Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-21
YOUNGP|TCHERS TO
Be READY EARLY
Regulars Will Have to Face
Good Pitching When Train
ing Season Opens.
DAILY WORKOUTS ARE
SURE TO- HAVE THEM FIT
McGraw Is Trying Thorpe in
Every Position on Team.
Base Ball Gossip.
By J. ED GRILLO.

1t seems certain that Griffith will have
evry one OF his young pitchers in good
condition when the regulars report ct
charlottesville. The daily work outs.
which will be continued until March ..
are sure to have the several rockies"
who are working Out here in shape to do
themselves justice in batting practice.
Ten days of indoor work Is sure to timber
up and strengthen their pitching arms. and
with three days of outdoor work at Char
lottesville before the entire team arrives
| should have them on edge
| Every one of the youngsters is a will
Ing worker. The only caution that Griffith
has to take is to prevent them from do
ing too much work at the outset The
benefit of having five or six pitchers
ready when the team begins to practice
is plain to be seen, for it means that the
batters Will be up against fair lot of
pitching right from the outset. and con-
sequently their eyes will get the proper
kind of training
incidentally Alva Williams will also be
ready. Handling the deliveries Of a squad
of twirlers for more than an hour every
day is going to prove splendid exercise
and the chances are that he will have
something in the matter of condition on
his teammates when the real work be-
gins.
AS result of yesterdays workout all
the pitchers suffered more or less from
stiff and sore muscles. and this will con-
tinue for several days yet according to
Trainer Martin. but he promises to have
them all sound by the time they leave
here for Charlottesville.
Joe Boehling is expected to join the
squad some time today. The eccentric
southpaw from Richmond Is not the most
punctua1 person in the world, however,
and though he promised to report yes
terday and wired that he woul. be here
today Griff is not depending on his
promises.
Bickers. the Buffalo recruit, seems to
have lot of stuff. but plainly shows that
he lacks experience. His motion is bit
crude. but this is sure to be remed!ed be-
fore the training period Is over. His long
arms assures a lot of speed and there is
no doubt that he gives promise. though
the chances are that he will need a year
or SO with some minor league club where
he can work regularly.
John McGraw is going to. find out where
Jim Thorpe has the best chance to make
good, and with this object in view he is
~ aI LiClng the lndian IN every position.
From all accounts he has shown up fair
ly well wherever he has been put. but it
Is the intention to eventually try him out
as a pltcner unless ne SHOWS real aDlllty
in some other position. Thorpe has had
some little experience as a pitcher in the
bush leagues. but 1t is hardly to be ex-
pected that he can hold his own in the !
big league during his first year.
The most interesting struggle during the |
Nationals training season will be for the !
outfield. Griffith has big batch of ma I
terial for these positions and in nearly |
every instance the player wanting to take |
one of the jobs has shown a lot of abil- |
ity. 1t will be a fight for blood and
Griffith hopes that there will be SO many |
good men among the lot that 1t will !
cause him some trouble to make de- |
cision as to which trio is to start the
season. Shanks, Milan and Moeller. last
years outf1eld. are not going to be easy
to supplant. however. and the player who
takes either one OF their jobs will have
to be a star indeed.
II the present warm snap continues
Griffith will likely take his youngsters ,
out to the ball park to work out. The
grounds are said to be in good condition
and with a warm day or two would be
dry enough to practice upon.