Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-14
TEAM MAY PLAY
ON FIELD TODAY
Griffith Anxious to Get His
Men Outside and Game
Probably Will Be Staged.
CONDITION OF PLAYERS
FAR FROM DESIRABLE
Nationals Kept at Work in Gym
by Wintry Weather-Bentley and
Harper Look Promising.
BY j. ED GRILLo.

the indoor work of Griffiths players
would have to be continued for several
days yet, there is possibility that a
game may be played today. There has
been little letup in the wintry weather.
but Griffith is very anxious to get his
men out and will do so at the very
earliest opportunity. While it was
thought yesterday that there would be
absolutely no chance of getting the
players on the diamond before Monday.
it looks this morning very much as If
the contest scheduled with Virginia Will
be played The Nationals manager is
willing to have the game take place
under unfavorable conditions in order
to give his players some real work.
Conditions have not been satisfactory
here. but Griffith. while showing every
evidence of not being contented, vows
that the Nationals will continue to train
right here. He contends that it Is a
mistake to take ball players south in
the spring. because it affects their
health when they come north, though ne
does not explain why all the other clubs
in the major league, and even the
minors, continue to do Their spring
training in warm cnmate. Conditions
here are the worst imaginable. There
is thaw every morning. which begins
about 10 o'clock and .asts until o'clock
in the afternoon, then a chilly breeze
starts it's work, and by shutdown the
ground is again frozen, while it is cold
ditions the playing field is frozen hard
part of the time and in sloppy con-
dition after the sun has gotten in its
work during the afternoon.
How Ineffective the indoor work Is
will be shown when the players are
forced to go outside and do what they
came here to- do-play ball. Indoor
work has never prepared a ball team
for a campaign. and this trip is not
apt to be an exception.
As matters now stand the team has
but ten more days to stay here. This
means eight working days, for there
are two Sundays. which are spent in
idleness. There is absolutely no as
surance that any of these days will
be put in on the ball field. Il there
is anything which this team needs it
is batting practice, yet it has had but
two days of this work. The season
dinarily would seem time enough to
get a lot of players ready for the cam
paign, but just when the good weather
does start the chances are that the
selves to such an extent that the work
will be harmful instead of beneficial.
Right now the Nationals are far back
in their training. Many of the other
teams have played anywhere from ten
to fifteen games already this spring
and are getting plenty of practice
every day, and not in a gymnasium,
either.
Victor Munoz, a Cuban base ball ex-
pert. who has been visiting the major
league training camps in the south, ar
rived here yesterday. He spent several
days at Jacksonville, where the Athletics
are training. He says that the weather
there is ideal and that Mack's regular
team has already played six full games
and that the rockies have been in twelve
contests. The result is that the players
are about as near perfect condition as
could be expected. At Macon. he visited
the Boston Braves. and Stallings had
his team playing games both morning
and afternoon. Munoz found the ground
covered with snow here and the players
indulging in lot of practice in the gym
nasium. which might be beneficial for
fighters and wrestlers, but which was
never intended for lot of ball players
who are expected to have subtle muscles
I'VE will continue to train here if it
SHOWS every day from now out" is
the way Griffith declared himself. Il
won't take my team farther south.
When that is done there are always a
lot Of players coming back who are
back when they come north and hit
the cold weather. This is an ideal
climate to train in and. while the
weather has been against US this
spring. am sure we would not have a
break like this again in years. 1
have plenty of time to get my play
ers ready. We will have some good
weather here before we leave and then
we have nearly three weeks at home
during which time we are sure to get
the players in shape.
AS a result of a basket ball game
which was put on yesterday morning,
Ben Spencer has a badly wrenched
t,,,,r y, hi
Meisel had the unpleasant experience
of having his hand stepped on, 1t being
badly bruised in consequence.
Since the pitchers have been using
curves in practice it has developed that
at least two of them are a bit shy in
rhis respect. Doc Ayres. for instance.
will have TO improve his hook before
he can expect to hold his own In fast
company. while Herman Schwartz
will have to be taught the art of curv-
ing. Griffith has taken both the young
sters in hand and 1t is expected that
they will overcome this fault before
they leave here.
All the other pitchers appear to be
particularly efficient in this respect
Harper and Bentley. the two southpaws,
can curve the ball around a barrel,
while Dick Williams. whose nickname Is
Mutt" has curve which is sure to
come up to requirements.
About all the players who are not
pitchers are able to do these days is to
indulge In some kind of work in the gym
whfci will bring out sweat. This Is
done by tossing the medicine ball, field
ing grounders and other exercises such as
gym allows But batting practice and
running on soil are out of the question
and, for all the good that is being DONE
the players might as well be at their
homes. Fortunately, all of them are in
good physical condition, and will not re-
quire lot Of hard work to fit them for
playing. n week of good weather would
be Of great benefit. The chances are
that when the team comes home 1t will
be found to be a pale-faced lot. Usually
the spring training causes a lot of tan,
but there has not been enough sunshine
here during the teams stay to bring
about such conditions.
Nick Altrock, who, because Of his many
ears Of experience. ought to know a left
handed pitcher when he sees one, hae
nut his stamp of approval on Jack
BENTLEY and Harry Harper. He predicts
that both of these youngsters will make
good. He has watched their work care
fully and says that the improvement in
both Is remarkable. He Is particularly
taken with the smooth delivery Of Bent
ley. who. he says Will pitch ball fol-
cars and never be troubled with his
arm Bentley's arm, when in action, Is
as easy working as Walter Johnson s
There is no apparent strain. and yet
he gets lot of stuff on the ball
.'wally" Smith, the Atlanta infielder
who Is almost certain to be retained for
utility purposes, Ii one Of the big men
in the squad. Smith IL nearly SIX feet
tall and husky. and vet he Is agile and