Evening star., 1914-04-23
JOHNSON AND COLLINS MAY
CLASH IN OPENER TODAY
Nationals Expect to Play in Improved Form Team S
Showing to Date Satisfactory
to Griffith
to Griffith.

ing his bat. choking it more than he
used to. and this seems to interfere with
his swing. He is going to return to his
former way of hitting in practice before
the game today to see if it will make any
difference.
Only four of Griftith's many pitchers
have been used in any games to date
Johnson, Boehling, Ayers and Engel-
and there are several others yet to be
heard from. But there is plenty of time
for him to gradually work in his other
pitchers the regular staff. Shaw,
Cashion, Bentley and Harper will in due
time be given a chance to show what
they can do, and later in the season,
when the siege of double-headers is en-
countered, there will be plenty of work
for all the tWirlers.
Though the Nationals have been in
training for nearly two months now, their
work is far from over. The trip to Bos-
ton and New York has not been beneficial
in the matter of keeping the players in
shape-at least, not those who have not
been engaged in games-and morning
practice is to be resumed tomorrow and
kept up indefinitely. according to Griffith.
Bunting and other features OF the game
are to be practiced every morning SO that
by the time the team leaves on its next
trip it is expected to be working much
smoother than it has to date.
If the Nationals can make as good a
showing against the Red Sox here as
they did in Boston they will earn Tor
themselves a good position in the race
before the week is out. Two out of three
games were won from the former cham
pions on the recent trip there, and four
games are scheduled for the local
grounds. If Griffith's pitchers continue
to display the form they have to date
there is no doubt about their winning,
and there is every reason for believing
that the team whole will play bet
I Dill. rl,Nlxt l.,
shortly the Nationals will be home until
the latter part of May, and 1T is to be
hoped that the team will play as good
ball at home this season as it did on the
road last year.
The buying of Truesdale, the second
baseman of the Buffalo club, by Manager
Chance means the sending of Roy Hart
Zell back to the outfield, where he be-
longs. Truesdale played with the St
Louis Browns few years ago, and he
| Is said to be much improved ball play
| er. In fact. he has the reputation of be-
| ing the best infielder in the International
League. He is expected to be in the
| lineup in Philadelphia today.
Ayers displayed real nerve and confidence
| in himself in the second inning yesterday,
which Caldwell opened with a two-bagger
| to left center. Doc called on his reserve
| force at this stage and retired the next
| three batters in order. Foster threw
out Holden while Caldwell went to third.
! Then Cook fouled out and Ayers had the
satisfaction of striking out PeckinpauSh.
1 There seems to be no doubt about the
\ ability of the former Richmond Star. In
| fact he gives promise of being a much
| better pitcher for the Nationals than he
ever was in the Virginia State League.
| 1t is no longer necessary for George
! Mcbride to do all the covering of second
| base when steals are attempted. Ray
| hEC inn INrnd in, h rn-
| spect, and he is now handling throws
and tagging runners in an entirely com
petent manner. This relieves Mcbride
of much of the strenuous duty he for
merly had to perform around second base.
John Henry catching this spring is by
far the best he has ever done. Not only
is Henry handling the pitchers with good
| ing perfectly. while his batting is much
improved. Henry's throw to second IN
the ninth inning of yesterdays game
which retired the last man was splendid
bit OF work. With Holden on first Engel
got one wide of the plate which Henry
partly knocked down Holden started for
second base, but Henry recovered the
ball in time to make it possible to nail
Holden at second with perfect throw.
4 march, ''The Pride of the Fans"
dedicated to Walter Johnson by Com
poser Prof. Scholfield, will be played at
the ball park this afternoon.
The Troy team of the New York State
League has signed two Cubans Roderi-
quez and Gonzales the former a pitcher
and the latter an infielder and brother
of the Gonzales who has been with the
Cincinnati Reds.
The Decatur club of the Three-l
League has come to terms with George
Reed. and he will lremain as manager
there. The club desired playing man.
aSer, but it is said the fans would not
: stand for letting Reed so.