Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-17
JOE BOEHLING.

him in the games yesterday. To begin
with. Smith has a good position at the
bat and swings perfectly at the ball. and
when it comes to speed Fet it be under
stood that he steps down to first base
| about as fast as any ona on the team.
in the morning game he attracted a lot
of attention when. after hitting slow.
high-bounding srounder To Morgan. at
second. he came within riches of beating
the throw to first. and he as running OH
a path that was far from De!rg thorough
~ dry In the field he also looks good.
and just as soon as he demonstrates that
he has a capable throwing arm he will
undoubtedly land the position OF utility
outfielder.
The chap Meusel. who f.&jls from Cali
:orIlia. is undoubtedly hitter of more
than ordinary ability. He shows this in
pears to be a bit too inexperienced to
have. chance to make the team. He is
d fast youngster. too, and after little
experience he may be developed into a
cracking good bail player
Waiter johnson did not appear in uni
form yesterday. Walter h:.d an invitation
TO take part in fox hunt. s,nd right after
breakfast. mounted on a slack steed, he
left for Col. Sloan's place where the
event was to occur. He did not return
until late in the afternoon! An occasion
al day off is considered bcisefcial for the
Nationals star.
Two more games are scheduled for to-
day. In the morning the: colts and reg
ulars will meet in their clash. and in the
afternoon the regular team is to go
against the Virginia colleg. boys. Griffith
had not decided on his pitchers this
morning for the Afternoon game. but it
would not be at all surprising if Walter
johnson made his appearance on the
slab for a few innings
There seems to be no ts,t;!,t that bet
ter things in batting wa are, to be ex-
pected from Dan Moeller the coming sea-
son. Judging by the way :he is meeting
the ball in the practice ga mes. Dan is
hitting better right now :han any man
on the team. and there IS so reason why
he should not improve as lie goes along.
1t is sure to make a big difference in ne
offensive strength of the club if. Moeler
and Shanks get to goins; with their bats,
for it's certainty that Milan and Eos
ter are in for good season;
The sun is doing its part in making the
athletes look like real ball players. Until
Sunday the sun had no effect on the win
ter bleached compilations q the players.
but during the past two siays evidence
of the tanning process is To be seen, and
by the time the team returns home the
players will look as if tl.ty had spent
some time outdoors.
Manager Griffith is having the most
strenuous time of his experience as the
has the task Of building, up pitching
staff on his shoulders bit he is con-
stantly busy trying to improve the faults
of some of his other players. There are
few idle moments for t.se Nationals
leader these days.
Jack Bentley has devt5oped a slow
ball that he pitches with s.le same mo-
ton as his best speed, WHICH is sure to
prove stumbling block for opposing
batsmen the coming season The Sandy
Spring youngster had it working in the
game this morning. and noC single bat
ter who faced him was a1sie to foul it.
This peculiar delivery sen:ss the hall to
the plate on a retarded journey, though
when he starts 1t from hsl hand it has
all the earnarks of being a fast,
straight one. Bentley has acquired this
delivery this spring. and it is sure to add
| much to his effectiveness. 1t is espe-
cially puEzling in the pin.1lcs. when a
batter sets himself for the pitchers best
speed.
Carl Cashion. though he-tiil not work
in either of the games yesterday. put in
about twenty minutes pis.hing to the
regulars before the afternoon game, and
he created the impression. that he will
have to be .reckoned with sahen the time
comes to pick out the regular pitchers
Working, as he is, undsrhanded and
side-arm. Cashion has world of stuff,
! and his control seems to % better than
previously.
Johnny Mumford. the Wsshington boy.
pitched four innings of :f;e afternoon
game for the regu ars ana made a good
| impression. The youngstesg has a lot of
speed and a good curve baai, and is sure
, to improve in time. Grif11sa thinks well
Of him, and he is pretty ss.re to be one
of the extra pitchers TT be carried
throughout the season.
Valley Smith was played at second and
! first for the Colts, and ice seemed to