The Washington times., 1915-02-19
Manager Griffith Orders Second
Baseman to Take OFF Weight
BY Steady Grinding in Camp
at Charlottesville.
Old Fox Thinks "Fat Boy Has
It in Him to Make Good, But
He Must Show the Goods to
Land Regular Berth.
Bv LOUIS A. DOUGHER.

BY LOUIS A. DOUGHEk.
Ray Morgan, the Griffmen's pudgy
little second baseman, has been or
dered to report here Tuesday and ac-
company NJ. Ferdinand Martin, the
teams expert trainer, to Charlottes-
Vile that day as a training squad OF
one. It is understood that Martin has
been ordered to see that Morgan
works his head off until the whole
SQUAD arrives, and then the Old Fox
will take the watch charm second
sacker in hand himself.
"You take him down there and
get that fat off him." were Griff's
orders to M. Ferdinand. "He has put
on altogether too much extra weight
to suit me. Bowling and fooling
around in a gymnasium won't do him
half the good that will come to him
from plugging along with you every
day, colsing with q rundown after
each installment.
II think Ray has a chance to show
more this year than ever before. but
he can't do 1t unless he's in shape. l
want you to put him in shape. Make
him work till he drops. When I get
down to Charlottesville on the 9Th.
want to see him many pounds lighter
than he was the last time saw him IN
my Office Its up to you.'
So Raymond Cutie" Carville Morgan,
most popular of local players aside from
Walter Johnson. will be here next Tues
day morning, weight and all. lie Will
BEGIN his work the following morning at
Charlottesville.
Manager Griffith is determined to see
that Morgan gets into condition to show
his best. He believes that the player
has It in him. bu the also believes that
Morgan didn't take the best of care of
himself last year. 1t is understood that
Morgan will be compelled to get into
shane this spring or be benched AS the
Federal League cannot cut in upon play
ors bound by ironclad contracts, this
benching may be done now without
kaS 91s TO haSe ns ths fun Of sst
ing games at his own expense unless he
steadics and tackles his job
been transferred from Los Angeles to
Des Moines. He was with Des Moines
before, and seems to show at his best
In the Western League.
Bill Donovan. disappearing nom regu'
lar haunts In New York. Is now believ'
cd to have gone to Trappe. Nd. to con
vince Frank Baker that playing witt
the Yankees would be the best thinl
However. 1t is not expected that hi
will have much success.
President John X. Tener. OF the Ma
tional League, says that 1t is in th'
power Of the league to allow the Inter
national League to put club in tho
Bronx. rather than in the power Of tn,
New York club. Ed Barrow has beer
have made it possible for the Bronx t;
have baseball. after all. and not Fec
baseball. either
Charles Holiday Ebbets. owner of tn,
Superbas. wants to sell 100000 Of pre-
fsrred stock In his Brooklyn club. 'tt
allow the fans to make some of the
money in baseball" He says his clut
doesn't, need the money, but is doinl
this merely out Of the goodness of it.
official heart. Isn't it sweet of Charles
Jack Coombs. former Iron man. with
the Mackmen announces that he expects
to take his turn on the mound for the
Brooklyn Superbas this season.
Il have entirely recovered from the
ailment that hit me in 1911" says
Coombs. "and my open air life ir
Texas and in Maine has brought back
all my old strength. My arm never die
bother me. so | can't see why 1 cur
not do my share of the pitching fol
Brooklyn.
Some talk has been made because
insisted on ten days release clause
in my contract. The reason asked
for that is that. II fail to make good
] don't want to hold up the Brooklyn
club on an ironclad contract. ! never
had the slightest idea of testing my
self. and then, finding ! was all right
hop othe Feds. My record in baseball
hope. does not lead one to think
would do that"
Coombs has been well treated since
entering the national pas:ime lie hat
no complaint to max when released BY
Philadelphia. knowing that he hac
drawn salary for two years without re
livers the goods, he will prove of con
siderable assistance to the Superbas.
Big Bill" Dev,ry, former partner o.
Frank Farrell in the ownership of tn
Yankees, laughs at the tale that he /.
New York, He SAYS the yarn is a joke
And that he Is out of baseball for good
'For good" is good.
The New York Yankees will engage il
,touIteeh eNhipition games this spring
tona, Fla. and closing with the Prince
! March =. %. %, with Brooklyn. a
Daytons, Fla; April I. Chicago Ma
tionals. at Savannah: 3, savannah a
saVahhah; O. Rocky Mount, at Rock,
Richmond. at Richnnond; 8, Petersburx