The Washington times., 1913-01-12
Players Will Have a Chance at
Berths During the Training
Stunts This Spring.
By SENATOR"

Four strenuous contests are sure to be
seen among the candidates for the
Climbers in 1913 when they gather for
their training stunts. Second base, two
of the gardens, and the pitching box
will provide all the exhilarating thrills
for the amusement of the Capital City
fans
Manager Griffith will have a huge
staff Of fingers in his camp when the
horn blows. He will devote all his time
to the new ones, hoping to find among
them possible winners In the big show.
Walter Johnson. Bob Groom. Tom
Hughes. Carl Cashion, and Joe Engel
may safely be said to nave a death
clutch on their respective jobs. but the
others will join the mad struggle for
the extra berths.
Gallia was with the Climbers for a
moment last year, failing to show much
of anything. However, IN an exhibition
game in Albany he looked to have con-
siderable stuff" to use a technical
term. and will not be allowed to drift
back to the bushes until he has demon
strated his unworthiness.
{ Joe Boehling was the teams wild
man of Borneo last year, and has mucn
to learn before taking his place in the
paw seems TO be destined to aid BILLY
Smiths Atlanta club, but he will make
a fight before dropping out OF the big
show.
Ayres Coming Late.
Doc" Ayres, who did some good work
for the Richmond Virginia Leaguers
ast season, wants to stall off reporting
until May. II he adheres to his pres
he ha
list right now, for by May. Griffith will
hardly waste time fooling around with
a bush Lacquer. If he shows up at the
opening of the season. he may stand
chance TO earn a place. as his work last
year was good enough to warrant his
future success.
Paul Musser, with the team last sea-
son until he was sent to Los Angeles,
thrives on hard work. and before going
to Atlanta, will work hard to hang on
to the big towns.
Tom Drohan, Kewanee phenorn. cop
ped twenty-three out of twenty-five
games last season from June "a to La
Dor Day. He Is a six-footer and looks
promising.
last year with Newark, the Superbas'
farm, may have the stuff necessary.
but he must "show" Griff before going
back TO the grass leagues.
Victor Bickers and Robert Austin, two
youthful phenoms in the hinging art,
are hardly taken seriously. Griff knows
nothing about either OF them and will
lose no sleep If they fail to produce the
goods.
The Real Fight.
The real fight of the training season
will probably center around second base.
Frank Laporte and Ray Morgan are
now in the field. but they there's Joe
Gedeon. Bill Morley and Eddie williams
ir the hunt for the place. Griff knows
what Morgan and Laporte can do, but
the others will be new,
On the dope Gcdeon and Morley look
TO be the best of the three rockies, but
there's no possible way of telling from
this distance what they will be able to
do under fire.
One thing, anyway, Is certain-Ray
Morgan means to make gallant
struggle TO be the teams regular sec
ond baseman. The Baltimore lad has
put on a few more pounds this winter
and this should help him with the Dat.
He is plenty speedy enough In the field,
hut his stick work must improve, If he
is 10 hang on to the championship
wagon.
Manager Griffith knows that second
base is one Of his weak places ana viii