The Washington herald., 1914-03-15


Baseball with Griffith is bi
his club in shape for the opening
indications point to a nice, bright,
sunshiny day tomorrow, the Old
Fox does not intend to pass up the
chance of working his athletes.
Lambeth Field today was still heavy
and the players this morning were or
dered to timber up on the board run
ming track located directly across the
street from the gymnasium. Here the
pitchers tossed The ball and circled the
track eight or ten times on a Jog trot.
So strenuous were activities on Friday,
the 18th. that several Of the ball play
ers found themselves hors de combat
this morning. Muscle bruises bothered
Capt Mcbride and Third Baseman Fos-
ter. Chick Gandl complained of Sc
we're cold in his right elbow. while both
Meusel and Ben Spencer found the swell
ings in their wrists still mighty painful.
Paul Musser has developed full
fiedged case Of tonsolitis and spent the
day in bed. It is hard telling when he
will be able to work out again with the
other pitchers
In discussing the proposed practice
game with the Staunton Military Acad-
emy one week from today. Manager
Grifith said: II have not closed with
the manager of the Stanton team for
that date I told him ! would let him
know later. Everything depends upon
what shape my players are in. / would
hardly care to take chances with any
of my regulars, unless / was sure that
they were able to go the full nine in
nings, and at the present time most OF
them are not"
delivered at headquarters addressed to
Acosta, the diminutive Cuban fielder.
Acosta happened to be out at the time.
and as IL was known that his mother
was in i'll health, the boys decided to-
open the cablegram and have Bert Gal
liza, who reads and speaks Spanish, trans
late the message, so that II IL contained
bad news the blow could be broken
gently to Acosta.
The cablegram was merely from
friend who wanted to know the result of
the Nationals first practice game. and
how many hits Acosta made
Ben Spencer was excused from prac-
tice today The young outfielder, in
addition to nursing a sprained wrist, is !
suffering from a mild attack Of the
grip Until today Spencer declares he
never felt better in his life.
Merito Acosta is happy boy tonight |
Griffith has told him that he can don a 4
Monday. Acosta has been suffering from |
malaria, and the disease seems to be |
Welding nicely to treatment. A drop of
the Cuban's blood was recently examined |
by a local expert. who stated that the
specimen was full of malarial germs.
For the first time since he has been !
down here, Walter johnson cut loose
bit this morning and said he felt no Ill (
effects from the strenuous workout.
johnson could go FIVE innings tomorrow.
almost at top speed" remarked Trainer
Martin.
Billy Aliens friends, and the little
blond outfielder is popular with the
Climbers veterans. stated that in their
opinions Griffith made no mistake when |
he decided to hold onto the former Mon
treal star instead of shipping him to
the Pacific Coast. Allen may yet make
some of the youngsters hustle for one Of
the outfield jobs.
Washington fans will open their eyes in
astonishment when Harry Harper gets
his first trial IN the box at home. The
coaching of Altrock and Griff have made
a greatly improved finger out of the {
herky-jerky slabman of last year.
Eppa Rixey- former Virginia Univer-
sity star, who has been a member of the
Philadelphia Nationals staff the past
two years, is still in town. He has been
granted permission to remain in college
until June, when he expects TO get his
degree.
Il was sorry to hear that Tom Seaton
had jumped to the Federal League"
Rixey told the writer, 'for he was easily
one of the best right-handers in the Ma !
tional circuit
Alva Williams still maintains that he is ,
going to regain the use of his throwing ,
arm this coming season. TT feels bet !
ter right now than at any time during | /
spring training the past three years" the
big fellow said. .