The Washington herald., 1914-03-14
Pitcher Paul Musser
Joins Hospital Squad.
None of the Pitchers Are
Ready to Work
Ahead for Grif.
TRAINING CAMP NOTES
BY WILLIAM pEsT.


University Of Virginia. March 1.-THE
hoodoo suppose to be attached TO FRI
day the thirteenth rode into Grin's base
ball camp on horseback today. and while
no catastrophes =: recorded. there Is
hard luck galore about which to write
Late tonight Pitcher Paul Musser COM
planned of a sore throat, and 1t was
learned that he was suffering from ton
solitis. The blond twirler may be forced
TO spend the next few days In bed. Two
of the youngsters were pjured in
basketball game t:iis morning. while Joe
EngeFs sore arm refuses to yield to treat
ment. Outside of all this everything Is
fine and dandy.
There was no outdoor work today for
the reason that a sudden spell last night
transformed Lambeth Field into a skat-
ing pond, and II was not until late this
afternoon that the sun could thaw the
place out
True to his word, Manager Griffith had
n gang of workmen busy scraping on the
surface snow which ue orated the outfield
and tonight the entire ball yard is as gar
rem of snow as is Ray Morgan's head
OF its customary thatch-
There are a few Virginia rooters in
town who predict that ball game Will
is not SO optimistic, declaring that he
will be lucky, indeed, IL he is able to
practice on the green sward-
There is no use dwelling upon unpleas-
ant facts, but the truth remains that
not one of the Washington pitchers Is In
shape right, now to work a nine-inning
ball game, and unless warm weather hits
this camp right soon, Griff is going TO
find himself strictly up against 1t
Walter johnson is taking things easy,
and according to his own statement. VIII
be ready to do himself justice when the
season opens. Joe Boehling is far from
right, while the others, all inexperienced
men with the exception of Engel and
Cashion, have thus FAR shown nothing
but tendency to shoot the ball anywhere
except over the plate. Engel has a sore
arm, and Cashion has not attempted TO
cut loose.
IT is pointed out by Griff and others
that the season does not start until one
month from tomorrow, and that there
still remains plenty of time in which to
round the young pitchers into condition
All of which is very true. but the other
American League clubs who have been
training farther South have been playing
exhibition games for a week and receiV-
ing the benefit of warm weather, gaining
thereby a tremendous advantage over the
Nationals.
Not only has the north pole weather
down here robbed the pitchers of much
needed outdoor work, but the regulars
have been forced to suffer from lack of
batting practice, while none of the out
6elders has even looked at fly ball.
l. f0 "a w
problem. Weather reports indicate that
we are in for a warm spell. and IL no
more snowstorms or freezing winds are
during the next eight work.
ing days the club plans to stay here,
lost ground can be made up.
A rough basketball game this morn
ing resulted in sprained wrists to Emil
Meusel. the Pacific Coast recruit, and
Outfelder Ben Spencer. Neither had
played the game before tackling it down
here, and that they have escaped intu-
ries until today is a wonder. Trainer
Mix Martin says both will be all right
in a short while.
Musser was sent to be Immediately
after dinner and unless the medicine pre- |
scribed by Trainer Martin causes a turn |
for the better, a physician will be sum- |
moned tomorrow morning.
Senior Victor Munoz. sporting editor Of
FL Mundi, the largest morning newspaper
in Havana. Cuba, arrived here today and
will remain with the Nationals until the
club leaves for the Capital |
Il am here TO send back to Cuba re- |
ports of my fellow-countryman Balde- |
nero Acosta and also to tell the readers |
of my paper what the Nationals are doing. |
for everybody in Cuba knows Manager
Griffith. and / venture to say the progress |
of the Washington baseball club last sea- |
son was watched chaser than any other |
team in the major leagues" Senior MunoZ |
told the writer.
Commenting upon the work Of Acosta |
after the Climbers utility ,outielder |
reached Cuba last fall. Nunez said: The !
fans of Havana were at first very much |
with Acosta's work, and
claimed that We sport writers had boost \
ed him to the skies when his playing did /
not warrant. but We kept telling them
that Acosta would soon get started and
play good ball, which the boy eventually /
did, and his poor work was quickly for |
gotten. He helped win a number of
games and finished the season with a
batting average of .2s5.''
Manager Grifith this morning spent a
solid hour coaching his young pitchers,
correcting faults and handing out advice.
Dick Williams and Doc Ayres were the
young men in which he seemed particu-
larly interested. although Jack Bentley
and Johnny Mumford were not over
looked./ |
Today was wally Smiths birthday. He
is twenty-six years old and says that he
feels as young as the other recruits with
whom he lives.