Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-09
OUTDOOR PRACTICE
| IS POSSIBLE TODAY
Griffith Will Try to Get His
Men Out, Despite Poor
Condition of Field.
MILAN'S ANKLE DOES NOT
SEEM TO BE BADLY HURT
He Will Probably Not Lose Days
Work Because of Slight
Twist-Other News.
BY J. ED GR1L1o.

| CHARLOTTESVILLE Va. March o
Practice outdoors on soggy field is
possible this afternoon. Though the snow
| was removed from the infield Saturday,
that part of the playing field was far
from being in condition yesterday, but
Griffith believes that it will be possible
| TO occupy it some time today. The play
ers are decidedly tired of the indoor
work. and, what is more it is too dam
gerous to be INDUCED in much longer.
! The wooden floor is hard on their ankles.
and the practice is SO limited that it is
| questionable whether it is beneficial or
not
! Griffith has once more tabooed the
basket ball games This game is pro-
hibited in the players contracts during
the off season, yet was encouraged by
| Griffith last Saturday, with the result
that Milan hurt his ankle. But in the
future it is not to be played, and there
may not be chance, for the time is on
hand when the players must work out
side, even though conditions are not of
| the best.
| Nl1lans ankle is not as badly injured
as was at first supposed. The rest he
| had yesterday seemed to be good medi-
cine, and the chances are that he will
not lose a days work as a result of the
| injury. Milan cannot afford to be idle
he Is Tar from being in playing condi-
! ton, and is in need of all the work he
| can get before the season opens
| Charley King who furnishes the Ma
tlonais uniforms every year, was down
Yesterday and took the measurements of
/, all the players. Some of them will prob
ably never see the uniforms. but SO that
they Will not become discouraged, Crit
| nth has them all measured and then
| makes his selection as to which are to be
| made later. 1t always has good effect
on the young fellow trying for a job il
| ne Is measured for a uniform, for he gets
| the impression that he is to be retained,
| and consequently hustles all the harder
In the opinion of Walter Johnson, Big
Ed walsh ruined himself pitcher by
warming, up too much Walsh would
warm up every day, whether he was used
! or not, and ! contend that for a pitcher
! to warm up is just as hard on his arm
as II he pitched game. Once pitcher
| goes through the strain of preparing him
| self for a game he might just as wei,
| pitch it, SO far as the hardship on his
arm is concerned Walsh, of course. was
used a great deal in the games, but if
he had taken the proper amount of rest
on days that he did not pitch he would
probably still be able to deliver the
goods
.,o Chick < Gs and , has done but little work
| take kindly to the indoor routine, and is
waiting for the time when the PLAYERS
VIII be able to get outside. Yet Chick
appears 10 be IN better condition now than
| he has been in previous years at this
| time The short stay at West Baden
Springs did him world OF good. and a
week or two Of outdoor work will have
\ 4 c srsNtY9 10
difference in the Nationals offens We
strength if Gandil hits at his usual stride
| at the outset Of the season-something
he did not do last spring.
There was no work yesterday and the
players spent a rather t!resome time Most
OF them attended church in the morning
and lounged about in the afternoon The
of Morgan. Cashier. AinsInitl and Engel,
vocalized for while, but their discords
caused protest to be registered by
some who wanted to spend a quiet day,
and everything was called off.
4 Manager Griffith is particularly anxious
to have Walter johnson ready for one of
the two exhibition games which to
be played in Cincinnati March IS and 20.
Walter Is being advertised to appear in
one of these games, and, while Griffith
than three or four innings, he wants him
to be at his best. Griffith formerly man
aged the Cincinnati team. and he Is par
ticularly anxious to have the Nationals
make "a good showing there. Johnse n
Usually rounds into form easily. and by
that time he ought to be ready to go the
entire route.
Lee, the young outfielder and Martin.
the semi-pro intielder. are hardly ripe for
the big league, and yet both Of them
appear to be coming stars, who need
seasoning. There is not chance OF
tors taaiy, foi nod
but it is more than likely that when
Griffith gets through they will be farmed
out and a string kept on them.
Euly Allen, who had a trial with the
Nationals last spring and was then sent
to Montreal. only to be recalled. will
/ leave shortly for Los Angeles, where he
is to play this season. Allen. in fact. is
now virtually the property of the Los
Angeles club. but under the rules he had
| to be given a trial before he could be
| dropped back to the minors. Allen is
going to make a good player some DAY.
| His only weakness now is his miserable
fielding.
Ray Morgan had his head clipped the
first day in. He seemed to figure that
the summer was due to arrive, but erred
in this, and since then has been suffer-
ing a great deal from the cold.
| The Nationals speed merchants, Milan
and MOelier, nave hau no opportunity "
stretch their limbs since joining the squad
here as neither of them has had chance
to get outdoor practice. Base runners OF
| their ability need lot of running during
the training season to make them supple.
and they are missing it much during the
present inclement spell. which keeps
them indoors.
Nick Altrock returned to camp last
night without Germany Schaefer Nick
reports that Schaefer is on his way to
Chicago. where he is to attend another
banquet, after which he intends to go to
West Baden Springs. Ind. before report
ing here Schaefer says that he has
been banqueted so much that he needs
the water treatment to prevent him get
ting the govt. He is expected here in
| about ten days.
Magee to Captain Phillies.