Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-14
|ASFAR ADVANCED
AS RIVAL CLUBS
Little Doubt That Nationals
Are in as Good Shape as
Any of Other Teams.
AINSMITH'S THROWING
is MUCH IMPROVED
CatCher'S Arm Seems to Have
Benefited Greatly by
the Long Rest.
BY J. ED GR1LLo.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

BY ]. ED GRILLO.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
/ UNIVERSITY or VIRGINIA. Va.
March Notwithstanding the fact that
there have been several Interruptions in
the training work of the Nationals there
is no doubt that the team is as we'll ad-
| vanced SO far playing. condition is
| concerned as a majority of it's rivals
| When it rains i'm most training camps 1t
means absolutely idleness for the players
while there have been no idle days here
Every day that conditions have been such
| that the ball field could not be visited
the players have been kept busy in the
gym. 1t is, of course. nothing like being
outdoors, but it gives the pitchers a
chance to work out and is big enough to
allow the other players to field hunts and
/ thus get their share of the exercise.
J The fact should not be overlooked that.
barring a few days, it is a month yet
before the bell rings calling the eight
clubs to the barrier. That is sufficient
/ time to get the payers in the best pos
| sible shape. and SO far as GrifTith's,
/ charges are concerned there is not even
). that much time needed to bring about
| desired results.
| So far the distribution of rainy days
has been decidedly fair to Griffith. They
nave come usually after a strenuous days
| need of a letup. That was the case yes
! terday, for instance. Wednesday was the
| hardest day the Nationals have put in
here and it was probably beneficial for
them not to have to go to the field and
put in a couple of hours in the gym.
The great advantage that Griffith has
is the fact that all his pitchers are
rounding into form rapidly. Within the
| as they will ever be, and it is better for
them to have a few off days now and
then than to work straight through, for
| under such conditions there is always
| danger of their going stale.
| Eddie Ainsmith has been given credit
| for having remarkable throwing arm
ever since he broke into the American
League. and yet it seems that it is
| stronger this spring than ever before.
| Until Eddie reported here his arm had
| had a long rest, as he took part in but
| few games after the middle of last sea-
| son, and this enforced idleness seems to
/ have giSen 1t renewed vigor if his throw
| ing here is to be taken as a criterion
| In the afternoon game Wednesday
Ainsmith had an opportunity to test his
arm. One of the Virginia, players ven
| tured some ten feet off second base
| Without as much as taking a step Ain
| smith shot the ball to Mcbride. and the
| base runner was caught standing fiat
| footed and. Of course, was out. Several
times during the game Ainsmith threw to
| first base to catch runners and they did
not dare to get more than step from
/ the bag for fear of being caught. The
| beauty of Ainsmith's throwing lies In the
| does not have to take g. step to get lot
| Of force on the ball. What Is more, his
throwing is much more accurate this
spring than it has ever been before.
Ever since Gandil went into training he
has been complaining about his back. It
/ has been difficult for him to stoop after
| thrown balls and the trouble has
| finally developed into case of lumbago,
| which is sure to keep him away from
! practice for several days.
The Washington club seems once more
/ to have been lucky in the selection of
| it's recruits. While there are no present
stars among the outfit. the youngsters are
a lot of mighty good ball players, and
several of them are sure to be heard from
| Gedeon and Williams. the two husky
infielders, was undoubtedly q tenstrike.
Both are capable and sure to constantly
improve. and while 1t is likely that nei-
Their will break into the team as a regu-
lar this year, they are sure to supplant
some of the present holders Of those po-
( sitfons in time to come. Neither of them
shows the slightest weakness Any de-
I
that age where they are still constantly
! improving, so that the future promises
much for them.
| These are strenuous times for Trainer
Mike Martin. With thirty-eight ball
players to look after the genial trainer
has few minutes to himself. He is at
work from morning till night, yet goes
through it all without murmur. and
1t is never too late or too early for him
l IL his services are required.
Checkers is popular game in the club
! house, and there are some experts among
| the players, but the honor of being the
best player belongs to Frank Laporte,
who is the acknowledged champion.
Joe Boehling and Austin. the two south
paws, have been turned over to Nick Al
| trock, who is trying to teach them the
| tricks of the pitching art Altrock in his
/ day was one of the cleverest left-handers
In the game. He was like fifth infielder
when in the center OF the diamond. and
| when 1t came to holding base runners on
first he had few equals. Nick hopes to
| give the youngsters the benefit or his
them every day illustrating the various
tricks and deliveries.
1t is Griffiths fondest hope that he will
be able to arrange his pitching staff this
year so that Walter Johnson will be able
to have three days rest between games
and Tom Hughes can be worked about
once every six days. When Hughes is
| handled In this way he is sure to win
a majority OF his games. and johnson,
| with plenty of rest. can always be de-
pended upon. In order to do this two
young pitchers, at least, must be able to
deliver the goods. If that should be
| Cashion and Engel. either of whom can
stand a lot of work. all the better, for
| they have now had some experience. So
| far as Groom is concerned, he needs
/ but two DAYS between games to be at
his best Though apparently frail. Bob
kept out of the game too long.
| CLYDE Milan intends to be one of the
| contenders for base stealing honors again
| this season. He is anxious to exceed the
mark he set last year. In which event he
stands a fairly good chance to again lead
| the league Milan il giving his legs
| careful preparation. Only recently has he
begun TO run at top speed, but most of
| the time he is merely jogging to strength
| en- his underpinning. From Detroit comes
! the story that Cobb proposes to lead the
| league In base running again. He Is
said to have announced that he would
| make a special effort In this direction,
| and if he does the race between Milan
and him should prove very interesting.
| No game which the Nationals have
scheduled during the season IL OF as much
| Importance to Manager Griflith AZ the
one which his team is to play In Gin
! cinnati, March 80. IL it is fair that day