Evening star., 1915-03-14
BY j. ED GRILLO.


for training purposes since the Ma
tionals have been here. much has been
accomplished in getting the players
ready for the coming campaign. The
chilly weather has not prevented the
players from working every day, and
it has been strenuous labor at that.
The result is that every man in the
camp is in very good fettle, even this
early, and with but a single weeks
work for most of them. The opening
of the season is exactly month from
tomorrow, and in that time Griffith
ought to have his team on edge. A
flying start in the coming campaign
may give the team a big advantage,
for there is nothing SO stimulating to
a lot of players as to be out in front
in long race.
While there may not be any material
changes in the makeup of the Ma
tionals this year, the lineup possibly
being identical with that of last sea
son, vet there are reasons for believ-
ing that the team will furnish better
article of ball and be nearer the lead
ers than last season. To begin with.
it seems a safe prediction to say that
Griffith will have, a stronger pitching
staff than ever before, and this, of
course, will make a great difference IN
the Nationals defensive strength,
which always has been of a high cali
ber. Then, too, the hitting is sure 10
show Improvement if for no other rea-
son than that Gandil and Morgan are
certain to hit many points over their
last years marks, and there is still
hope of more batting strength being
placed in the outfield, where 1t has
been lacking for several years. rms
is a question which Griffith must de-
a;l Ii araf IN H.
self for future use with an extra out
fielder or two, proba bly, Acosta and one
other man, and, while he may start the
season with the old trio. he will de-
mand >of them to hit up to stand
ard or there will be changes. Moeller
and Milan look like fixtures, and if
Shanls were to show the hitting flash
he presenteds last spring, he, too. Will
be in his position until he falls down
in his stick work.
The team is well supplied with utll-
ity men for both the in and outheld
Neff and Pick are pair of sterling
young fellows to have around, ana
Acosta and Massey, or Rondeau. viii be
able to jump into the game ana take
care of any of the 'outfield posltlons.
What is more, there is every reason 70
believe that the Athletics will not be
as much of stumbling block for the
Nationals as in former years, which IN
itself is apt to make big direrence
in the standing of the Griffmen.
While it was limited some time ago
that Fred Clarke, manager Of the
Pittsburgh National League team, had
something to do with the signing OF
Walter Johnson to his present CONTRACT
with the Washington clup, the detalls
of the able aid Clarke rendered has
lust come to light. 1t seems that Grif-
fifth met Clarke at the National League
meeting in New York, and. naturally,
the conversation drifted to the jump
ing of Johnson to the FEDS. Clarke'
who lives at Winfield, Kan. some iorty
miles from Coffeyville, suggested TO
Griffith that perhaps if he went to see
Waiter at his home there might pc
way of having him change his mind.
Griffith consented and asked Clarke 10
communicate with Johnson Wnen ne
got back home. This Clarke did. and.
Furthermore, he went to ConeyVllle
and called at the Johnson home, where
he had a long chat with the big pitch
err finally getting the latter TO coil
sent to meet Griffith at Kansas Guy
the following Saturday Clarke then
wired Griffith of his arrangements WIN
Johnson, and Griffith boarded the nrst
train west, stopping off at Chlcago.
He met Johnson in Kansas City Satur-
day. and what transpired during thelr
conference there is now matter OF
history.
Fred Clarke deserves :, u's'i
for having brought Griffith ana Jonn
son together. Clarke is not only me
fellow personally, but he Is oipioniat
in dealing with players
There will be no tears shed by any
members of the Washington TEAM II
the rumor that Frank Baker Will play
with the New York Yankees next sea
son is confirmed. 1t is figured that IL
the Mackmen lose their great slugger
the team will not cause much eroupie
in the coming campaign. though, even
with Collins. Bender and Plank out OF
the way. Baker is still a dangerous
man to face pitcher in plnch ana
his departure to team like the ran
KEGS would not only make the MACK
Non easier to dispose of. but would
create interest in the Yankees in New
York and on the road and consequently
make the American League race more
interesting.
There seems to be no dlnerence IN
ceorpe McRrides work at short field.
now that he is about to enter upon his
a;rbtb Goa son as q member of the Ma
tionals.
Ii ANYTHING, Mcbride is a more vaiu-
a HE nlayer now than he was when he
ioined the team in 1905. He is still
one of the greatest fielders that the
game has produced, and as a held
leader and brainy PLAYER there are
few men in his class. rms spring ms
work has been unusually brilliant.
and his friends and admirers nave
been particularly encouraged by the