Evening star., 1914-03-11

certain spot, and IT is interesting to see
how successful he is in this respect.
Hughey Jennings recognized Foster S
ability as batter the first year Eddie
was with the Nationals. for at one of the
meetings of the Tigers he. told his play
ers to- watch Foster in the preliminary
practice and they would find that he was
never trying to get long drives. but just
practicing in poking the ball into some
particular field: This has helped to make
him one of the most valuable battel's in
the league for the ilit-and-Tun game
1t will rot be at all surprising il How
ard Shanks shows marked Improvement
with the bat this season. The Monaco
fielder is determined TO overcome his
weakness at the plate, ard is practicing
hard with this in view. In practice How
ard Is hitting the ball hard. and he In
tends to put in an hour or. SO every day
batting against good pitching, in the hope
that he will get. into his stride by the
time the season opens. Howard has all
the other players pulling for him, for
they realize what difference it would
make in the Nationals chances if he
should hit well up with the leaders in
Shanks already outciasses any left gar
dener in the league, and if he can get
himself to hit bit more timely he will
be star of the first water.
While 1t is bit early to make any
sele ctions from the squad of rockies, it
is fairly good guess to. say that Wallie
Smith and Paul Smith will be retained
for utility purposes. This pair Of .name-
sakes looks to have something on the
other youngsters, not only in, experience
but in. natural ability Wallie Smith
proved himself cleanup hitter in the
Southern League last season, and would
be just the kind of a man Griffith would
want on the bench to jump into the line
up in the event of emergency. What is
true of Wallie is true of Paul, though he
is a younger and less experienced player.
Ing season for Joe Gedsen. Not only does
Joe have to work in other positions, hut
Griffith is also using him behind the bat
In batting pratice. and Gedeon makes, a
fairly good showing there. One has to
admire the hustle about the California
lad. He is always on the 80, and his
encouraging shouts can be heard all over
the field Griffith, who ought to be a
good judge Of a ball player. predicts that
in time Gedeon will develop into a good
player. <.st, So 7s
George Mcbride has the most RE-
markable throwing arm Of any ball play
ar that has ever come under my OBJ
servation." remarked Manager Gsrinth.
while watching the infield practice yes
terday. mo matter whether It is March
or July, George can always throw like
a catapuit. is accurate and does not
suffer the slightest strain. He can throw
from any position and has as strong an
arm as any infielder in the world, and
that, too, after about eight years OF
activity on the diamond. It is all due
to the fact that in throwing he uses
his entire body, thus relieving the strain
on the arm The last thing to, give out
about Mcbride is sure to be his throw
ing" - -
Jack Ryan got into harness yesterday.
and during the entire batting practice
in the afternoon did the catching. hand
ling the deliveries OF Gailia, .Ayres and
an experienced catcher can sbee of great
help to the young pitchers. SO that Ryan
is probably slated for lot of work
this spring. 49,
It will only be few days until the
pitchers will be allowed to cut loose at
full speed and use their curves and all
other deliveries that they have In their
repertoire. It is figured that with a few
more warm days the pitching arms Will
be sufficiently strengthened to allow some
liberties with them. and. incidentally. 1t
| it the intention to give the team as much
hard batting practice as possible In the
hope that 1t will feel perfectly at ease
when it faces the seasoned pitchers at the
opening Of the season 1t Is. of course,
expected that there will be a perceptlble
falling of in >the hitting when the pitch
ers begin to try their best. u.s.. !,
Griffith called his pitchers. together last
night. It is the intention to begin sys-
| tenn of play in signals right from the out
set. Griffith went over a code of signs
| with his batterymeE. s1e also gave them
| instructions oD the fine points OF the
pitching art. and will repeat this line OF
tuition from time to time.
| A heavy snowstorm which greeted the
Nationals when they got up this morning
| tice, and means that the gymnasium work
will have tsshs' resuu4 Several. inches