Evening star., 1914-05-15
BY j. ED GRILLo.


Manager Griffith has abolished morning
practice. The players are still compelled
to report at the ball park at $50 every
morning, but those who are to play in
the games will not be asked to indulge In
practice or even TO don uniform. The
change of plans went into vogue today
much to the delight of the players. who
feel that they will round into their best
playing form as a result.
Griffith found yesterday that most of
his young pitchers We're suffering from
lame arms. The work of pitching to bat
ters in the morning and afternoon had
told on them and if they are to Ike devel-
oped into useful pitchers a halt on the
| morning work had to be called
This practice of working a lot of play
ers for several hours in the morning after
they have gotten themselves in perfect
psysical condition is believed to be a
serious mistake. 1t has 4 weakening ef-
feet and a PLAYER cannot be expected to
be at his best for game in the after
noon. Hence Griffith has abolished the
morning work and better results from the
team are expected now
Either Joe Engel or Jim Shaw will be
pitted against the White Sox this after
noon. Griffith was not satisfied with the
breaks Shaw got III the game against
Chicago the other day and he may send
him back to avenae himself Shaw will
have 10 show that he has his stuff in
the warm-up. however. before he stands
a chance of being selected
In the event Joe f.ngel is pitched it is
TO be hoped the spectators will be sports
men enough to give the youngster a fair
fore Engel has raised his arm are not
calculated to help his work, and as pres
ent conditions are such that Griffith is
forced to use him because of the disa-
bility of Boehling, the fans might do well
to encourage Engel instead of discourage
ing him.
Doc Ayers not only displayed good
speed and perfect control in yesterdays
game, but also gameness There were
several occasions in that ten-inning strug-
gle when pitcher of less nerve might
have blown up. but Doc was at his best
when the opposition threatened. Though
he allowed one more hit than did Jim
Scott he really outpitched the Chicago
wizard in that he walked one less and
did not weaken at the finish Ayers, in
fact, improved as the game progressed
and undoubtedly gave one of the best
performances of his career.
There were just three occasions when
ming, with two out, Chase hit for three
bases. but Ayers got ri dof Collins In
the second inning Ayers support came
to his rescue. Bodie had started the in
ming with single and Morgan gave AL
cock a life when he fumbled his ground
er. There were none out at the time
but Blackburn hit to Morgan and
double play resulted. while schalk ended
the inning on tap to Mcbride of which
George made a splendid play.
After We No In,
til the tenth when with one out Foster
made wide throw to first which put
Collins on. Bodie flied out and Ayers
walked Alcock. his only walk of the
game. But after working a long while
on Blackburn. he succeeded in striking
him ont.
Jim Scott's pitching would have return
ed the White Sox winners nine times out
often, but 1t was his misfortune to be
hooked UP with Ayers on a day when the
former Richmond star was at his best.
Scott pitched grand game of ball for
all that He displayed rare Judgment in
working the local batters and was not
hit safely until the tenth inning. Scott S
system was to keep his fast ball either
low or high or inside and outside and
break his curve over the plate. But things
broke badly for him in the tenth. when
Gandil singled and Shanks tripled, pro-
ducing the run which won the game
The ball which Howard Shanks hit in
the tenth was high and outside. and un-
doubtedly would have been a ball. Shanks
had two strikes when Scott, no doubt,
tried to fool him into hitting at a bad
ball. but Shanks met 1t and a screeohing
liner to right field resulted which broke
up the game. Shanks is developing into
a free hitter. The ball does not have to
be over the plate for him to get a hit.
and that sort of hitter is always most
dangerous.
1t is questionable II in the seven years
that George Mcbride has been with the
Nationals he has ever played such bril-
Liant ball as this spring. His fielding day