Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-27
RAIN DOESN'T STOP
NATIONALS WORK
Griffith Gives Stiff Work Out
to Players Under Grand
-.
stand.
LITTLE REST AT PRESENT
MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL
PhiIIies Open TWo-Game Sc
ries Here TomorroW-LocaI
Field in Good Shape.
BY j. ED GRILLo.

Notwithstanding the fact that the local
ball field was too wet to allow practice,
Griffith put his men through a stiff work
out this morning, utilizing the space un-
der the grandstand for the purpose. The
field is in excellent condition and II the
sun should show before 3 o'clock there is
a chance for the game with Georgetown
being played. Idle days are not to Crit
fith's liking at this season of the year.
and while he would have preferred to
have his players on the field he refused
to call off the work on this account and
worked them out under the stand.
The players have reached that stage
of their training where they do not re-
auire any more very strenuous work.
Batting practice, however, Is still most
essential. and no opportunity will be over
| looked when it is possible for them to do
any hitting.
| Acosta and Calvo, after being almost
smothered by the throng which gathered
at the depot last night to welcome the
! players escaped to the Dewey Hotel in
a taxicab. The boys could not under
| sLand the enthusiasm of the hundreds of
| fans, but were much relieved this morn
ing when they learned that the crowd
had gathered largely to get glimpse at
them. The boys made careful inspec-
ton of the ball park, the first major
league plant they have ever seen, and
showed much interest in the stands and
field.
Gould Menefee, former Georgetown
catcher, now a member of the Charles
ton, s. c., club, will work out with the
Griffith needs some young catchers to
help handle the large number Of pitchers
he has on hand, and Menefee and Munich
will have their hands full. Jack Egan's
broken thumb has not mended sufficient
ly to allow him to don a uniform.
The Yanigans will leave tomorrow
night for Norfolk, where they are to
play Saturday They will return here
Sunday morning.
Whether the game will be played in
Cincinnati is not definitely settled. The
agreement between the two clubs gives
the Cincinnati club the right to cancel
the game by 3 o'clock Saturday after
lfoon. Because of the floods and storms
in that section it is doubtful whether the
Nationals could get railroad accommo-
datiohs to Cincinnati, and it is likely
that the game will be Cancelled, though
every effort will be made to pull 1t off.
Beginning tomorrow the Philadelphia
National League club comes here for
two games with the Nationals. Manager
Doom is given credit for having one OF
and ii should furnish splendid practice
for the local players.
All of the exhibition games to be play
ed here before the season opens will be
called at 3 o'clock. The field Is in per-
| feet condition and a great many improve
ments have been made about the park.
| The approach has been concreted and
| other things done to make the plant
more comfortable. The recent storms
ho
which is now being reconstructed.
| Joe Massaguer, sporting editor of the
| Havana Ell Dia, who has been at Char
| lottesville reporting the progress made
| by Acosta and Calyo. Is here to witness
| some of the exhibition games. Senol
| Massaguer is really responsible for botf
| Acosta and Calvo being with the Ma
| tionais. He picked Calvo first and in
| duced Griffith to sign him and selected
Acosta out of an amateur league las
| winter. The two youngsters have beer
| playing ball only a few months, which
| speaks we'll for the Judgment Senior Mas
| saguer displayed in picking them.
II the game with Georgetown is played
| today Griffith will start out with hi
regular lineup, but he expects to make
| many changes during the progress OF
| the contest so that most of the youngster!
will have a chance to make their debu
| before a Washington crowd.
| Bickers, the young pitcher secured
| from Buffalo, will pitch for Wilkes Barr
| this season. Griffith made arrangement
| with that club to take Bickers as sool
| as he can spare him here. Bickers ha
/ a lot of natural ability and should I'm
| prove RAPIDLY if he is given the oppor
| tunity to work regularly.
| Had Manager Bransfield of the Montrea
! team made his appearance at Charlottes
| Vile Yesterday morning, as was expected
| the chances are that he would have beel
/ able to secure several Of Griffith's re
/ crlIits Grff has changed his mind abou
| Pitcher Sullivan and he would rathe
!, have him remain with some clu'
| in the east than return him to Helena