Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-15
NATIONALS WILL Be
STRONG ON SLAB
Griffith Hopes to Find Star
Among His Corps of
Youngsters.
SHANkS AND MOELLER
HARD TO DISPLACE
Both Should Show Marked I'M
provement in Next Campaign.
More Players Sign.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

There is good chance for Griffith to
discover some real pitching talent out of
the corps of young tWirlcrs that he will
take to Charlottesville this spring. Every
one of the youngsters comes highly rec
commended and in one or two instances
they have shown high-class form in the
minor leagues.
Bickers, the young giant who has never
seen service in a professional league, is
touted as having a chance to make a real
great pitcher. 1t is of course not to be
expected that any of these untried kids
will make good right from the jump, but
it is to the future that Griffith is look
ing Drohan, the Kewanee, ILL.,, twirler,
who sent in his signed contract yester-
day. has an enviable record. winning
thirty out of thirty-six games, which is
some performance in any company. A
pitcher who can turn such a trick las
something besides a smile, even though
he is working in a low-class minor league:
Dent who comes from Newark, did
not shine though he won thirteen out OF
twenty-five games for a club that did not
have very good percentage. Austin
is a college chap, who has shown enough
to warrant one of Griffith's friends TO rec
ommend him.
young pitchers during the training sea-
son. He is particularly anxious to devel-
Cd one or two of them enough to war
rant carrying them through the season,
even though they are not worked regu-
larry.
Il propose to give these young pitchers
every attention during the training sea-
son. said Griff this morning 1t Will
mean a whole lot to us if we can get one
or. two competent twirlers out OF the
bunch for no team can have too many
good pitchers. ] am confident that there
will be much improvement in our pitch
ing department next season. Johnson anu
Groom will go even better than they ola
last year. and Cashion is going to be
consistent performer. Then we have
Tom Hughes to use on occasions while
Engel should come around.
If in addition to this array Of talent
we are lucky enough to pick UP kid or
two that has something we will be better
rivals Charlottesville is a great place
to get pitchers in shape. If they can't
work outdoors the gymnasium gives them
plenty Of opportunity to work out. and
consistent work and proper handling does
much to get pitchers in shape"
Eddie Ainsmith. Drohan. Bickers and
Austin have signed. their contracts
Ainsmith writes that he is again in per
feet health and that he will be able
to catch every game during the season
if necessary. Griffith. however. intends
to allow Ainsmith to catch Johnson only
next ason, and this will give him
plenty of opportunity to rest between
games
Frank Chance and his Highlanders will
have the, honor Of opening the new
grounds in Brooklyn. The formal OPEN
ing of Ebbets Field is to take place
April ), and Owner Farrell has agreed
to have his team there on that date
and again April G.
While there are certain to be four or
five candidates for one of the Outfield
positions held down by Moeller and
Shanks last year. the chances are that
none of the recruits Will be found as
capable as the pair mentioned. This is
particularly true of Shanks. who during
his first year in fast company made
reputation for himself as fielder.
There was no better left fielder in the
league last year than Shanks, and. while
it is true that he did not hit as we'll as
an outfielder should yet there is a good
chance for him to improve in this re-
spect. Shanks was mighty serXiceaoie
ball player for the Nationals last season
and the chances are that he will be more
valuable this year. Any player who shows
enough to take Shanks' place will be
star, indeed.
Dan Moeller may not he bothered with
that troublesome shoulder the coming
season as much as lie was last. Moeiler.
has taken treatment all winter and 1t Is
reported that the shoulder seems to have
mended and that lie will be able to take
chances with it. But for this shoulder
Moeller would undoubtedly be one of the
greatest players in the league. He is as
fast as any of the fleet-footed ficlders in
the league and uses good Judgment on
the bases. He has been handicapped.
however, by the weak shoulder, which did
not allow him to take many chances on
the bases. If it has mended his value to
the team will be greatly increased