Evening star., 1915-03-11
GRIFFITH APPEARS SATISFIED
WITH THIS YEARS MATERIAL
Nationals Manager Says Team of 1915 Will
Make Better Showing if Veterans Play to
Form-Expects Better Pitching, Too.


the game yesterday. covering a re-
markable lot Of ground.
1t does not seem to make the slight
est difference to George Mcbride
whether he is playing in nidseason or
after only few days work, he always
Is brilliant. His fielding in the game
yesterday brought the hundred or more
to their feet on several occasions. He
covered world of ground, handled
everything that he could reach, and in
] the fifth inning went toward third,
picked up a sharp srounder from
Paschafs bat with one hand and threw
fast runner out at first base without
Wobble. 1t was one of the best plays
imaginable, and if pulled in midseason
would have been worthy of comment.
Henry and Ainsmith caught the game
and both seemed to be in good form.
though they are handicapped a trifle
just now because of the enormous
amount of work they are asked to do.
times day, besides covering the plate
in batting and infield practice. Is not
easy picking. and both the two husky
catchers, as well as Alva Williams. do
not have to be rocked to sleep when
bedtime comes.
Manager Griffith intends to play two
games every day henceforth when
weather does not interfere. The squad
will be divided into two teams and
game played in morning and afternoon.
This system will not only prove good
practice for the players. but it will get
all Of them in action and incidentally
give Griffith a chance to get line on
his youngsters.
When Foster and Morgan We're taken
out of the game, after the fifth inning,
they were put to fielding bunts by
Manager Griftith-one Of the best meth
DDS for producing a sweat on the play
ers who are over weight. The two were
kept at it for fully half an hour, and
1t was an effort for them to drag
themselves to their rubbing room when
they were permitted to leave the field.
Strenuous work upon which Griffith Is
insisting all along the line is having
telling effect on most of the veterans,
who started training only last Monday
and naturally are getting muscle sore
and halt in all their joints. But this
can be worked out within a few days,
especially if the weather gets warmer.
The local field is still mighty chilly
most of the time. and this makes it
necessary for the player to keep on a
constant move in order to be comfort
able.
In Neff and Pick Griffith is sure to
have two of the most serviceable util-
ity infielders in the league. Pick may
be used in the outf1eld also. Both Of
these youngsters are fast on their feet
and can hit. which is more than the
average player who is not in the game
regularly can do. Griffith is using Neff
in all the infield positions, barring first
base, for the purpose of getting him
accustomed to them all SO that lie will
be ready in the event of an emergency
to fill any one. Neff looks good in all
of them. Pick has been used at both
third and second and looks to be able to
fill either Of them in the event that
Foster or Morgan should be incapaci-
tated.
In these games between the Regulars
and Colts, which are to start today,
Griffith will have a change to get
line on the real ability of the several
new men he has In camp. Rondeau,
Massey and Brown. for instance. may
look lot different when they get into
4 game. though 1t be a scrub affair."
from what they do in practice Massey
has all the earmarks of being a conner
He hits nicely and is very fast. but. of
course. he has not had a chance to
show what he can do in the field Ron
deau bats after the style of Sherwood
Magee of the Braves. according to
those who are familiar with the man.
ner in which this slugger handles the
bat Rondeau seems to he "A free, hard
will be better line on him after he has
faced a few of the regular pitchers in
these exhibition games.
good idea of the team as 1t used to get
its leads when it was working at it's
best. Moeller started the game by hit
ting the first ball pitched for a single
batted the first ball pitched toward
right and the second baseman fumbled
It, Milan tore off single to right field
on the first ball pitched sending Noel