Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-03-17
BY ]. ED GRILLo.

|
Joe Boehling is not only Il much-im-
proved pitcher. but the knee which
handicapped him last season has en-
tirely mended. Boehling demonstrated
these facts in the four innings he
pitched against the Colts yesterday
afternoon. He held his opponents run
less and allowed four scattered,
! scratchy hits. His delivery was
smooth and clean and his control per
/ feet while he displayed all kinds OF
| speed and curves and q puzzihs
! change of pace. His every action was
, that of a finished pitcher. and 1t Is 4
| safe prediction that the richmond
| southpaw is destined to have the best
season of his career.
! 1t was Boehling's first appearance IN
/ a game this spring and, though detri-
| mental weather conditions prevailed,
he worked almost in midseason form
| His showing had the effect of delight
| ing Manager Griffith, who is now more
/ convinced than ever before that ~
| will have one of the best pitcning
| stats in the league during the coming
campaign
| Boehling has acquired motion Whlie
pitching which keeps the runners on
first base perpiexed. He used this yes
terday with telling effect, having the
runners going back to the bag Wheil
he was pitching. 1t Is one OF the
| cleyerest tricks any t-hander has
practiced and is by no means a viola
/ ton of the balk rule. Boeh1inS put in
\ much of his winter pracuc1ng TINS
move before a mirror. IL was tne 1acl
tkat he could see himself that heiped
| to make him perfect i'll this respect.
1t means that the base runner who
| reaches first when Joe is pitching Will
| either have to hug the bag, thus pre-
venting a steal, or be nipped OFF. Boep-
| ling has thei movement down to per-
| lection.
! For the first time since Walter john
son reported here he took a real WORK.
| out yesterday, pitching to the Datters
| for fully twenty-five minutes IL Is
| Measure to see Walter in action, even
| in practice for. without any strain or
superfiuous motion, he gets more speed
| on the ball than the average pitcher
! does by hard work. He was par
| ticularly fast in his work. and while
| he did not resort to anything but speed,
most of the players found MN oiincuil
| to hit Walter. as he predicted lons
| while ago, is going slowly this spring:
| He does not intend to hurry himself
| into shape but will be able TO Ia ke
| his turn on the rubber by about the
! time the Nationals leave here for Rich
mond, March 70
If Moeller and Shanks continue TO
keep up their present pace with the
bat there is not chance 1or elther
to be supplanted by any Oh h. the bard
and often and are getting their snare
| of long drives. Shanks seems TO race
| the pitchers with much more commence
than formerly. a; ana d. II n wGu,u good 1 Year
with the bat, in which event ne VIII
prove one of the greatest players IN the
| outfield in the league, for there Is no
| leftfielder in his class.
| MoelIer seems to have gotten INTO ms
haiti stride much sooner TINS spring
I than formerly. while his heidlng and
| throwing are of the best.
With every game that is played here.
Charley Pick makes his position with
| the team just that much more secure.
| pick is proving himself a great man
at the bat, and that, too. In the lace OF
his declaration that he has never been
| a spring hitter. He holds that IT mas
| to grow good and hot before ms Dat
! ting eye works up to its standard YET
he has been hitting like fiend IN the
| canes here-not occa siona11y. but IN
All of them-and Griffith is going to 40
= lot of thinking before he decides to
use Pick for utility purposes ohis-
[ yyba. a wonderful difference is
! shown in a player when he makes up
his mind TO attend strictly TO business.
! Raw Morgan is doing that THIS spring.
| and he is showing up SO wen that there
is no longer any question as to who
will play second base for the Natlohals
during the coming campaign: ne
| Is not only working hard, but he Is set-
| ting results. His hitting is one of the
! features Of the camp, leading the en-
! tire squad with ease. and he seems TO
be improving from day 10 Gay. MOI
only that, but Morgan is showing speed
/ in his running and is fielding his posi-
ZION like a champion. He is deter
mined TO settle the second base 9ues-
ton for all time to come Ill MS iaVof'
| ana he is rapidly convincing every one,
including Manager Griffith, that he Is
the right man for the place.
| Chic Gandil is handicapped by his
lame arm which not only interfereS
with his throwing. but bothers him
when he swings while at the plate.
Notwithstanding this fact. Chic Is hit
ting well and playing his usual SEN
weather gets not the arm will regain
its normal condition, Gandil contends.
and that viii make a big difference In
the big fellow.
| The afternoon game yesterday was
played in a driZZie. and 1t is question
able whether outdoor work will be DOS
sible today In that event it is likely
that the players will be kept idle. for
the gymnasium floor is being repaired
and it is not believed that the work
will be finished by today.
Henri Rondeau got back into the
game yesterday. but his leg Is still
bothering him. and he is not able to
do himself justice. 1t seems to inter
fere mostly with his hitting. because
he cannot take his customary stride
when stepping into the ball.
Douglas Neff gets better every day
in both fielding and hitting. Yester-
day he played two superb games in the
field, and incidentally added four clean
hits to his credit. He is indeed one OF
the most promising young tnfielders
picked up by any major league club
in recent years. and the time will come
when he will class with the crack
| shortstops of the big show. Neff is
right now gradually regaining his vi
tally, which he lost during his suf-
fering from typhoid last season, and
the recuperation is very evident in his
playing.
| A glance at the box scores of the
games played here will show that there
is a remarkable difference in the bat
ting Of Mcbride this spring. The Ma
tionaIs field captain is singing the ball
as he never has before. He is getting
his share of extra-baSe drives. and, In
fact, is hitting the ball so much harder
than in the past that it is predicted he
will have a much bigger average the
coming season. Mcbride attributes his
Improvement in batting to the fact
! that he has practiced the Foster sys-
tenn of trying to place the ball, which
he contends, forces the batter to steL
into the ball more than anything else
II is very likely that a whole batch
OF games will be arranged for next