The Washington times., 1913-03-24
Manager Says He Is Going to
Have a Good Hitting Club
This Season.
By SENATOR"

CHARLOTTESVILLE Va, March "a.
The Climbers are going to have a lot
of batting practice when they return
home. Manager Griffith intending to use
all his young pitchers every morning
for two hours against the sluggers of
the regular lineup. Apparently. the
team Is going to hit well from the start
this season, and the "Old Fox will not
let his lads lose their batting eyes for a
moment. The return home Wednesday
will be made in time for the uniform
trunks and bat bag TO be taken to the
ball park for use the following morn
ing, all the players being ordered to
report at the park at 10 o'clock for bat
ting practice.
The best feature OF the training trip
this spring has been the early condi-
tioning of so many or the pitchers.
This has resulted in better batting at
this stage of the season, and will have
its effect during the early weeks of the
coming campaign. Walter Johnson. Bob
Groom, Carl Cashion. Tom Hughes. ard
Joe Engel are in shape now to pitch
full game, though ii is unlikely that any
of them will be allowed TO do So for "A
week or So longer.
With the team hitting hard and at
least five, II not six. pitchers In shape,
the Climbers should be able to play
winning ball from the sound Of the pis-
tol. Remembering last years terrible
start, Manager Griffith has Sroomed his
athletes this season to get off the mark
with the leaders. and he will be much
disappointed If his boys are not in the
first division from the sound OF the
gong
Il l.
tice here has been against the pitch
ers of the Climbers squad. VirSinias s
mound men have been farcical. Eppa
Rixey provided excellent practice for
the big leaGucrs, but there are few
Eppa RiXeys in the colleges. The
Orange and Blue pitchers are weak
as water against the Climbers.
Indeed, facing such pitching as that
served UP TO the Climbers Saturday
has a positively delcteriOus effect on
the best batsmen. Galloway prayed
and then delivered perfectly
straight ball, yet the Climbers got
but one hit off him in four innings
They hit under the ball and over it
the younGstcr being so bad he was
good. paradoXiCal as this sounds. AS
matter of fact. the men were so
accustomed to facing pitchers who
could put something on the ball that
they failed miserably before a mere
boy with a straight ball.
If RiXey is in any kind of shape and
is obtained to work against the
Climbers tomorrow In the last game
here between the college team and
the "Old FOX'S' outfit, they may get
in some excellent practice against a
left handler. They certainly need it,
as Bochling and Austin have been one
day good and the next day bad ever
since starting to work.
I'm going to have good hitting
club this spring. unless all signs
fail" said Manager Griffith to the
writer today, and shall put
them to work the moment we get
home, hitting against all the pitchers
who may not be used within a day
or so. I'm convinced that in this way
alone will they get the right kind Of
work for the pitching served uD in
the American League"
The surprisingly good form of "Zeb'
Milan is worthy Of notice by the Wash
iugton fans With the third man in the
batting order hammering out safeties
at a 300 clip. the team is bound to make
IL Is this suddenly discovered ability In
wonderful condition. He is not beating
out little teasers to the infield. but
ripping off clean singles and doubles
down both foul lines but inside the
playing field. Never before has he
shown much ability to slam out such
drives and Manager Griffith is delighted
Hank Shanks. following the advice of
his manager TO stand farther away
from the plate, is getting more power
into his drives and he is one OF the
hardest hittCrs in the squad. Indeed
n is this suddenly discovered ability in
the Monaca Marvel that killed the
chances Of any Of the rockies to oust
him from his place IN left field.
When the season gets under way
Francois Laporte Is expected TO be hit