The Washington times., 1915-03-21

Coach Ryan has ended all thought of
four games between the Griffmcn and
virginia this week. Tomorrow's game is
postponed from yesterday, but the two
teams were scheduled to play tomorrow.
anyway. Athletic association tickets
are sold here. and Coach Ryan thought
1t better not to stage any games at all
rather than to charge for some and not
for others, as would necessarily have to
be done in case impromptu contestX
were played between the two teams. AS
q result, the Griffmen will play their
own contests each dag tn Friday. when
they pack up their duds and trek to
Richmond.
Next week the Griffmon will make
their 1915 debut before their friends in
Washington. Tho fans Of the Capital
need have no fears that the athletes
will be in poor shape. Indeed. 80 earn
esuy has every lad worked and 50
Strenuous have been tho jractiCc stunts,
that the entire team Is now FAR ad-
vanced eaioug the road to perfect physi-
cal condition. Tho team that represents
Washington against tho National
League outfits this sprin% will BE- worthy
of their opponents mcttl".
I'VE have been exceedingly fortunate
tn1S spring. Manager IfllIin St III lllIS
morning. 80 far we haven't missed a
single days workout. Had we been
forced to go into the gymnasium, I'd
have been satisfied in "A way, but going
on the field every day is 50 much better
that I am delighted at my good luck'
particularly when | think of what we
got here year ago.
"No, the weather hasn't been warm
here, but that's all riGht. Neither will ii
be warm in Washington, Philadelphia,
New York or Boston during the first three
weeks or so Of the regular season My
players especially tn" pitchers, wont
risk tightening up their shoulders and
arms in the cold winds of New YORK
and Boston after training here. They'll
be right at home. and | am counting a
lot on this very fact.
"The program for the next four ard
a half days will b" exactly the same
as Il has been for tho Hast two weeks.
There'll be two E"m"s II day until Fri
day. when we ought TO got IN IN" game
in the morning and still have time to
have lunch and get tho train for Rich
mond I'll put team on the field in
Richmond that will play ball-and good
ball, too--from first to last"
Manager Griffith is satisfied with all
the pitchers he intends carrying into the
league campaign Not one OF the ycung-
sters can expect to b" kept on what he
has shown here. John Stevens has
looked the best, and he is still too green
TO be a success in the big show right
now. At the same time he IS good
enough for some class 4 OUTFIT. Man
aver Griffith Is seeking TO land berth
for him. and it would not be surprising
II Jack Dunn kept him in Richmo"d
after taking a lock at him in action.
The regulars will be composed of
johnson. Shaw. Hopper. Gallia. Engcl
six right-handers and three sot7Npaws
This collection of high priced pitching
material is about ready now to climb
the mound against any kind of opposi-
ton Manager Griffith plans to test
Hopper and Gallia against the National
League teams coming to Washington
this spring. figuring that il they have
anything worth while. it will surely ap-
pear against big leaCuers. The others
have been well tested in the past anC
have stood the Caff
The only possible weak niace in the
team today is in left field. HAM
Shanks has not begun TO hit at enough
good balls to suit the Old FOX and still
fishes at too many bad ones. Shanks Is
a beautiful fielder, but he is no faster
on his feet than Merit" AcOsta, his
competitor for a steady lob in the gar
noints difference between their two bat
ting averages in the gaems played here
Even II these figures mean little. a.
compared with hi" league batting, /
must be recalled that both lads have
been facing the same type of pitching
here.
Manager Griffith realizes as we'll a
the next person that to have an 90
portunity to land the grand old flag, h
must increase the teams offensive
strength. Unless Shp0ts u'CNa W.
lot In his cloutinG, it is hard t" soc hov
the Old Fox can welt l0"u Ncos'a o.
the bench. The wee CUr"u plpvCd lcf
field all winter for the T0Vana Reds
thus accustomirp him'"lf ~ Ulav tha
side OF the bailiwick u will he no nov
position for him. II he i" shot into tn
lineup once the c0w"aign is umde
way.
II IS not expectoh that Ro0d"au
Brown. or NIasscy viii n"wt out shank
or Acosta. OF CouTs' P0udcau.S lame
ness has cut him oai 81 lot 90 con
sideration. He looks lie fair nitier
hut his speed on the bases and hi
ability To field remain unknown Guan
titles No less a Judge than Eie Eahoo
prize scout vouches for Rondeau'