Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-07
Nationals Put in Strenuous
Hours of Practice in U. of
v. Gymnasium.
PLAYERS KEPT INDOORS
BY HEAVY FALL OF SNOW
Cashi0n Seems to Have Acquired
Better Control-Johnson Does
His First Work.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

CHARLOTTESVILLE Va. March -
The Nationals training is sure to be con-
fined to indoors for the next few days at
least. For forty-eisht hours the snow
has been falling, and even after il clears
and the sun gets to work it will require
several days before the players can ven
ture into the open.
Under the circumstances. some decid
eddy beneficial work is being done All
day long yesterday the players were at it
in the gym, and it was tired lot which
crept into the blankets after the dinner
hour. That this indoor work will eventu-
ally get the pitchers into fairly good form
is the belief of Griffith and it will also
harden the other players. but of course
il is not the kind of practice that ball
players need most to get them into play
ing fettle.
The pitchers are now taking two twen-
ty-minute workouts with the catchers
each day, besides playing for ten or tif-
teen minutes with the medicine ball,
which is one of the most strenuous eXer
cises a man can take The out and in
fielders do the same sort of work, and. in
addition put in some time fielding ground
ers which are hit at them BEING in a
warm gym. brings the perspiration out
in drops, and it. therefore IS most bene-
fetal. though of course it does not bring
in playing ball. But there is nothing Use
to be done for the present. There is not
a chance to work outside, Griffith is
giving his charges large doses of indoor
work.
Yesterday was Walter Johnson's first
day of training, and he put in a most
strenuous time. In the morning he work
ed for fully twenty minutes with the
medicine ball, which brought him into
sweat. Then he pitched for another
twenty minutes to John Henry. John
sons speed. even when he is apparently
tossing the ball. is far above the aver
age. and caused the youngsters to stand
by with open-mouthed astonishment. The
great pitcher is incessant worker
during the training period He does not
need to be urged to keep busy. for once
he gets into his uniform he thinks of
nothing else but work. johnson reported
here about eight or nine pounds short of
his playing weight, but ne argues that |
he always takes on this much soon after
he gets into training. Johnson, unlike
most pitchers. has never suffered with a
lame arm. This is no doubt largely due
to the fact that he takes the best of
care Of it. He goes through his graceful
pitching motion and uses the entire body,
even when he is only warming up. and
there is not the slightest evidence of a
strain.
The brunt of the work naturally falls
nearly fifteen pitchers to be worked out
twice day, and each one of them takes
about fifteen to twenty minutes work.
-Ainsmith. Henry and Williams are natur-
ally kept pretty busy with this work.
and. in order to keep them from grow
ing stale. Griffith has ordered that they
must not indulge in any of the other
exercises. About ten days of this sort
of work is sure to have the catchers
ready. as none of them looks as il he
had any weight to take off.
In order to proven, as little water as
possible from settling on the infield at
Lambeth field Manager Griffith yester-
day had a squad of men rolling up huge
snowballs from the diamond. This work
was continued all day long and it will not
that portion of the field in playing condi-
tion, once the warm weather sets in.
II Car, Cushions indoor performance
can be taken as a criterion, the chances
that he will be Of value to the pitch
ing staff this season The big Carolinian
rot only displays remarkable speed in
his work. but he appears to have better
control than ever before. He seems to
have grown accustomed to the underhand
and side-arm motion which he is to use
This coming season, and he really looks
like an entirely different pitcher His
arm. which, heretofore, has always ap-
peared to be hindered by some sort of a
hitch. is now working smoothly. and as
said before. it would not be surprising if
ne came through and proved valuable
edition to the pitching STAFF
Emil Meusel and Wallie Smith are by
the most likely looking recruits in
ne camp. AS yet neither has been seen
II action, but they look like ball players
or all that Smith has had some expe-
fence. is a good-sized fellow and in the
;outhern League had the reputation of
'eing one Of the most timely hitters
~ r.
lave lot Of confidence and seems to
harbor no doubt about his ability to make
GOOD In fast company.
Lee. the young outfielder picked up in
New Jersey, is hardly old enough to
stand much Of a chance to make the team
this year, though he is apt to show
enough to warrant his being farmed out
and developed. On the whole the pres
emit crop Of youngsters is likely looking
lot, though. Of course. 1t is not to be ex-
pected that more than a few of them
will be retained when the season opens.
Grimth Is very apt, though, to carry
large pitching corps until he is satisfied
that he is well fortified in this respect
Big Herman Schwartz. while a green
hand at the pitching game is a boy of
lot Of ability. The youngster is six
feet three in his stocking feet and has
an enormous physique which accounts
TOT his great speed But as vet he has
he will have to learn before he can hope
10 make a showing in the big league
Grif1th contends that Schwartz's style
is much like that Of Ed Ruelbach, the
former Cub pitcher. and II he ever at
tains his ability there will be no doubt
about his making good with the team.
But the chances are that Schwartz will
need year or SO in minor league to
be developed.
Paul Smith. the outf1elder obtained from
the South Michigan League is a good
looking. rosy-cheeked youngste-. who is
stoutly built. He looks to be fast on his
feet in the gym workouts and has the
reputation of being a good hitter. He
will have a better chance to show when
he gets to work on the field.
There is no buster man in camp than
Mike Martin. With thirty-five ball play
ers to look after the popular trainer Of
the Nationals does not get much time to
himself. After each workout every play
er Is placed on the rubbing table and
thoroughly massaged. The greatest care
IS given the pitchers arms by Mr. Martin
and gallons of alcohol and liniments are
rubbed into their skins by him every
day.
In addition to the rubbing Martin is an
.~Vll