Evening star., 1915-03-14

tive. Doc" has done wonders in the
reducing line, for he now weighs 1856
100 mark all season. He insists that
by doing this he will not have any
slumps, but will pitch consistently from
start to the end of the season. Doc"
is one of the hardest workers in the
camp this spring.
That Nick A1trock is responsible for
the wonderful Improvement of Harper
southpaws.. is conceded by Manager
Griffith. who says the ten days the
two pitchers spent with Nick at An
napolis have fitted them both for seri-
Gus consideration in the next cam
paign. Nick taught them lot gained
by years of experience, and this was not
only about how to pitch, but also how to
field their position. an art at which Alt
rock in his day was ma ster.
That emery ball proposition is pc
culiar one. For instance, the ball is
involuntarily prepared for this forbid
den delivery every time it hits the
rough concrete stand on the local field.
and as result there has been much
protesting by the opposing batters that
the pitchers were using an emery ball.
Griffith, who has been umpiring. has
thrown out several balls on this ac-
count. All that is required to pitch
the emery ball is to roughen up one
spot on the ball and hold it in one of
several ways to get a certain effect on
the ball. 1t will shoot 'out or in and
down, as the ball is held, and it is. of
course most difficult for the batter to
judge.
Griffith inaugurated sliding pit in
the practice today. He had a lot of
shavings and saw7iust placed around
second base and then gave instructions
steal how to slide. Griffith wants them
TO practice the fallaway slide. They
slide to one side of the base and then
throw foot out to clutch the bag.
may see fit. according to where the ball
is thrown Pick Moeller. Shanks, Mi
Ian, Acosta and Massey practiced the
trick for half an hour. and there was
material improvement in their sHdlng
when they had finished.
Jim Shaw has acquired half-balk
motion which worked very success
fully in the morning game today.
Massey and Neff both got on first on
infield hits, and both of them We're
picked off the bag by Shaw. In the
third inning Massey got on again on
an error and Shaw again nailed MN
off the bag The players on the oppos-
ing team entered vigorous protests
that Shaw was baking. but Gr1fhth,
who was umpiring, insisted that he
was within the rules in taking the mo-
ton, and that he was willing to wager
that no official umpire would call MIN
for the use of it.
Neff's home run in the eighth inning
Of the morning game was SOUND
whack to center field which neither OF
the fielders could reach, and before 1t
was recovered Neff had reached the
plate, making a desperate slide at the
finish and successfully avoiding tag
which Ainsmith had intended for him
Neff is hitting the ball remarkably
hi to
can drive it as hard as any little fell
low ever did. Incidentally he is show
ing to better advantage in the field
with every days work.
Chick t;andirs crooked arm is improv-
ing slightly, and he expects it to be
entirely mended as soon as a siege or
hot weather sets in. Gandil is al
ficted in this manner every spring,
but it does not materially affect his
throwing. In every other respect Chick
appears to be ready to start the sea-
son.
Picks triple in the final inning of
the morning game was the hardest hit
of the day 1t was line drive not far
from right field foul line. and 1t car.
ried into the hill on which the right
field wall is built. Pick is a hard hit
ter at all times and, what is more. he
is just as apt to connect with the de-
livery of portsider as he is right
handler.
Rondeau sprung a charley horse
during the morning game. TINS came
after he had singled to center IN the
fourth, his first hit of the exhibition
series. Lamar took his place IN ie1t:
Rondeau does not expect to be out OF
the lineup of the Colts more than
day or so.