anything, and he leads
his players to believe that they are the
greatest ever.
With the training season about to close
the Nationals manager expressed himself
this morning as being well satisfied with
what had been accomplished here up to
date. by the time the season opens we
will be as fit as any team in the coun-
try said he. II look to have five or
six pitchers ready when the bell taps,
and if we have them, look out for good
start, for we will be stronger in every
respect than we We're last season.
Il can see whole lot of Improvement
in several of our players, and this Will
show when we get to going properly. l
believe that We will have better pitch
ing staff than we had before. Cashion
and Engel are sure to help out the vet
Grams who kept rs up in the race last
season, and that will count for much
We have picked up some very likely
Youngsters. we can't carry them all, of
course, but we will be able to fortify our
selves in every department with those We
retain. BY the time We reach Washing
tonsfor the exhibition series l expect to
have the team playing championship
ball.
1t will be several days at least before
John Henry will be able to resume train
ing The in iured knee is sore and stir
and ii will require several days of rest
before it can be tried out again. Trainer
Martin, however, gives assurance tnat
the present trouble will not amount to
anything.
Acosta and Calvo have remarkable
sight. They can stand at the plate and
tell ball that is out or inside an eighth
of an inch, and they do not offer at this
variety, now that Griffith has forced
them to wait out the pitchers. If AcOsta
breaks into any games this summer the
opposing pitchers are sure to have their
troubles trying to coax him to hit He Is
very particular what sort of a ball he
wants and it has to be straight over the
center of the plate before be will offer
at it. In the games he has played here
he has always managed to draw one Oh
more bases on balls.
If Clyde Milan can keep up his present
batting streak he will stand chance of
landing up in the averages with Cobb and
Jackson. Milan is hitting better now
the team, and what is most encouraging
about it is the fact that he is pulling
many hard hit balls into right field,
where il is difficult to handle them.
Zeb'' has not been lucky with the stick
for several seasons. but he seems on a
fair way to have a great batting year.
His record yesterday was a single; a
double and a triple in three trips to the
plate. and there was nothing f1uky about
any of the drives.
Shaw, the young semi-pro pitcher re-
Gently signed by Griffith. reported here
yesterday afternoon; Shaw is a husky
and from all accounts is a promising
right -hand pitcher. Allen. the young
outfielder, was telling Griffith this morn
ing that he saw Shaw pitch last-fsii and
that in one game he allowed but two aats
while the other two were no hit games.
Shaw, it is understood, has not worked
out any this spring. SO that he must be
given chance to get himself in condition
before he will have an opportunity to
show what he has.
rs the regulars improve in condition
the chances OF the Colts to annex more
games are growing less. The vets are
putting up better article of ball with
every game, and this is especially true of
their base running. in which they easily
excel. incidentally they are much more
alert on the bases than the Colts, too
many OF whom are caught mapping in
one way or another. The pitching, when
ever one of the pitchers who is figured 10
have a chance has worked. has been of
the very best, considering conditions.
The vets are also. beginning to get their
batting eyes, which makes some differ
ence.
Bill Clarke. who ia his day. played in
Baltimore and Washington and is now
coaching the Princeton college team.
watched the Nationals at work yesterday
morning and was much impressed with
their condition. Clarke saw both Henry
and Ainsmith catch before they came to
Washington. and he is a great admirer
of them.
There is as good pair of catchers as
r cc TT + .