Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-12
GR|FF MUST HAVE
H|SPLAYERS READY
Handicap Imposed by Sched-
ule Can Be Overcome by
Condition of the Team.
MORE PRAISE FOR ACOSTA
COMES FROM CUBAN SCRIBE
Tom Drohan Is Much in De.
mand-CinCinnati Anxious
to Secure Him.
BY J. ED GRILLO.

Manager Griffith has returned from the
league meeting i'm New York. While he
would Ike To have changed the schedule
So as IL give the Nationals more games
n home early in the season he is ac
cepting the inevitable without a murnur
But ten games viii be played on the
home grounds during the first six weeks.
which means that for weeks the players
VIII lac deprived of morning practice.
which is of much Importance at that time
of the campaign. Griff. however. proposes
t. protect himself against this handicap
ny making a special effort To have his
players in the, finest possible condition by
the time the season opens
We will have to be ready at the out
set this wear if We hopesto get any kind
of start" said he. at is hard on d
ball teana> in the spring when it has to
90 for weeks without morning practice,
but we will make the best of il. I shall
give my players all the work they can
stand while in training. Ii will be neces-
SarN to have them work in two shifts, be
cause there VII not be- room enough for
all the players on the field at one time.
incidentally. / will not be able To give
them the attention they need unless l
can divide the squads. During the short
time that we will play at home at the
outset of the season there will be hard
the time strike the road for that long
trip We will be tit fddles and hope
not To be Handicapped by the lack of
morning work"
one week from tomorrow the first
squad, composed principally of all the
Young pitchers. VII report mere to put
III week or ten days working in the
y. NJ. q. A. gymnasium March
this squad will depart for Charlottesville
and should he ready TO give the regulars.
who will arrive there March > some good
batting practice.
Tom Drohan. the young pitcher whom
Griffith drafted from kewanee. and for
whom seven class \ clubs have put in
claims in the event that Washington
casts him adrift is also wanted by the
cincinnati club of the National LeaSue
President Hermann had a tax with
Griffith about Drohan while in New York
and Griffith promised that in the event oil
Drohan not being wanted in Washington
he will give Cincinnati first chance on
him.
1t stands to reason however. that if
iprohan is as good a pitcher as his minor
league record indicates he viii stay
right here to help the Nationals, and If
he does not come up to the staHdard ne
will not he of much help to any other
major league team.
The next time Ban Johnson wants an
umpire he will not send Griflth out 10
arrange matters for him. During the
Johnson asked him to see Mordeeal
Brown the former Cub pitcher, and try
to sign him to umpire in the American
League. Griffith saw Brown, and learn
ing from him that his arm was as good
a. ever, but that his knee was weak. he
tried to sign him to Washington con-
tract to pitch. never mentioning Johh-
sons proposition TO umpire. w men Joilh-
s,n learned what Griffith was doing he
made up his mind that in the future
when he wants to make an umpire OUT
OF a player he will go after him hlmsen.
Brown by the way, is very apt 10 pltch
His knee is now undergoing treatment
and is responding nicely. Grfhth mas
promised to send Brown a facsnlIe OF
the iron knee brace which John Henry
las been wearing for some lihe.
Baldomero Acosta. the sixteen year-oid
Cuban who has signed with Grifhth, Is
the sensation of the game down on lne
island The following from Joe Massa-
a1er of the Havana Post gives an IDEA OF
the Youngsters ability:
THAT boy Acosta was the whole show
in Yesterdays game. His fast work on
the bases was grand. and fans are Kept
busy thinking how it is possible that TINS
lid can play such hcady ball. with such
nerve and only sixteen, and with but one
Years experience with the amateurs
"ere'S a rich one on this 'DaDN pla!
~ now a member of the big league club.
H.. attended the banquet given To Gar
ence Smith night before last for his bril-
liant pitching and when the ? oclocN
cannon shot was heard the banquet was
not over with. but the little fellow took
notice he stood and very politely asked to
b. excused a. ne had To be going IhcN
asked him 10 stay longer, the banquet
would soon he over with. and he should
not be in such hurry. But ne replied:
No, | cannot stay longer; il IS "A long
way home and | must be there at 10
sharp or my old man will get after me.
He objects To my keeping late hours and
i better mind him
out in "a laugh, and at the same time am