Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-02
Abandons Hope Signing Pitcher Bob Groom for Coming Season
GRIFFITH ALMOST GIVES UP
HOPE OF LANDING GROOM
Says He Is at Loss Understand the Pitchers Attitude
Who, 1t Appears, Has Really Signed With the Fed
cras-Ryan Says Rookie Pitchers Are Not in Shape.

, Trainer Jack Ryan. He says that it is
| true the youngsters have done a lot of
work which is beneficial, but he is candid
| enough to admit that it will be at least
| eight or ten days before there will be
chance for any Of them to cut loose and
let their arms out. 1t may be that when
this is done that some of them will suf-
fer with the usual sore arm, for he argues
that to date not enough use has been
| made of their arms to lame the muscles.
On the whole the youngsters have de-
rived some benefit from their short stay
here, but ii is out Of the question to make
any predictions as to their value as pitch
ers for next season.
John Henry and Griffith came down yes
terday. Griffith will remain until We'd
, ington to bring down the rest of the
squad. In the meantime George Mcbride
will be in charge at headquarters and
look after the youngsters and older play
ers who are expected to report from now
on.
Carl Cashion is confident that Griffith's
decision to allow him to pitch underhand-
ed exclusively will make him a big league
pitcher. Carl argues that his greatest
success when in the minors was achieved
by this kind Of delivery, and he believes
that ii he is allowed to practice in this
way that he will be able to hold his own
when the season opens. Cashion is not
near as big as he was last season. He
has lost considerable weight and seems
ready. so far as condition is concerned.
to go any route. But even if the big fe!-
low should not come up to expectations as
pitcher. he seems pretty well assured
of a position with the team, for Griffith
Is thinking of carrying couple of extra
men to use in pinches at the bat. and
Cashion. with proper batting practice.
might make a valuable man in that re-
Spect.
Howard Shanks. looking as fit as if the
season had but closed. came into the
camp yesterday morning. The Monaco
Marvel has entirely recovered from the
weak ankles which kept him out of the
game on numerous occasions last season.
and he hopes to have the best season of
his career. The bad luck which has
followed me ever since have been play
ing regularly for Washington is about
due to shake me-" he said. Il know
that l have been hitting much better
than the averages would tend to indi-
cate. but somehow or other the pesky
sphere would not go safely when it
meant runs for US. There ought to be a
change in my favor. and I certainly am
going to try hard to bring this about.
Any of the outfelders who come here to
beat me out will have to show whole
lot more than I can deliver That you
can bet on.
Merito Acosta the Cuban is also here.
confidence. Acosta sees no reason why
he should not be able to get one of the
regular positions in the outfield. lie says
he knows a lot more about the game now
than he did when he first came up here.
and that the games he played this win
ter did much to develop him. Manager
Griffith is rather impressed with Acosta.
The Cuban is growing steadily and will
soon be of average size. so that he will
not be handicapped much longer by the
fact that he is light.
1t is sure to be several days Yet before
the players will be able to take the Gus
tolnaTy work outs on the ball field The
frost has not yet come out of the ground,
which causes the field to be soggy and
soft. But work to hurry along the dry
ing-out process is being pushed, and the
chances are that if present weather con-
ditions continue the field can he used by
the time the entire squad has reported
here Thursday night or Friday morning.