The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-04-19

Well, they're of in the American
and National Leagues and the open
ing day crowds seem to indicate that
the Federals haven't taken all the
fans. 1t seems mighty good to me te
be playing again, and ] hope to be
in 154 games this season. There il
nothing important or lasting to be
learned from the first few battles
except that some clubs apparently
are in better condition than others
right now. The race is just begin
ming, so we will wait q week or 30
before seeing how much my dope Of
last week appears to need revision.
To recruits that have survived the
training period without having been
sent back to the minor leagues, the
real test comes now when they set
into games against rival big league
teams. There is little sentiment in
the majors after the real race starts,
because every manager and player
is eager to get the jump in the
spring, and the old-timers 60 after
the recruits in the batting orders in
the hope that these newcomers will
get ratified long enough to make a
slip and turn the tide of the battle
when the break of the game. comes.
Catchers and pitchers roast the
youngster strongest When busher
comes up to the bat In his first game
almost every veteran pitcher SHES one
at his head to see how he acts; II
he steps away and does not fight eack
he is greeted with: We'll. you put your
foot in the water pail that time.
And the next ball Is probably aimed
at his head. too. II a batter's nerve
can be broken during his first few
weeks in the league the pitchers have
weakened an opposing team
the veterans try all sorts Of tricks on
him to get his goat Amy time he is
tagged the ball is put on him hard,
and he doesn't get any more room 60
ing into a base than q mouse can run
through, unless he produces a good
hardware display with his spikes 1t
was this blocking when / first broke
in that has resulted in me sliding high
and with my feet spread. 1t was the
only way l could get any room.
II the recruit happens to be an infield-
er or catcher he gets look at plenty
of spikes and has o chance to listen
to lots OF language before he Is per
mitted to settle down into a regular.
Get out of the way or I'll cut you
In two." Is the favorite remark OF
hau ha live IA
his hardware honed. This does not
tend to help 4 youngster catch a hard
throw, which may be a little bad, and
make the putout. II he misses the
first one, then the whole league Is after
him. and he must show lots of nerve.
There is a catcher who broke IN q
few years ago Who had as hard a time
as any man l ever knew to come and
stay in fast company, but he stuck
by his Job and did not say anything.
and now he Is recognized as one OF
the best In the business. and. believe
me. he Is Just as hard on the young
STEERS today as the veterans OF his
nobody wanted to see this catcher get
along at first. although everybody Is
pulling for him now, as they Will for
a winner.
IF you block me when l slide fo-
the plate. I'll tear your uniform off
Win my SPIKES, slSdIu q iS-
mark to this catcher enc day as he
stepped up for his turn at the bat. The
young catcher said nothing, btu stopped
his pitcher long enough TO put on shin
guards.
The batter got hit and did eventual
ly have to make a slide for the plate
The catcher doomed I'D In his way. and
the base runner came into him spikes
first, expecting him to move. He did
not. and the spikes connected with
shin guard that resulted In a broken
leg for the base runner This catcher
was let alone after that.
Because of the large number OF re-
cruits that have come into the league
this year. IL is hard to give any definite
ideas on the strength of the clubs I'M
til we see how these new men stack
up under fire. Almost ANYBODY can
be a good soldier In an armory. Most
managers are chary about starting the
In the regular games where
the going Is tough and very different
from that 81 ~ mtAaaA uptil they