The Washington herald., 1914-02-28
RYAN PLEASED
With RECRUITS
Veteran Predicts Nationals
Will Win Opening Practice
Game from Virginia.
TRAINING CAMP GOSSIP
By STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

Charlottesville. Va. Feb. $50 pleased
] is Acting Manager Jack Ryan, Of the
Nationals, over the showing Of the young
pitchers up to date, that he is today
| freely predicting an easy victory fol
Washington against the University Of
meet on Lambeth Field Saturday week.
for the first practice game of the season.
''Of course the young pitchers will be
in fair shape, but how can the veterans,
with only two days work, be In condition
to play good ball." Ryan was asked.
The easiest thing in the world. All
the old-timers need to do is to throw the
ball across the diamond to complete a
play, and I think they will be able to do
that with the kind Of pitching these
youngsters will show" he replied.
Ryan is also the coach of the Virginia
team. and will assume charge Monday.
He thinks that with the material left
over from last season, a representative
nine can be turned out.
Things cleared up in fine shape today.
and the boys had by far the best workout
since reporting. Coach Ryan took them
out on the board track for the morning
routine, and stayed longer than at any
previous day. He also heightened the
period in the afternoon. At the latter time
he used the road in front OF the gym in
stead of the board track. as there was
much more room, and it was more satis-
factory all around
The road dried out nicely by noon so
there was no danger of the players TAX
ing cold by. standing there. Jack went
down to inspect Lambeth Field several
times again today and came back with
the report that he thought il best not
to use it before Monday. He also looked
over the other diamond Just below Lam
beth Field and seemed to think 1t would
be ready for use tomorrow. This field
is not in the best of shape for playing,
but the object in taking these pitchers
there at this time Is to relieve the mono
tony by having a little batting practice,
and 1t will serve as well as the regular
field for that purpose.
One would think Trainer Martin was
trying to develop a bunch of Marathon
runners rather than baseball players to
see them hiking up and down the roads
around the university after every prac-
tice.
Doc Ayers is the heaviest man on the
squad. though he is only five or six
pounds overweight, in his opinion, and
he and Shaw bear the brunt OF the track
work.
1t seems that the boys cannot hold
themselves in no matter how hard they
try. 1t was very warm today and they
all felt good and wanted to let out.
Mumford kept whirling them over, and
though Ryan warned him after nearly
every ball he threw. the latter had to
send him In early, as Johnny insisted in
putting on too much steam. The veteran
did 1t more to show he meant what he
said than anything else, as afterward he
admitted he was pleased to find that the
youngster had SO much smoke with the
little excrtion he used.
Since the work has been rotnr on out-
side. the squad has quite a number Of
onlookers who come up to watch them
every day, and the chances Of each mem
Der Tor making good Is threshed out by
the fans.
II the weather continues as perfect for
the next day or so as IL has been for
the last two, Acting Manager Ryan Is
looking for some of the regulars to come
down before February s. This is too good
to be wasted, and from the changeable
nature Of the climate there is no tell
ng when another cold spell will reach
Charlottesville although the town
predict that spring has come.
Nick Altrock seems to have taken per-
sonal charge OF Jack Bentley. the south |
paw from Sandy Spring. as he never al |
ows Bentley out Of his sight and treats |
him like he was in a glass case. Being |
/ portsider himself. Nick can do more |
Tor him than any one else.