The Washington times., 1914-04-05
By THOMAS KIRBY.

BY Th0MAS klkbf.
Clark Griffith has no sympathy for
he suggestion Of Charley Ebbets, the
BROOKLYN owner, who advocates a rule
oy the National Commission setting a
imitation. on the time teams may spend
n the South for spring training.
Aside from Its novelty, 1 see nothing
n the suggestion is the way Griffith
considers the plan. Il think one Of
The first qualifications of a manager
should be his ability to condition men,
and, as every one has a different sys-
rem, 1 think that Ebbets's plan would
work more as a handicap than anything
else.
Il have never heard such a limitation
advocated, and l believe if it should
pe put to vote it would be defeated.
| want my own time to get my men
ready, and, If the weather does not
interfere, a manager should be held re-
sponsible for the shape in which he
brings his club UP to scratch.
-You know what we have been up
against this spring. still, aside from
actual batting practice, we are ready;
in phyeical condition 1t would be hard
20 beat our crowd as it stands, and II
We can get in. another good week, We
should be able to deliver from the
drop
Those who are going into -ecstasies
ayer the ARRANGEMENT of the early sec
ton Of the schedule in its relations win
rhe Nationals are, in way, dolng tne
club here an injustice.
1t is Pretty generally conceded thst
the club the Nationals will have TO beat
10 the summit will be the Athletics
Srir. in the matter of home dates Al
the start the two teams have practi-
ally the same arrangement Atter
short Interchange, the Nationals ana
athletics will return to home fields, ana
: viii be in the rush through the month
,har viii have such a potential bearing
Upon the ultimate result
Tne failure of any of the newcomers
10 upset things in the House OF Mack
mas given the Athletics an excellent
.bsnce to get that now famous combi-
7afIon we'll oiled, and they should glide
Into contest primed. The weather in
E'lorIda was balmy, and they have been
az home long enough since their return
from the Southland to get them thor
rhsy will find them at Shibe Park when
ne victories and defeats will be
.ounted.
IL is gratifying to all concerned to
know of the am.cable relations that ex-
- between the Nationals and the ath-
letic Authorities at Georgetown. Graou-
ate Manager Cox has proffered the use
Of the Ryan gymnasium or Geor getoWn
tiCld 10 Griff tn whenever the ball club
should fino use for either, While george
tdyn has been assigned a regular place
as the opening date on the Nationals
Exhibition series. At Philadelphia there
IS the same arrangement between the
Athletics and the university that has
proven mutually beneficial.
-
. further into the Southland than
Charlottesville, he may avail himself OF
the gymnasium In the west end for the
ea-ly conditioning OF his young pitchers.
The neat appearance of the Nationals
1n the field, as compared with some of
ina other teams. was universally COM
-nentod upon last summer, and the COM
lnr season promises TO be no exception
Griffith IS nIpst particular as. TO the uni
io-ns. and. this year he is following out
,as 81. general scheme that prevailed I"
In the nope OF formally ending the
Informal receptions, gatherings, and
conventions that have been held in
he press stand at National Park on
days when the place has been a-crush,
? change is being made in the man
agement OF the reservation which has
been set aside for the newspaper men.
An agreement between the National
Commission and the Baseball Writers
of America places the press boxes In
the una jor leagues under the jurts-
diction Of the latter organization. In
most cities the rules are religiousiy
adhered to, but in Washington abuses
have crept in until most of the base
oall writer's have been forced to find
other o"arters as a protection against
interior s. At Charlottesville. con-
ference was held with Griffith and II
was decided TO keep the press box
alesred on days when the field is packed
even If 1t is necessary to crown With a
chair some Of those who would horn
III. Now covers are TO be placed on
the desks, assignments made and
marked, and reservations held for the
regulars until they arrive.
Eli Gates. who will be recalled as a
Washington pitcher a few years back
is on the steep incline. He hoped to
the Indianapolis Feds last season, but
when that circuit was reor2aniZed dur
ing the winter, Gates was forgotten,
snd he has been dickering to land with
she South Bend club Of the Southern
Michigan League Gates was highly
tOuted when he came here from the
Coast, but he never impressed.
The National Commission formally no.
titled Griffith of the agreement with
the Players Fraternity calling Tor all
the fences and stands in line with the
home plate, being painted green. As
this artificial help to batting averages
was arranged when new National Park
was built no changes were necessary
r L. A.-The Nationals hotels on the
ros5l are: PHILADELPHIA. Majestic: New
York, Ansonia: Boston, Coply Square;
Chicago, Chicago Beach; Cleveland,
Colonial; Detroit, Cadillac, and St
Leuis. Planters.