Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-18
GR|FF'S PITCHERS
ROUNDING TO FORM
Johnson, Shaw and BoehIing
Do Effective Work in
Practice Games.
VETERANS NOT HITTING
AS WELL AS EXPECTED
Neither Morgan Nor Gandil Has
Begun to Clout the Ball as
Both Will Later.
BY ]. ED GRILLO.

| D < u. ELL 06k1AAO.
| CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, March 1S.-
That the Nationals pitching staff is
gradually getting into it's best form was
demonstrated by at least two Of its
members, Walter johnson and Jim
Shaw, in the game against Virginia yes
terday. Johnson pitched the first three
innings and Shaw the last one. One
hit, a clean single by Neff, was charged
against Johnson, while he struck out
| five and did not allow a run. Shaw
was not hit safely while he officiated on
the rubber, though he walked a man.
Both of these twtrlers appeared to be
in midseason form, though neither re-
sorted to anything in the way of de-
ception, fast straight ball proving suf-
tcient to battle the collegians.
i Carl Cashion, who spent three innings
on the slab, sandwiched between John
son and Shaw, was not SO successful. He
did nicely for a couple Of rounds, but
was hit numerically in his third, when
a double was followed by two triples
and couple Of singles, which netted Vir-
GINA her only runs, and tied the score.
Cashion, as usual, was none too steady,
and 1t was when he aimed the ball over
! that he was hit hard He did not resort
to curving, either, but what speed he
used was not sufficient to stop the COL
/ legianS advance This performance
should not be taken as a. criterion of
| Cushions ability.
| 1t seems impossible to get a major
league team to extend itself and try
in these exhibition games. The players
handle what comes their way and make
an effort to bat, but there is no life in
| their work, and their only anxiety seems
| to be to hurry the game along and get
| it over. Hence. these exhibitions are a
disappointment to any one who expects
to see a major league team in action. 1t
is true, of course. that they furnish good
training work for the players, but that
is all they are intended for, and all the
players care to make them.
! Yesterday was the third successive
day that the squad has been working
outdoors. Incidentally it was the first
| taste of real training that the players
consideration their showing is far be-
yond expectations The fielding Is all
that could be expected, but the bat
| ting is still far below the standard.
| for the very players who are expected
to carry the team along in an offensive
way are not hitting at all Games Will
| be played every day If the weather
permits, and by the end of the week
fair clip in every respect. Today there
| will be another game between the
| Colts and Vets in the morning and the
| regulars will clash for second time
with the Virginia team In the after
noon. These games furnish a splendid
/ opportunity for the young pitchers to
become familiar with their surround
| ings in the center Of the 1nfleld. IT
| teaches them to watch the bases, and,
| incidentally, gives them an idea as to
the location of the home plate, which
Is invaluable.
J,v
nized as the Nationals two most va1u-
able hitters, are far from being in
form. Both are poor spring h1tters,
and, as yet. have not struck their
of the low scores the Nationals are
making Gandil is never able to do
any stickwork until he has been train
ing for about month. and Morgan
seems to be similarly inclined.
Clyde Milan, in fact. appears to be
the only member of the regulars who
Is in d hitting mood. and ne Is step
ping into the ball as If he mad been
the others will come around, and runs
! will be more plentiful.
In the morning game there were four
double pays. three Of which were made
by the Colts infield-Gedeon, Wally
Smith and Meusel. The Vets also got one:
C;edeon. Smith and Meusel worked well
together. though first base is new to the
Californian, who Is mere TO try 1or an
outfield position.
| That Griffith will add valuable play
err to his string if he succeeds in Inducing
Cant Neff of the Virginia team to join
his forces after the college season is over
is the opinion of every one who sees the
little fellow in action He is not only a
good hitter. but Il splendid fielder, and
he has one of the best arms ever seen
in base ball. 1t is understood that Ner
has expressed d preference for WASH
ington, if he ever plays professional pail,
and it is limited that he will be given a
trial in June, when he graduates here.
Nef got the on'y single made OH john
son yesterday. and he hit for two bases
against Cashion: he could not solve
Shaw, though he hit the ball hard.
4! The time is not far off when Merito
Acosta will be holding down one of the
outfield positions on the team as a reSu-
lar. The ability of the little Cuban is
such that it is no easy matter to keep
him out of the lineup, notwithstanding
his youthfulness Today there Is not
one of Grifith's outfielders more compe-
tent in the handling Of ground balls or
throwing from the outf1eld. while in the
matter Of covering ground on fly balls he
has few equals.
Acosta's throw in the morning game
Yesterday by which he landed Gandil
at the plate, was brilliant piece of
work He not only handled the ball per-
fectly but got it away on its journey in
an instant. and the throw was perfect
and to the mark.
What is more. the little fellow has
learned to hit. Griffith told him last fall.
when he left for Cuba. to practice hard
hitting all winter Up to that time