Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-13
IS SATISFIED WITH
TRAINING GROUNDS
Griffith Insists That He Has
No Intention of Seeking
Other Quarters.
SAYS PRESENT CONDITIONS
AVE VERY UNUSUAL
Charlottesville Regarded Genarally
Free of Cold Weather at This
Time of the Year.
BY ]. ED GR1LLo.

CHARlOTTESNiLLE. Va March Is
Notwithstanding the fact that conditions
here have not been of the kind that a
team would want for spring training,
Manager Griffith insists that lie has no
intentions of leaving here or searching
for some other place to have his team
do its spring preparatory work Char
iottesville Seems to suit the Nationals
chief even though to date the present
stay of the team here has been an abom-
inable failure. 50 far as being able to
do outdoor work is concerned
Griffith considers present conditions nn-
usual. and he figures that similar state
of affairs will not exist here in years
That Charlottesville has many virtues
that other training camps cannot boast
Of when the weather is favorable is one
contention made by Grih. and he is very
emphatic about saying that in all proba-
bilits the team will return here next sea-
son. and that it viii he in good shape
before it leaves here this spring.
All of which ma he true. A change
for the better seems assured and it is
likely that by Saturday the players will
be outdoors again. once the warm wealth
er sets IN ii is not going to take long
to get this outfit in playing condition
There has beer enough work done in the
gym to harden the muscles. and all the
PLAYERS now need is q big dose of real
base bail to fit them Tor the campaign.
Ten days or so of good weather here will
bring this about, and Griff says that it
is coming.
All day yesterday. while the thaw was
in operation. a large force of men were
clearing the snow of the inield BY night
to give the sun chance to do its drying.
1t is believed that BIZ Saturday after
noon the field will be i'll condition for
play. in which event the first game of
the season will be played with Virginia.
This is about the fifth time since the
Nationals have been here that the feld
has been cleared of snow. On every other
occasion when this laborious tas:i has
been finished the weather man has
laughed up his sleeves and proceeded
20 replace the white covering. But Giif
figures that these pranks have run their
course and that the future promises a
run of good weather. Here's hoping.
echo all the fans.
There is not d pitcher in the squad
who is not tit TOW to pitch a complete
game. From Walter Johnson down to
the humbiest rookie. condition is evil
dent, and this. at least. has been ac-
coInplished by the indoor work. 1t was
interesting and encouraging to watch the
pitching squad work out YESTERDAY Every
one OF the tHirlers showed a good turn
Of speed. and. under orders, curved a few.
y pitchers arm is in pretty good shape
when il can hook the ball, as il is
called. and there was an abundance of
this kind of pitching yesterday. Even
Walter johnson ct himself out and,
With a bright sunshine, the gym was
light. the catchers not being handi-
capped.
promising Young pitcher in Dick Williams
is generally conceded by the older play
ers who have seen him in action. Will
liams is tall. long-armed fellow who
has a world of speed. He can pitch
both over and under hand and also has
peculiar shoot sure to make him eff
fective. To help his speed along he has
most deceptive curve which he can
throw over. uHderhand and side arm, and
when mixed UP with his good speed there
is no doubt about his ability to NOV
down opposing batsmen. But of course.
Williams is a green hand and will need
lot of coaching before he will be able
to cope with the major league teams. But
he is an apt pupil and willing worker and
should be some pitcher before the season
is very old.
Henry Collier. the Georgia collegian
who Joined the team Wednesday night.
had his first workout yesterday morning
and he made 4 decidedly good impress
sion Collier is tall. has lot of speed
and having been pitching for the past
two weeks. was at liberty to display
few curves. It was these qualifications
that made n hit with Griff. Golfers
curves are wide and his delivery is nat
ural. OF course just how good he is in
the box will not be shown until he faces
a few batters. but there is good chance
for him to develop.
In order to help the pitchers gain con
troll Griffith stations man with bat
in front of the catcher. This scheme
is bringing about remarkable results and
some of the tWirlers who have been weak
in the matter of control are showing
more accurate work.
Though all the work done during the
past two days has been in the gym, it
has been Of the most strenuous nature,
and when time has been called the en-
tire squad has been soaked in perSpra-
ton. Aside from the battery men. the
other players have been given enough
to do to make them tired when evening
comes and this work is to be increased
just as soon Al the weather permits them
to get outside
1t would not be at all surprising if the
Nationals would have the assistance of
three left-handed pitchers this year in
stead of one, as was the case during the
last season. There is. Of course, no doubt
that Joe Boehling will come back. but
he is to have two most capable running
mates in Harry Harper and Jack Bent
ley The work of these two young sters
is the talk of the camp. Both have shown
so much Improvement that they seem to
be seasoned pitchers now. while last fall
they gave every evidence of being in
need of experience. Harper. who has
dropped that herky-jerky movement. has
developed wonderfully and it would not
be at all surprising TO see him make
good from the outset of the season.
Bentley has wonderful lot OF ability
and no one seems to doubt his making
good.
Let these ieft-handers come through
and Griffith will have 4 wonderful
pitching staff for there are several
rlcht-handcrs aside from Walter John
son. who give promise. \ team which
has four or five successful pitchers to be
worked in regular rotation IL always
hard to beat, and it must be said to the
credit of the Nationals that there Is not