Evening star., 1915-03-10
Griffith Puts Nationals Through Batting Practice -Rondeau Hits

pat. Though perhaps lighter than ne
usually is. Walter is in fine health, and
to be in his very best trim by April
II. Under all circumstances Johnson S
pitching always looks easy. There is
no strain apparent, and his motion Is
letting himself out this early. but with
apparently no effort he still gets a re-
markable lot of speed on the ball
and in about week or so he will be
, able to let himself out without en-
dangering his arm.
Big Jim Shaw ought to show to much
better advantage this year than he did
, last, for he has gained considerab BILE
experience and his control is already
showing vast Improvement There are
those who contend that Shaw has every
bit much speed as johnson, and that
he will prove this just as soon as he
gets control and can cut his arm lose
at full speed. Shaw is of ideal build
for pitcher. He has the size and a
free working pitching arm. besides
considerable ability as n fielder OF his
position
Though the entire squad put in about
four hours yesterday on Lambeth Field.
working both morning and afternoon.
IL was no easy matter to get up a
good sweat. for the reason that a cold
wind blows through the inclosure,
which more than offsets the rays of
benefited by The exercise. though it is
not an easy matter to get the sore
ness out of the muscles while the
weather is chilly. But eventually
1t will grow warmer. and then there
will he no place to compare with this,
for the good reason that there is no
major league ball park any better than
the one here. especially under spring
conditions. when there is rain and
snow to contend with.
Rippy Williams. who played ball out
on the coast nearly all winter, is in
better fettle this spring than he has
been in some time. The big fellow is
hitting like a tiend III practice and
undoubtedly will again be of much help
to his team with the stick the coming
season. Williams has been by far one
of the best pinch hitters the Nationals
have ever had.
Chick Gandil got right down to bust
ness yesterday. taking part in both
sessions of the infield practice. and, in
cidentally, showed that his batting eye
seems to have recovered it's cunning,
for in practice he hit the ball unmer-
cifully hard every time up. Chic is in
better health this spring than he was
every reason for believing that he will
play up to his usual standard this
year.
ting practice are not curving the ball
these days 1t has been a bit too chilly
to indulge in anything but speed, but
there has been a lot of that used En-
gel, Shaw. Bentley and the others who
have been shown on the rubber have
world of stuff, and as soon as the
weather moderates they will be al
lowed to use their various deliveries
When that happens it will be harder
on the batters. and better line on the
hitting proclivities of the youngsters
can be had There are few ball players
who cannot hit speed If it is not varied
with something else, so that while only
speed is being served one is apt to get
the wrong impression of a batters
ability. which is shown when he gets
up against real pitching.
There is never a batting practice
that Eddie Foster does not practice
placing the ball. 1t is because of his
ne has become SO expert in this re-
spect. There is not another player in
the American League in the same class
with Foster when it comes to place
hitting, and 1t is this feat which
makes him so dangerous at the bat
whenever there are men on the bases.
He can take advantage of any open
ing that may present itself. He may
not get the ball through, but nine
times out of ten he will hit in the di-
rect1on he wants to and that counts
for much.
Douglas Neff is gradually regaining
his strength. He shows this In prac-
t1ce. but he is not yet in the best Of
condition, it usually requiring nearly
a full year for an athlete who has
been suffering with typhoid to thor
oughly recover. Neff shows splendid
ability at short field, and he will do
even better as the season progresses
q nd "a h IT,,
to be a capable understudy for Nc
Bride or any of the other infielders
this summer, even though he fails to
earn a regular position on the team
and. judging from the way Ray Nor
gan is hustling, there is little chance
for any outsider to break up the pres
ent makeup of the infield
Morgan seems to be determined to re-
gain his reputation of being one of
Ine pest second basemen in the league.
all things considered. He is working
hard and showing the proper spirit in
everything he does. Griffith is much
pleased with the Baltimore boys prac-
tice and predicts that the coming sea-
son will be Morgan's best.
The first game of the season in which
the Nationals will take part is sched-
uled for this afternoon at $50 O'Clock
with the Virginia University team
work has not been decided, but Hop
per is almost sure to be one of three
to be used. Hopper and Gallia are two
pitchers who have been working for
several weeks in the south before re-
porting here, and are ready to go
though it is not Griffth's intention to
give them such strenuous start
II am very well impressed with the
young players we have gathered this
spring. but, of course, I want to see
much more of them before / make any
decision as to who will be retained"
said Manager Griffith this morning.
Without exception, all the young fell
lows seem to have ability, but before
10 see them under fire and give them a
chance to play with a lot of major
league players in condition. That will
be the real test 1 look for the Ma
tionals to have a good season. 1 think
that our greatest improvement will re-
suit from the return to form Of several
of our players who did not perform
UP TO their standard last season. When
they WILL it will make a big difference
in our strength
Hitting grounders to two infields for
nearly half an hour twice a day is
rather strenuous work for Manager
Griffith at this season of the year, be-
fore he is accustomed to the strain,
and as result he has badly blistered
hands and Is thoroughly tired. out
when night rolls around Later on.
when the infield is dry and fast, the
task will not be as hard. for then the
ball VIII bound more easily, but under
present conditions 1t requires hard
driving to send the ball so that the in
helders can get real practice
Strict discipline is being observed in