Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-25
GR|FF|TH'S MEN
IN FINE SHAPE
Will Show Excellent Condition
When Exhibitions Start
Here Thursday.
PITCHING Is MUCH
ABOVE THE AVERAGE
Any One of Twirlers Is Able to Go
Five Innings at Top Speed.
Other Gossip.
By J. ED GRILLo.

CHARLOTTESVILLE Va, March 2J.-
Three weeks of training has worked
wonders with Grifith's players. No team
at this season of the year could be nearer
to midseason form than the Nationals,
and they will prove this to the satisfac-
ton of their followers when they make
their initial appearance in Washing ton
Thursday.
They may not be ready to go through
an entire game at a fast clip. and that Is
not to be expected for a week or ten
days, but the team as a whole is al
ready playing high-grade article of ball
The pitching is particularly clever. There
is not a member of the twirling staff
who cannot. go five innings at top speed
right now, while every man in the squad
has his legs in good fettle and is show
ing his best speed.
The batting, which has not been what
it should, also took a sudden brace yes
terday. and by the time the team gets
through its hard schedule of exhibition
games it ought to be ready to give a
good account of itself.
AS training place Charlottesville has
added to its reputation during the team 8
stay here. More work has beens done
here under favorable conditions than in
any of the other major league camps,
and Griffith's players hope to show the
benefit they have derived here when the
season opens by making a flying start.
Gandil and Milan are beginning to show
their prowess with the bat. They got
six hits between them yesterday. All of
Milans were singles, but Gandil got
single. a double and triple. The lum-
bago from which the big first baseman
was suffering is gradually leaving him
and he is beginning to play in his old
form
Little Acosta broke into the limelight in
Yesterdays game with clever throw
which allowed him to make a. double
play. Moeller was on first base when he
and Foster played the hit and run. Fos-
ter's effort resulted in tine drive to left
field. Acosta came in on a hard rum
; snatched the ball an inch from the
ground, and, without steadying himself
whipped it to Schaefer at first in time to
double ul Moeller, who, of course had
! started for second with the crack of the
bat. Acosta handled himself beautifully
on this play. both in the fielding of the fly
and in the speed and accuracy displayed
/ in his throw.
! 1t is not often that George Mcbride ex-
presses an opinion. He is inclined to be
rather conservative and makes 1t point
but seldom to discuss the ability of any
player. But George does not hesitate to
praise Gandil, whom he considers the
ever encountered in his career. -.
1T is hard to realize how far Chick
can stretch for wide-thrown balls. 1
sometimes marvel that he reaches Them
anced when he makes these plays. We
infielders do not have to look toward first
at all when we throw there. II we have
general idea as to its direction that is
enough. for no matter where the ball
goes. Chick Will get it. and IL they are
| low it is all the easier for him.. / have
not seen him fall on a badly thrown low
ball since he joined the team, is the way
Mcbride sizes up Chick.
Carl Cashion will be given few days
rest before he Is asked to pitch again
! There is something wrong with his salary
arm and as result he is not showing
| to good advantage. 1t Is not sore, but II
| is decidedly weak and he cannot ge,
| anything on the ball worth while He
| morning against Che Colts, but Griffith
saw that he was not right and sent him
| to the clubhouse. It is believed that with
| a few days lay-off Cashion will round
| into form again.
| There is little doubt that Griffith viii
| complete the deal for Galia with the
| Kansas City club before the time fol
| the expra ton of the agreement with
| that club 1t will cost the Washington
1
| Gallia, and from what he e showing he
| is worth the price. No more improved
| pitcher has been seen here this spring
| 1t is a wonderful curve bail, of which
| he has absolute control, that puzzles the
batters and he ought to prove mos
valuable pitcher for the team, especial.
! during the early weeks of the season
1 when the batters are easily fooled by
/ curves.
| Acosta is a splendid waiter at the plate
/ He seldom offers at ball which is no
right over the heart of the plate, and a:
| result he gets many a walk. To date
! he has been given passes nine times here
| and he has played in comparatively few
! games The little fellow is an all-roune
ball player. He can handle grounders or
| the infield and he PLAYS first base lo'
| better than some of the outf1efders who
attempt to cover that position during
| practice
! There has been no more consistent per-
| former with the bat In the games here
than Germany Schaefer. The veteran has
not gone back an inch in this or any 9th
| err respect, and is just as good a ball
player today he ever was. though. OF
| course. it is doubtful IL he could hold UP
| his end If he played regularly. Schaefer
| is the marvel of the camp in that he was
| able to throw at full speed the very first
day he reported, and he Is one OF the few
| players that have not had occasion to
complain of being sore since the training
period started, and he Is not q kid, either.
| Harry Wellchonce will not become a
Nap. Yesterday morning Manager Grit
| fifth received word that the Cleveland club
| had refused to waive on the hard hitting
| outfielder and made arrangements to have
him join the team al New Orleans Later
| in the day, however. he received word
| that Cleveland had waived and he at once
/ a fad ha h
| ern League club and Welchonce left for
| that city last night Welchonce's going
does not come as a surprise. He is a
good hitter. but he lacks the spirit that
Griffith insists upon. He Is phlegmatic in
| a way, and for this reason never had a
chance to make the team, even If he
| could hit like Cobb
| The one workout a day scheme is
rather hard on the players, but is bound
! to have them in good shape. Yesterday
Griffith had his entire team at work for
three hours steadily. those not actually
engaged in the game being kept busy at
| bunting and fielding practice. These one
| term workouts are necessary on days
| that the Virginia team is scheduled, 9TH
erwise the players would have to work
morning and afternoon.
| With one years experience in the minor
| leagues there Is good chance for Buck
Barton winning his spurs in the majors.
The Washington boy is showing as much
class on the slab as any OF the young
pitchers, and he has made good impress