The Washington herald., 1914-03-24
Lad Is Sure of Berth with Ma
tionals-Smith for Nc
Brides Understudy.
TWO STIFF WORKOUTS
by WILLIAM PEET.

Emil Meusel will be retained by the
Nationals during the coming season as
utility outfielder. The Pacific Coast
faction of Manager Griffith that he can
hit. and as it has been learned that the
Old Fox will more than likely carry a
couple of extra outfelders, Muesel will be
on the bench during the coming season.
During the batting practice at National
Park yesterday, Griffith kept tabs on
MeuseL who hit every ball on the nose.
and low bridged" a couple Of pitchers.
Meusel looks like a natural hitter. and
he will probably play in more than one
championship game before the 1914 cam
paign comes to a close.
Wally Smith, the Atlanta fence buster,
is being groomed for George McBride's
Gnoerstudy at shortstop. During the
fielding practice yesterday afternoon,
Smith was played in the shortstop posi-
tion and gave a good account of himself.
This does not mean that Joe Gedeon is
to be released. for the peppery youngster
is regarded by Griffith as one of his most
valuable assets, but Smith. on account
of his hitting. has first call on one of the
utility infield jobs. shortstop preferred.
Griff put his players through two stifr
practice periods yesterday, working them
for two hours yesterday morning ana
twice that time in the afternoon.
All the pitchers in the Griffith stable
took turns working out in the morning.
The infield was too soft to admit of prac~
tice so the men were sent to dry spots
in the outfield.
The sun dried things out nicely when
the time came for reporting in the after
noon. and for nearly three hours Griffith
had this regulars bat against the follow
ing pitchers: Engel, Dick Williams, Shaw.
Bentley, Ayers. Boehling, and Mumford.
After the regulars had finished hitting
and fielding, Bert Gallia, Harry Harper,
and Heine Schwartje pitched to the
youngsters until 4:3O o'clock.
Altogether il was a most satisfactory
day for the Old Fox, who announced
just before the players were sent home
that unless rain or snow set in he pro-
posed to stage exhibition games between
the Veterans and Yannigans both to-
morrow morning and afternoon.
Il believe I am going to have the best
season of my career" vouchsafed How
ard Shanks, the Monaca Marvel, TO the
writer last night. Il feel it in my bones
that l am going TO hit, and anybody who
can beat me out of left field position
will have to hustle.
Shanks looked particularly good yester-
day at the bat. He declared that it was
hard at first to see the balls delivered
from the pitchers on account of the fence
background, but that he soon got used to
the difference between National Park and
Lambeth Field at University. Va
According to Billy weart. the baseball
writer of the Philadelphia Telegraph. who
is following the Athletics this spring. the
Chicago Cubs, with whom the Mackmen
have been playing a series of games dur
ing the past week, loom up as possible
pennant contenders in the fast approach
ing National League race. Mr.. Wesrt
SAYS:
THE Chicago Cubs showed during their
games with the Athletics that they are
likely to be a very dangerous contender
in the next National League race. Mana
ger O'Day has bunch Of fine players.
There is only one weak spot in the COM
bination. This is in the infieId.
THE right field side of the diamond,
with Safer on first, and Bill Sweeney at
second. is certain to be well taken care
Of. 1t is on the left field side of the dia-
mond that O'Day is going to have his
trouble. . Hank has tried various shifts,
and he is now going to try to have Zim-
norman play shortstop and Leach third
base. There isn't much doubt about
Leach's ability to cover his position. but
there is grave doubt as to Zimmerman
being able to fill the bill at shortstop.
THE Cubs have a splendid twirling
staf, two great catchers in Archer and
Bresnahan, and fine outfield. The men
are natural hitters, and are speedy on
the bases. If O'Day ever gets a fast
infield working together right. the Cubs
are going to kick up lot of trouble for
the other contenders for the pennant
this year"