Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-20
NATIONALS TO Be
A BIG ATTRACTION
Griff's Club Almost Certain to
Excel All the Others in
That Respect.
MORGAN MAY GET A
CHANCE AT SECOND
If He Keeps Going at Present
Gait He Will Probably Be
Used Regularly.
BY j. ED GRILLO.


ers the greatest of pitchers in Walter
johnson. 1t has the champion base
runner in Clyde Milan, and the two real
comedians in Schaefer and Altrock. Calvo
and Acosta, the two Cuban recruits, are
Silre to attract a lot of attention, even if
they don't play regularly, and, further
more, there will be a lot of interest in
the team because of it's unexpected good
showing last season and the fact that 1t
is sure to be a pennant contender again
III the coming campaign.
Griffiths team will surely offer some
thing besides ball game when it is play
ing on the road. Few ball teams prove a
drawing card from any standpoint other
than that they play the game, and then,
probably, only when their standing prom
Ises some particular interesting feature.
Not so with the Nationals, however. Crit
fifth will give the fans several side shows
besides ball game, and there is no ques-
ton that this will have rather stimu-
lating effect on the gate receipts. If it
should be the good fortune of Griffith to
have his team we'll up in the race from
the outset of the season there is no
doubt that all attendance records of the
club will be broken not only at home, but
on the road. 1t is already one of the best
advertised teams in the country, and its
drawing powers have been materially in
creased by the addition to the features
that have been made by the acquisition
Of the two Cuban boys.
The effect of the several hard days the
players have put in here this week was
noticeable in their work yesterday morn
Ing. There was evidence of that tired
feeling which comes to athletes before
they are really ready after siege of
hard work, and when the morning work
was over and the word given that the
afternoon would be spent in rest 1t was
accepted with cheers.
But Griffith has but one thing in mind.
He wants to have his team ready when
the season opens and he does not pro-
pose to be disappointed in this respect.
He is putting his players through Cruel
ing course of training, and by the time
they return to their own grounds they
can be depended upon to be able to give
the team their best efforts.
1t is questionable right now IL any
pitching staff in the league Is as well
conducted as that of the Nationals. Inc
fact that some of the pitchers have an
occasional off day now Is not discourag-
ing, but is the result of the amount OF
work that they are doing without getting
any rest on intervening days. Give any
,one of Griffith's pitchers two or three
day rest, as he would have during the
season, and any of them could pitch in
midseason FORM But there is no rest
for them now, and, as result, they can
not perform consistently every day. once
they reach a certain stage or their tram
ing and then they will be handled as they
are during the season, and a great diner-
ence in their showing will be perceptible.
Ray Morgan is showing to such good
advantage in the practice games tnat II
would not be at all surprising If he was
installed at second base when the season
opens. Morgan is hitting as he did at
times last season, while his fielding is all
that could be asked for. He is, OF course
a much faster man than Frank Laporte.
and If he should be in one of his hitting
moods early in the year he Will I'M
doubtedly be placed at second base. La
porte, however, promises to be OF much
more service to the team than previously,
and he will not be an easy man TO sup
niant. for the reason that he is hitter
of the cleanup type, just what Grlmtn
needs strewn among his lineup.
Base runners who have occasion to go
into second base are not handled with
kid gloves by Joe Gedeon. The Californ-
ian is an earnest player and he Is apt
to handle base runners rather roughly
when they happen to come his way.
There Is no fear in his makeup ana the
fact that he sees sharp spikes coming
in his direction does not make him pacK
AWAY Griffith has been teaching Gedeon
the art of riding base runners who come
into his station and he is proving very
apt pupil.
Gridith's far-sighted policy in sending
Eddie Ainsmith TO Texas to spend the
winter is sure to be rewarded. The stay
in the Lone Star state has done wonders
for the Young catcher and barring &C
cidents he should have remarkable year.
While there are several players In the
squad who show marked Improvement
over last season, none Is SO marked
as in the case of Ainsmith. He looks
to be one of the best catchers that ever
stood behind the bat. He Is hitting and
actually showing a lot of speed on the
bases Had Ainsmith been allowed TO
go to his home last fal wnen ne was
stricken, he would probably have lalieo
to make so complete recovery.
Tom Drohan made his first appearance
on the slab in a game yesterday; ana
Judging from the result one might be
led to believe that his debut was a
failure, but it was really ANYTHING but
that Drohan is undoubtedly a very
competent pitcher. He has a most de-
ceptive curve ball but his control was
while he did not get & shade from the
umpire
He and Dent surely have a chance
to help the team. But there Is no rea son
for Griffith to worry about his pitching
staff department. in which he seems bet
ter fortified than ever before. He is al
| most certain to have five pitchers. any
one of whom can win, and this Wouid
afford him a chance to give his most re-
liable men a sufficient amount of rest
between games. SO that they would Al
ways be at their best.
Both Calvo and Acosta are making
rapid strides forward in mastering the
English language. though. of course, they
/ frequently get things mixed UP. much
| to the amusement of their teammates.
The other evening, for instance the
two Cubans entered the lounging rooms
| at the players house, and upon enter
| ing DOTTED their hats politely and said
| Good night" 1t took some time to
| convince them that they should have
| said Good evening" In the meantime.
most of the players are picking up some
| Spanish words, and 1t will not be at all sur
| prising IL some strange language Is heard
| on the coaching lines this summer.
r. Howard Shanks has changed his po-
sition at the plate and seems to have
| greatly benefited his batting. Shanks
had habit of hugging the plate as
closely as the rules would allow, and the
| result was that when he hit the ball
| the full force OF his bat was mostly
| wasted. Griffith discovered this failing
/ the other day and got Shanks to stand
/ farther away from the plate. The change
brought about most encouraging results
| for Shanks began Immediately to hi