Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-04
Indications Are That the Scheduled
Contest Will Not Have to Be
Postponed.
BY J. ED GRILLo.

ers. In fact. it was the most satisfactory
practice the youngsters have had since
their stay here. While the playing field
is still soft and full of frost, there is a
good chance of it being put in shape
within the next few days. Coach Ryan
had force of men working on it yester-
day. and there was evidence of drying out
in spots.
: But it is most likely that the prep field,
which is right behind Lambeth field and
is protected from the wind, will be the
first used. There is heavy cushion of
grass on the soil, and the drainage there
appears to be superior to that of the
regular field. There is. however, no dia-
mond laid out on it, though this would
not interfere with batting and infield
practice, in which Griffith is sure to have
his regulars indulge just as soon as pos
sible. Though the remainder of the team
is due here early Thursday afternoon, it
is not likely that any of the players who
arrive at that time will be asked to start
their work until the following morning.
and by that time there is at least
chance of the field being dry enough to
allow them to begin practice.
Two twenty minute sessions of warm
ing UP by every one of the eleven pitch
ers was made possible yesterday. and
courts there is a frame running track on
which the recruits worked out and the
sun was hot enough to make it >possible
to bring out the perspiration, the first
experience of this kind which members
of the squad have had this spring. Ain
smith. Henry and Gallia did the receiv
ing. and the pitchers We're allowed to use
a fair turn of speed. Curving, of course
is not yet allowed. The twist which this
sort of delivery requires plays havoc
y,
strain. and for this reason will be tabooed
until week or SO from now.
The most changed pitcher in the squad
of recruits is Harry Harper. Ever since
Griffith and Altrock succeeded in con-
vincing him that that herky -jeriiy pre-
liminary motion was detriment. and
that he would fare better if he would
pitch straight away, Harper has been
practicing the new motion. and the prog
ress he has made is remarkable. Harper,
like Bentley, now has free and easy
swing, which not only increases his speed
but does not cause the fatigue which
comes with a lot Of useless motions. 1t
would not be at all surprising il Harper
developed into a regular. He seems to be
able to control the ball much better since
adopting the new motion than he could
with the old. and lack of control was one
of his weaknesses last season.
AS is usually the case. the first sore
arm u ne hangs 10 one Oh the
inexperienced youngsters Herman
Schwartz is the owner. Pitchers who
have been in base ball a year or so soon
learn the art OF protecting their salary
whips during spring training. 1t does not
do to let out the speed propellers until
they have been properly seasoned. Young
sters do not realize this fact. and are apt
to cut loose at top speed the first day
out. Schwartz made this mistake, AID as
a result he has been forced to place
MI Tor IN h Shnlf l6er oil tote
pain.
While it is not likely Manager Griffith
will call upon Nick Altrock to do any
pitching. the veteran says he is in bet
ter form right now than he has been in
several years To see him warm up
with one OF the catchers would not lead
any one to believe that Nick's pitching
days were over. He appears to have re-
covered all his speed and though he has
had only weeks work. he is already
using curves and change of pace, both
OF which deliveries are hard on the arm.
Nick is an incessant worker. He does
more of it thap any other member Of the
squad. When he is not instructing one
of the youngsters he is working out with
one of the catchers.
There was time in base ball when it
required every bit of six weeks to get
ball team in condition. and frequent
of the players showed their best form.
Those were the days when players did
not take the game seriously as they
do today. and violated all training rules
during the off season. The result was
that they reported high in flesh in the
spring and it required lot Of real hard
work to get them down to playing form.
The strain of accomplishing this natural
ly ebbed away much of their vitality, and
they were slow to get into condition.
Sc n 1nyzra n xyS hn hal
players always report in fairly good
condition in the spring and it only re-
quires short session of training to fit
them. 1t is a rarity now to see
player of aldermanic proportions in
uniform. and, as a result. they get into
form much more quickly. and, incidental
ly, their careers on the diamond are
prolonged.
Acting under instructions from Man
ager Griffith, Eddie Ainsmith is taking
matters comparatively easy. He is do
ing his share in handling the deliveries
of the pitchers. but is not indulging in
any strenuous work as he did on former
(, training occasions. Ainsmith is to have
| hard season if he shows the proper
, form, and Griffith wants him to take it
| easy now SO that he will be in his best
f; condition and ready to go the route when
! the schedule opens.
| Henry. his catching mate, is working
harder than ever. He has only been here
| two days but he is usually the first
| one in uniform and the last one to re-
/ turn to the gymnasium.
! Jim Shaw is naturally Il slow beginner
| in the spring of the year. He is one of
| those pitchers that require Il lot of easy
work to get them on edge, and Trainer
| Martin is seeing to it that he works
| slowly and carefully. Shaw is, in the
| opinion of many of the older members
! of the team. one of the most promising
young pitchers in the country. and he will
| show to advantage if he is carefully pre-
i pared for the season.
| That Dick Williams and Bert Gallia
are slated to do all the pitching in the
| early games scheduled for the Nationals
| with the Virginia collcsians seems as
j sured. Both of them had been working
a month or SO before reporting here and
| are on edge to let themselves out. The
| first game the Nationals are scheduled to
| play is that next Saturday. though, of
course. it depends largely on what condi-
ton the grounds are in whether there
Twill be a postponement or not. The regu-