Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-01
YOUNG PITCHERS
HAVE DONE WELL
Week of Training Has Put
Criffith's Recruits in Good
Physical Condition.
MAJORITY ARE YOUNGSTERS
WITH LITTLE EXPERIENCE
Ryan and Altrock Given Credit for
Having Handled Squad to
Advantage.
Special Dispatch to TIE Star.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va,
February 28. This morning
dawned with the prospects the
poorest since Tuesday as far as
the weather is concerned, but this
did not prevent the Nationals from
taking their practice outside. The
atmosphere was a little raw all
day and the sky was full of
clouds, but up to a late hour to-
night no rain had fallen and the
indications were that it would
clear up before morning. Perhaps
little rain would do the base bali
ground more good than harm at
this time, as there is yet a bit Of
frost in the field and it would tend
to thaw it out thoroughly, while
it would not inconvenience the
PLAYERS at all, since they would
not use the field on Sunday under
any conditions.
The squad used the road again
today for its workout, but on
account of the chill in the air
Ryan cut the handling Of the ball
a little short and sent the boys
on a longer run up the road: Some
OF them engaged in a little game
OF hand bali in the dressing room
after the practice. The room has
a concrete floor with a smooth
board wall at one end which was
probably constructed for that pur-
pose. Since Manager Griffith gave
orders for them to stop playing
basket ball they will substitute
the less dangerous game when
forced to stay indoors.
Players Have Done Well.
On the whole. the weeks work has been
very satisfactory, according to Jack
Ryan. Things looked badly at the start
when the boys ran into a snowstorm on
their arrival Monday. which continued
Ni'sAA s4iS AiS~S icy, Ooe StluSQ up Win a
flourish. They went outside on Thursday
and. as Jack says. would not have gone
out until that date had it been clear. be-
cause OF the fact that 1t was the first
eae:cise for the most Of them. and have
held their practice in the open every day
since. Considering the fact that this is
the only snow Charlottesville had seen
this year, Manager Griff1th was rather
ueky IN al havip. vi it disappear dis as quickly
Twelve young pitchers, all of whom are
ready for stiff work, and not a single
one reporting the slightest ailment or
lameness- This is probably the first sea-
son that such state Of affairs has
existed after the first week of training
and usually the managers are worried for
rear that some promising candidate has
injured his arm permanently.
Most Of the credit for the excellent con-
dttion Of the youngsters is due Coaches
Ryan and Altrock, rather than the train.
ING camp. 1t seemed that neither could
Dc too careful in handling the boys, and
the first time they caught one letting out
90 much they warned him not to repeat
the offense under penalty of being sent
70 the gymnasium with four or FIVE extra
APPS tackled on his journey around the
running track.
Three Of the Nationals recruit pitchers
are not strangers to Washington, they
having been with the team before at
one time or another. These are Shaw,
Ayers and Musser Shaw WAS with the
club last year during the training season
and looked good. but was a little too
green for fast company and Griffith sent
him to the minors year to get seasoned.
He has put on lot of weight and
should show marked Improvement MUS
ser was with the club couple Of wears
ago. and he was lacking In the same
phase However. he had fine season
with the Des MoireS club last season. and
u was decided TO try him out again this
rear. Most OF us know Doc Ayers and
his performance last year in Richmond.
80 il goes without saying that he will
es . d,sappointfnent If he fails to stay
No Selections Possible,
In trying to select the pick Of the twiri.
ers IN camp at present one has a PROPOSE
uon that is not an easy one to tackle.
VI the new men, practically none OF them
has had much experience in professions,
oal'' and hence 1t is impossible to deter.
lnlhe the matter from their past records.
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