Evening star., 1915-03-13
NATIONALS IN GOOD CONDITION
DESPITE LACK OF WARM DAYS
Veterans and Youngsters Alike Are Showing
Much Improvement Over Their Previous
" Performances-Harper Pitches Well.
BY J. ED GRuLo.

tfHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, March 13-
-Despits tie fact that the weather
has been almost too cold during the
present week 20 allow the players to
get themselves in form, they have
lad enough outdoor work to improve
greatly their condition, and their play
ing in the four games up to yesterday
has been near to niidseason form as
could be expected. Not only has the
hitting been better than was to be ex-
pected this early. but the fielding has
been sensational and the general play
ing of a high standard. What is most
remarkable about the players this
spring is that, without exception. all
of them are showing as good II not
better form right now than they did
last season. Gandil and Morgan give
evidence of having 4 good year before
them, Foster already is performing
brilliantly. while Mcbride. Shanks and
Moeller are doing better than they DID
in the last campaign.
But the most remarkable thing is the
Improvement the young fellows nave
shown. Engel, Bentley and Harper are
SO different from what they were last
season that one cannot help but pc
lieve they are slated to be lot of help
to the team.
Let Il bit of warm weather set in
here and by the time the team reaches
its own grounds for the clashes with
the National League clubs 1t will be
nearer midseason form than it has
been in some years in early April
This is because the work has been
consistent to date, though not always
under the most favorable conditions,
and much progress has been made.
There need be no surprise shown if
Harry Harper proves one OF Griffiths
winning pitchers in the coming campaign.
The improvement in this young southpaw
since coming here this spring is nothing
short of marvellous. Last season Harper
knew no more about fielding his position
than he did about astronomy But
wonderful change has taken place. for
which the ten days that he and Bentley
spent under Nick Altrock at Annapolis
are no doubt responsible. In the game
yesterday afternoon Harper not only
pitched effectively. holding the Regulars
scoreless for four innings. but he filled
his position like a veteran, covering lots
of ground. apd making one play on a
hunt the speedy Moeller laid down which
won him praise from Griffith Harper.
who is not out of his teens yet, has filled
out, and is numbered among the big fell
lows on the pitching staff. and the time
is not far off when he will be a pitcher
OF the first class.
Notwithstanding the fact there is every
reason for believing that Henri Rondeau
is a capable hitter. for he meets the ball
hard and With encouraging regularity,
he has failed to get a safe hit In any
of the three games he has taken part in
This, however, is not discourag.ng the
Frenchman, who says that he will soon
get into his stride and make up for lost
time.
ed. is looming up like a great poss-
bility. Not only is he fielding. and
throwing like real ballplayer, but he
is hitting as well as any one in the
camp. Yesterday he was there with
two singles and double, all hard line
drives into right field. Incidentally, he
figured in double play after catching
fly, and got another assist when he
picked up base hit and threw out a
too venturesome base runner who tried
to score from second base.
Massey seems to improve the train
ing continues. and unless there should
be marked reversal of form in his
showing he is sure to cause Mana ger
Griffith much thought about the time
he figures on making up his team for
the opening of the season.
Dan Moeller. too. is in hitting mood
this spring. Yesterday he opened up
with a triple. and twice after that sin
gled, and there was nothing fuky
about his drives. either 1t must, Of
course. be understood that none of the
pitchers is as yet using curves. Moth
ing but speed is being dished up. but
there is plenty of that. and il shows
the eyes of the batters to be in fairly
good trim when they can hit speed.
Later on. when the pitchers get to
n.ixing their curves and change of
pace with their speed. ii Will not be
so easy to hit for now it is case Of
getting toe hold and waiting for the
kind of ball you want. But it speaks
we'll for the batter who can drive the
ball even under these favorable con-
ditions.
The remarkable change that has come
over Joe Engel, not only in his motion,
bur in the fact that he Is displaying
good control. besides world of stuff,
las not escaped the notice of Manager
Griffith. who this morning remarked:
Joe is pretty sure TO come through
this year aud win his share of ball
games. ! never saw such Improvement.
Iou know il is a matter of fact that
I.nsel during the several years he has
been with US has really never been hit
hard, but lost his games because of the
lack Of control I believe this was
largely due TO some sort of trouble
win his arm, and now that II seems to
have been mended 1 notice that he has
1nuch improved control and also has
more on the ball. ALI he has to do is
70 take good care of his pitching arm
and he Will be of much help to US this
year.
BY . remarkable stop OF hard bat
ted ball Eddie Foster in the fourth in
ring OF yesterdays game probably
saved the Regulars from the ignominy
OF defeat by larger score than that
recorded. There were two on and one
out when Henry drove a sharp ground
er right over third base. There did not
seem to be a possible chance for Fos-
ter to reach the speeding sphere. but
lie cut across held down his hand and
heid the ball. BY quick return to
the bag he forced the runner coming
from third. but was in such awk-
ward position for throw to first that
I;aadil could not handle IL, or he very
likely would have made one of the
,Gost sensational double plays ever seen
on ball field
Foster and Milan were both in har-
ness again yesterday morning, the cold
from which they suffered the day be
fore having almost entirely disappeared
under the careful treatment of Mike
Martin.
II /. q pity that Merito Acosta is nor